Ginsenosides, bioactive compounds of Panax Ginseng C.A. Meyer, are divided into
protopanaxadiol (PD) and
protopanaxtriol (PT). The aim of this study was to evaluate the protective effects of different PD and PT combination ratios on liver
inflammation and apoptosis in hyperlipidemic
apo E KO mice. R1 (PD/PT = 1, high Rg(1) and Rb(1)) and R2 (PD/PT = 2, high Re and Rd) extracts were intraperitoneally injected by 100 mg/kg/day at the 8th week. R1 and R2 improved atherogenic indices by increasing HDL and lowering total
cholesterol (TC) and triacylglyceride (TG) selectively. R1 decreased
lipid peroxides (LPO) level in plasma and liver tissue of hyperlipidemic mice, and R2 lowered plasma
malondialdehyde(MDA) level. R1 and R2 not only regulated the expression of
cyclooxygenase (COX)-2, IκB-α, phopho-ERK 1/2, and phopho-SAPK/JNK levels but also were significantly effective in blocking apoptotic signals, such as
caspase-8, -9, as well as the cleavage of PARP in liver. Different combinational treatment of PD and PT extracts might ameliorate the liver
inflammation and apoptosis in hyperlipidemic
apo E KO mice, which is atherosclerotic animal model.