Antiplatelet effects of saponin fraction from Korean red ginseng by modulating phosphoproteins and inhibiting granule secretion in U46619-induced human platelets
Year: 2026
Type: article
Abstract: Proper activation of platelets is indispensable for maintaining physiological hemostasis, yet aberrant or excessive platelet reactivity is recognized as a major driving factor in cardiovascular pathologies including atherosclerosis, thrombosis, and stroke.Therefore, the discovery of natural compounds capable of modulating platelet function has emerged as a promising avenue for preventing and treating cardiovascular disorders.Although Korean Red Ginseng-derived saponins have previously been reported to exhibit anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and immuneregulatory activities, their involvement in platelet signaling and thrombus formation has not been clearly elucidated.In this study, we sought to determine whether the saponin fraction isolated from Korean Red Ginseng affects platelet activation and thrombogenic responses.Our experiments demonstrated that the saponin fraction dose-dependently suppressed U46619-stimulated platelet aggregation and significantly diminished the secretion of densegranule mediators, including ATP and serotonin.Furthermore, exposure to the saponin fraction attenuated the phosphorylation of central intracellular regulators of platelet activation, particularly Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases and PI3K/Akt, implying that multiple signaling pathways are simultaneously targeted.HPLC-ELSD profiling further revealed that the fraction contained high levels of ginsenosides Rg1, Rg2, and Rg3, which have been previously suggested to possess antiplatelet effects.Collectively, our findings illustrate that the Korean Red Ginseng-derived saponin fraction, enriched with ginsenosides Rg1, Rg2, and Rg3, exhibits substantial inhibitory effects on platelet hyperactivation and thrombus formation.These results support the potential of this natural fraction as a preventive and therapeutic candidate for cardiovascular diseases characterized by dysregulated platelet activity.
Authors: Chang-Eun Park, Dong-Ha Lee
Institution: Namseoul University
Language: English
Subfield: Molecular Biology
Domain: Life Sciences
Open Access status: diamond
OpenAlex ID: W7124443416