To verify whether
ginsenosides will attenuate the
myocardial ischemia and
reperfusion injury, the left anterior descending coronary artery (LAD) was snared for 2 hours in 23 dogs and then the ischemic myocardium was reperfused. 45 minutes after
ischemia, the animals were randomly divided into a
ginsenosides group (n = 11, receiving a slow IV bolus of
ginsenosides 10 mg/kg and then a continuous infusion of 80 micrograms/kg/min) and a
saline solution group (n = 12 receiving equal amount of
glucose in saline). The treatment was started 45 minutes after
coronary occlusion and stopped one hour after reperfusion. 24 hours later, the dogs were killed and the extent of myocardial
necrosis was determined histologically. The LVEDP, arterial pressure and heart rate were markedly lower in the
ginsenosides group. Electrocardiographic findings of
myocardial ischemia were significantly improved in the
ginsenosides group. 8 controls developed malignant
arrhythmia after reperfusion, but none in
ginsenosides group. The myocardial ultrastructure can be protected by
ginsenosides during the period of
ischemia and reperfusion. The
infarct size in saline group was 22.7 +/- 3.2% while in the
ginsenosides group it was 5.2 +/- 1.3% (P less than 0.05). These results show that
ginsenosides can protect the ischemic myocardium and
reperfusion injury of myocardium.