Effects of Panax notoginseng saponins on rat cardiomyocytes apoptosis induced by angiotengin II in vitro / 中国中药杂志

ABSTRACT

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To study the protective effects of Panax notoginseng saponins (PNS) on angiotensin II (Ang II)-induced rat cardiomyocyte apoptosis in vitro and the probable mechanism.</p><p><b>METHOD</b>Cultured cardiomyocytes from neonatal rats were stimulated with Ang II. Cell viability was measured by MTT. Apoptosis was evaluated using Acridine Orange (AO) fluorescent dye staining and flow cytometry; Fluo-3 AM was used to test the change of intracellular free calcium.</p><p><b>RESULT</b>It was found that incubating with Ang II (10(-7) mol x L(-1)) for 48 h increased cardiomyocyte apoptosis, PNS (25, 100 mg x mL(-1)) increased myocyte viability. PNS (50 mg x mL(-1)) significantly decreased this Ang II-induced rat cardiomyocyte apoptosis (P < 0.05) and decreased fluorescent intensity of intracellular calcium.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>PNS has a significant effect on Ang II-induced rat cardiomyocytes apoptosis in vitro by alleviating intracellular calcium overload.</p>