[Experimental study on extracts from ginseng, notoginseng and chuanxiong for delaying vascular aging in senescent...

To explore the vascular structural and functional change in aged mice, and the intervention roles of extracts from ginseng, notoginseng and chuanxiong (Exs) on it.

The mice model of natural aging was built, and all model mice were divided into 5 groups, the model group, the Vitamin E group treated with vitamin E, and the three Exs groups treated with high, middle and low dose Exs respectively. Besides, a normal control group was set up with young rats. Morphological change of aorta was observed by HE and Masson staining, levels of plasma angiotensin-II (Ang II), anti-superoxide anion, advanced glycation end products (AGEs), matrix metalloproteinase 2 (MMP-2) and tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase 2 (TIMP-2) in vascular tissue, as well as the MMP-2/TIMP-2 were detected.

Aged aortic morphologic change in model rats was ameliorated in the Exs treated groups, decreased vascular endothelial exfoliative cells and vascular smooth muscle cell (5MG) proliferation were shown in HE staining. Masson staining analysis showed relative content of collagen fibers reduced in all Exs treated groups (P < 0.05) and that of SMC decreased in high-dose Exs group (P < 0.05). Moreover, levels of vascular tissue anti-superoxide anion, TIMP-2 and MMP-2/TIM-2 ratio were obviously higher, AGEs and MMP-2 were significantly lower in all Exs treated groups than those in the model group respectively, showing statistical significance (P < 0.05).

Exs can ameliorate the aged changes in aortic morphology, reduce the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and AGEs in vascular tissue, inhibit MMP-2 activity and regulate MMP-2/TIMP-2 equilibrium, so it reduces the vascular stiffness degree of senescent mice, decreases vascular remodeling and delays the occurrence of vascular aging ultimately.