ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effects of Radix Ginseng and Radix Notoginseng formula on secretion of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and expression of vascular endothelial growth factor receptor-2 (VEGFR-2) in human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) in vitro. METHODS: HUVECs were cultured in vitro. Bovine basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) at concentration of 320 U/mL and Radix Ginseng and Radix Notoginseng formula at concentrations of 0.1, 0.2 and 0.4 mg/mL were used to culture with HUVECs. And HUVECs in blank control group were cultured with culture solution only. After 24-hour culture, the content of VEGF in supernatant was detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and the expression of VEGFR-2 was detected by immunocytochemical staining and Western-blotting. RESULTS: Radix Ginseng and Radix Notoginseng formula at 0.4 mg/mL, the same as bFGF, increased VEGF content in the HUVEC supernatant and the number of VEGFR-2-positive HUVECs. Expression of VEGFR-2 protein in high-dose Radix Ginseng and Radix Notoginseng formula group was up-regulated as compared with the blank control group. CONCLUSION: Radix Ginseng and Radix Notoginseng formula can promote HUVEC proliferation and secretion of VEGF, as well as the expression of VEGFR-2 protein, which may be one of the mechanisms of Radix Ginseng and Radix Notoginseng formula in promoting angiogenesis.
