Objective: To explore the effect of ginseng-sanqi extract (GSE) on the vascular endothelium growth factor receptor-2 (VEGFR-2), Ras and mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) in VEGFR-2-Ras-MAPK signal pathway of angiogenesis in cultured human umbilical vascular endothelial cells (HUVECs).
Methods: The protein expressions of VEGFR-2, Ras and MAPK in HUVEC and the effects of GSE (at different doses) and basic fibrin growth factor (bFGF) on them were detected by Western-Blot test.
Results: GSE can enhance the expression of angiogenesis signaling proteins (VEGFR-2, Ras, MAPK) to different extents, especially in the groups treated by bFGF or higher dose GSE, the levels showed significant differences to those in the blank group (P<0.05).
Conclusion: GSE can promote the expressions of VEGFR-2, Ras and MAPK in the angiogenesis signaling pathway, which may be the foundation of Chinese medicine for tonifying qi and activating blood circulation in promoting endothelial proliferation and angiogenesis.