Research Article - (2014) Volume 4, Issue 3
1Young Researchers and Elite Club, Tabriz Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tabriz, Iran
2Department of Clinical science, College of Veterinary Medicine, Tabriz Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tabriz, Iran
3Department of Clinical Science, College of Veterinary Medicine, Orumie University, Orumie, Iran
Ginseng is a highly valued herb in the far east and has gained popularity in the west during the last decade .The ginseng root has been used for over 2000 years, in the belief that it is a panacea and promotes longevity. The Korean herbal medicine, Panax ginseng has been widely used in China and Japan to fight fatigue and for the enhancement of resistance to many diseases. Normal values of biochemical parameters of blood and investigating them and determining changes can assist us in identifying different physiological and pathological states. In this study, the effects of ginseng on some biochemical parameters of rat blood under stress have been studied. For this study, 24 adult male rats were selected. Then the rats were divided into three groups of 8 rats. During the entire period, feeding was performed on the ad libitum basis. In this experiment, the first (group treatment) and second (group ginseng treatment) groups were transferred daily into the Restrainer and were under immobility stress for 2 hours per day during 15 days. For ginseng group, Ginsin 500mg/kg was given daily after immobility stress. The treatment group and control group were given water instead of ginseng by gavage each day. The results of the creatinine, albumin, glucose and amylase did not show any significant differences between groups. There was a significant difference on total protein between treatment group and ginseng treatment group (p<0.05).
Ginseng, Blood biochemical parameters, Rat, Immobility stress
Ginseng is a highly valued herb in the far east and has gained popularity in the west during the last decade [1].The ginseng root has been used for over 2000 years, in the belief that it is a panacea and promotes longevity [2-3].The Korean herbal medicine, Panax ginseng has been widely used in China and Japan to fight fatigue and for the enhancement of resistance to many diseases [4]. This medicine, alone and in combination is being promoted as a general tonic [5]. The pharmacological effects of ginseng have been demonstrated in the central nervous system, the cardiovascular system, as well as the endocrine and immune systems [6-9]. In addition, ginseng and its constituents have been ascribed antineoplastic, antistress, and antioxidant activity [6-1]. It is an herb with many active components, and there is evidence from numerous studies that ginseng does have beneficial effects. In the past, a number of studies have been carried out on this plant for testing pharmacological activities [7-9]. The major active components of ginseng are ginsenosides, a diverse group of steroidal saponins, which demonstrate the ability to target a myriad of tissues, producing an array of pharmacological responses [1-8]. However, many mechanisms of ginsenoside activity still remain unknown. Since ginsenosides and other constituents of ginseng produce effects that are different from one another, and a single ginsenoside initiates multiple actions in the same tissue, the overall pharmacology of ginseng is complex [1]. As a fluid tissue, blood is one of the biological fluids of the body which is subject to changes due to changes in physiological and pathological states of the body [10]. Normal values of biochemical parameters of blood and investigating them and determining changes can assist us in identifying different physiological and pathological states [11]. In this study, the effects of ginseng on some biochemical parameters of rat blood under stress have been studied.
For this study, 24 adult male rats (Wistar rats) were randomly selected and weighed (The average body weight 180 to 220 gram). Then the rats were divided into three groups of 8 rats so that the weighted average of the two groups showed no significant differences. During the entire period, feeding was performed on the ad libitum basis. Feed was analyzed and the results are given in Table (1-1). The consumed water was the city tap water which was rerefined using carbon and sand filters. The environment was exposed to 12-hour lighting and 12-hour dark during the experiment for each group. The room temperature was 22±2 Degrees Celsius during the experimental period. In this experiment, the first (group Treatment) and second (group Ginseng treatment) groups were transferred daily into the Restrainer and were under Immobility stress for 2 hours per day during 15 days. For ginseng group ginseng 500mg/kg (Ginsin capsule, each capsule contains: Ginseng rhizoma 250mg equivalent to 7mg Ginsenosides as Rg1, produced by Goldaru) was given daily after immobility stress (the drug was given by gavage). The treatment group and control group were given water instead of ginseng by gavage each day.
Table 1-1: Food Analysis and ingredients
Ingredients: Barley, corn, wheat bran, meal types, oilseeds, sugar beet pulp, other additives/*1 Minimum and *2 Maximum
Blood sampling and serum analysis
After 15 days, blood sampling was taken on the 15th day from groups. The blood was added into the serum tube manufactured by Eurotube Company. After clotting, the blood was centrifuged with the speed of 3000 rpm for 10 minutes and the serum was removed. In this study total protein review was performed using Biuret method, glucose using GOD-PAP method, albumin using BCG method, creatinine using Kinetik method and amylase using CNP-G3 method and all the introducing kits in this study are manufactured by Pars Azmoon Company.
Statistical Analysis
All raw data of this experiment was investigated by SPSS software version 15.00. The ANOVA and TUKEY HSD tests were used to analyze the data. Data with 5% level (X<0.05) of significance were considered statistically significant mean and standard deviation (st.d) was used to evaluate the data.
The results of serum biochemical parameters have been placed in Table 1-2. The results of the creatinine, albumin, glucose and amylase did not show any significant differences between treatment groups and control groups. There was a significant difference on total protein between treatment group and ginseng treatment group (P<0.05).
Table 1-2: Blood biochemical parameters analysis results
Low TP concentration, or hypoproteinemia, can be caused by increased plasma protein loss, decreased plasma protein production, decreased protein absorption, increased protein catabolism, age, or a combination of these causes [15-11-14]. Increased protein metabolism may also contribute in some cases. Plasma protein loss can be caused by hemorrhage (both albumin and globulin lost in equal proportions), severe exudation from large surface areas, lymphangiectasia caused by conditions and conditions in which albumin is predominantly lost (primarily protein losing nephropathy caused by conditions such as renal amyloidosis, glomerulosclerosis, and glomerulonephritis) [13-15-14]. Decreased plasma protein production can be caused by hepatoinsufficiency, severe malnutrition and combined immunodeficiency [13-14-16]. Age influences TP concentration and normal TP concentrations of very young or old animals are lower than those in normal adults [14]. In this study, there was significant difference at serum TP level between treatment and ginseng treatment groups but there was no significant difference between other groups. Serum TP of rats has been reported 0.20-0.55 mg/dl [17]. Total protein was normal in control, treatment and ginseng treatment groups. In a research conducted by Shin.H.Y et al. 3 doses (0.001, 0.01, and 0.1 g/kg) of P. ginseng maximal effective concentration (0.1 g/kg) used in study when P. ginseng (0.1 g/kg) was administered orally to mice, the TP level significantly increased [9]. Evaluation of albumin concentration is helpful in the diagnosis of patients with suspected dehydration, liver disease, renal disease, and gastrointestinal disease and with vague, nondescript signs [10-15]. Elevated albumin concentration almost invariably indicates dehydration (if the patient has not been transfused with plasma proteins recently) [10]. Normal albumin concentration tends to make certain diseases less likely (e.g., severe protein losing nephropathy, severe protein losing enteropathy, severe hepatoinsufficiency) [14]. Low albumin concentration can be caused by hemorrhage, severe exudation from large surface areas (e.g., pleural and peritoneal cavities, intestines, skin), lymphangiectasia caused by conditions such as congestive heart failure, intestinal diseases (inflammatory or neoplastic), and idiopathic lymphangiectasia and protein-losing nephropathy [15-14]. There was no significant difference at albumin level between control, treatment and ginseng treatment groups. Serum albumin of rats has been reported 3.8-4.8 g/dl [17]. Albumin was normal in all three groups. In a research conducted by Chen.D.K.F et al. the consumption of ginseng (18% per 330g dry weigh) in mice did not make any significant difference in albumin levels [12]. Hyperglycemia can be created by increased glucose intake, increased glucose production, and/or decreased glucose uptake by peripheral tissues [15-10]. Increased glucose intake can result from ingestion of carbohydrate meal or the infusion of a glucose-containing fluid (e.g., 5% dextrose) [15-14]. Strictly speaking, increased glucose production is limited to increased gluconeogenesis within hepatocytes [14]. However, hepatic glycogenolysis can also result in the release of glucose into blood. Decreased glucose uptake by peripheral tissues can result in a mild hyperglycemia by itself, but increased glucose uptake or increased glucose production can enhance the severity of the hyperglycemia [14-10]. Hypoglycemia can be caused by increased insulin secretion, Decreased insulin antagonists, decreased gluconeogenesis, decreased glycogenolysis, increased glucose utilization and other pathologic hypoglycemias with uncertain or unknown pathogenesis [14-11-15]. Serum glucose of rats has been reported 50-135mg/dl [17].in this experiment there was no significant difference at glucose level between control, treatment and ginseng treatment groups. Glucose level was normal in all three groups. In a research conducted by Shin.H.Y three doses (0.001, 0.01, and 0.1 g/kg) of P. ginseng maximal effective concentration (0.1 g/kg) used in study and no significant difference was resulted on serum glucose [9]. Creatinine, like urea is a nitrogenous waste product en rout to the kidneys, but it is a product not of amino acid breakdown but of breakdown of creatine [10-15]. Creatine is a substance present in the muscle witch is involved in high energy metabolism, particularly in stabilizing high energy phosphate bonds not required for immediate use [11-16]. This reaction is reversible and creatinine is not automatically excreted just because it is not needed at a particular time. There is simply a constant slow catabolism of creatine at a rate which is directly proportional to the individual’s muscle mass; in effect there is constant inflow of creatinine to the plasma which is unaffected by any change in muscle activity or muscle damage [14]. Thus changes in plasma creatinine concentration are to all intents and purposes entirely due to changes in creatinine excretion [14]. Serum creatinine of rats has been reported 0.2-0.8mg/dl [17]. Creatinine level was normal in all three groups and there was no significant difference at creatinine level between control, treatment and ginseng treatment groups. In Aphale A.A. et al. study three groups selected then group II, III and IV received the extract of Ginseng and Ashwagandha in the doses of 8.50 mg/kg, 12.75 mg/kg and 17.00 mg/kg respectively that there was no significant toxic effect in all three groups [5]. Serum amylase and lipase are unreliable indicators of pancreatic function [15-16]. Both amylase and lipase can originate from pancreatic factors but also from extrapancreatic sources, such as the small intestinal and gastric mucosa [14-10]. Both amylase and lipase are eliminated by the kidneys, and thus renal failure may result in a twofold to threefold increase in these parameters. There was no significant difference at amylase levels between all three groups [14].
The results of the creatinine, albumin, glucose and amylase did not show any significant differences between groups. There was a significant difference on total protein between treatment group and ginseng treatment group (p<0.05).
