Panax ginseng: Inflammation, platelet aggregation, thrombus formation, and atherosclerosis crosstalk

Yuan Yee Lee; Sung Dae Kim; Seung-Chun Park; Man Hee Rhee

doi:10.1016/j.jgr.2021.09.003

Panax ginseng: Inflammation, platelet aggregation, thrombus formation, and atherosclerosis crosstalk

J Ginseng Res. 2022 Jan;46(1):54-61. doi: 10.1016/j.jgr.2021.09.003. Epub 2021 Oct 5.

Authors

Yuan Yee Lee¹, Sung Dae Kim¹, Seung-Chun Park¹, Man Hee Rhee^{1

2}

Affiliations

¹ Department of Veterinary Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, Kyungpook National University, Daegu, Republic of Korea.
² Cardiovascular Research Institute, Kyungpook National University, Daegu, Republic of Korea.

Abstract

Ginseng has been widely studied due to its various therapeutic properties on various diseases such as cardiovascular disease (CVD). Cardiovascular disease has been canonically known to be caused by high levels of low-density lipoproteins (LDL) in the bloodstream, in addition to the impaired vasodilatory effects of cholesterol. However, current research on CVD has revealed a cascade of mechanisms involving a series of events that contribute to the progression of CVD. Although this has been elucidated and summarized in previous studies the detailed correlation between platelet aggregation and innate immunity that plays an important role in CVD progression has not been thoroughly summarized. Furthermore, immune cell subtypes also contribute to the progression of plaque formation in the subendothelial layer. Thrombus formation and the coagulation cascade also have a vital role in the progression of atherosclerosis. Hence, in this mini review we aim to elucidate, summarize, and propose the potent therapeutic effect of ginseng on CVD, mainly on platelet aggregation, plaque formation, and thrombus formation.

Keywords: Atherosclerosis; Ginseng; Platelet aggregation; Thrombus; Vulnerable plaque.

Publication types

Review