Background and purpose: Ginsenoside Rg1 (GS Rg1), as an important active substance of Panax ginseng, has been proven to have elaborate cardioprotective effects. The purpose of this study was to detect that GS Rg1 attenuates cardiac oxidative stress and inflammation in streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic rats (DM). Methods: Cardiac function was assessed by heart rate and blood pressure. Markers relevant to myocardial oxidative stress and antioxidant capacity, and inflammatory reaction factors were detected. The mRNA and protein expression were detected by RT-qPCR and Western blot, respectively. Results: GS Rg1 treatment significantly reduced the symptoms of cardiac hypertrophy and hypertension, and also decreased oxidative stress, inflammation response, NF-κB expression and NLRP3 inflammasome expression. GS Rg1 enhanced mitochondrial biogenesis by increasing PGC-1α, complex III and complex Ⅳ expression. GS Rg1 treatment significantly increased the expression of AMPK, Nrf2 and HO-1 in cardiac tissues. Conclusion: GS Rg1 exhibited protective effect against STZ-induced cardiac dysfunction, which is potentially associated with AMPK/Nrf2/HO-1 signal pathway.
Keywords: AMPK; Ginsenoside Rg1; HO-1; Nrf; inflammation; oxidative stress.