Blood circulation activating effect of Sanqi (Radix Notoginseng) on venous thromboembolism rat

OBJECTIVE

To explore the blood circulation activating effect and mechanism of Sanqi (Radix Notoginseng) in vivo, using a venous thromboembolism (VTE) rat model.

METHODS

We established the VTE rat model, and then intervened with low molecular weight heparin (LMWH), as well as low, medium and high doses of Sanqi (Radix Notoginseng), to observe the blood circulation activating effect of Sanqi (Radix Notoginseng) on VTE rats.

RESULTS

After the treatment with high concentrations of Sanqi (Radix Notoginseng), the pulmonary thromboembolism was alleviated, and the lower limb thrombosis was markedly improved. Moreover, the expression quantities of plasma activated partial thromboplastin time, prothrombin time and D-dimer, as well as endothelin, von Willebrand factor, and plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 in thrombosis segment tissues were markedly down-regulated; while those of nitric oxide and tissue-type plasminogen activator were up-regulated. After low and medium concentration Sanqi (Radix Notoginseng) treatment, no obvious improvement was observed in each index. Moreover, the high concentration Sanqi (Radix Notoginseng) showed comparable efficacy to the positive drug LMWH.

CONCLUSION

This data suggests that high concentration of Sanqi (Radix Notoginseng) is effective in preventing and treating VTE.

Efficacy of Sanqi (Radix Notoginseng) in treating cerebral hemorrhage in rats with traumatic brain injury

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the protective efficacy of Sanqi (Radix Notoginseng) on cerebral hemorrhage in a rat model of traumatic brain injury (TBI) by investigating plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1), tissue-type plasminogen activator (t-PA), nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB, p-p65), nitric oxide (NO), endothelin (ET), cluster differentiation (CD61CD62), and coagulation.

METHODS

The free-fall method was used to create a rat model of TBI. Forty-eight rats were randomly divided into six groups: the blank group, sham group, model group, low-dose Sanqi (Radix Notoginseng) group, middle-dose Sanqi (Radix Notoginseng) group, and high-dose Sanqi (Radix Notoginseng) group. At 24 h after the model was created, we investigated brain MRI, brain tissue morphology using HE staining, flow cytometry, and immunohistochemical changes.

RESULTS

Cerebral hemorrhage was aggravated in TBI rats (observed in brain specimens, brain MRI, and brain tissue HE). Cerebral immunohistochemistry results demonstrated that the expression of t-PA, PAI-1 and p-p65 increased significantly in TBI rats, while t-PA/PAI-1 had a significant decrease. In addition, CD61CD62, D2D, and ET were significantly increased in TBI rats, and PT and APTT were significantly prolonged; in contrast, NO was significantly decreased. Sanqi (Radix Notoginseng) decreased cerebral hemorrhage in TBI rats (observed in brain MRI and brain tissue HE), and increased t-PA/PAI-1, CD61CD62 significantly. It also significantly decreased the expression of t-PA, PAI-1, and p-p65 in brain immunohistochemistry and significantly decreased PT, APTT, D2D, and ET. However, there were no differences in NO between the model group and the Sanqi (Radix Notoginseng) group.

CONCLUSION

Sanqi (Radix Notoginseng) can decrease the expression of p-p65, increase t-PA/PAI-1, and stem traumatic intracranial hemorrhage in a TBI rat model.