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The effect of Ginseng on global myocardial ischemia and reperfusion was examined in isolated perfused rat hearts. The Ginseng ethanol extract (100mg/kg/day) was administered orally for 10 days. The rat hearts were removed and perfused at 75cm H2O by the Langendorff method. After 25 min. of global ischemia, the hearts were reperfused. The myocardial contents of adenosine 5´-triphosphate, creatine phosphate, and calcium were assayed. There no differences in ATP levels in all group of normal and Ginseng-treated hearts. Both in non-ischemic and ischemic heart, Ginseng increased significantly tissue creatine phosphate levels compared with control. Whereas, in ischemic-reperfused heart, there was no significant difference. In the control groups, myocardial calcium contents in the ischemic hearts were decreased compared with the non-ischemic hearts. But, in the Ginseng-treated groups, the calcium contents in the ischemic herts were not changed with the nonischemic hearts. Therefore,Ginseng appears to exert its protective effect against ischemic heart condition, not against ischemic-reperfused heart condition, by regulating energy metabolism and maintaing cellular function.
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