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ORIGINAL RESEARCH article

Front. Pharmacol.
Sec. Ethnopharmacology
Volume 15 - 2024 | doi: 10.3389/fphar.2024.1396231

Ginsenosides Ameliorates High Altitude-induced Hypoxia Injury in Lung and Kidney Tissues by Regulating PHD2/HIF-1α/EPO Signaling Pathway

Provisionally accepted
Peng Ji Peng Ji *Zepeng Zhang Zepeng Zhang E Mingyao E Mingyao Qing Liu Qing Liu Hongyu Qi Hongyu Qi Tong Hou Tong Hou Daqing Zh ao Daqing Zh ao Xiangyan Li Xiangyan Li *
  • Changchun University of Chinese Medicine, Changchun, China

The final, formatted version of the article will be published soon.

    Background: The primary constituent of ginseng, known as ginsenosides (GS), has been scientifically demonstrated to possess anti-fatigue, anti-hypoxia, antiinflammatory, and antioxidant properties. However, the effect and mechanisms of GS on tissue injury induced by high-altitude hypoxia still remain unclear.This study aims to investigate the protective effect of GS on a highaltitude hypoxia model and explore its mechanism.Materials and methods: Sprague-Dawley rats were placed in a high-altitude simulation chamber for 48 hours (equivalent to an altitude of 6,000 meters) to establish a high-altitude hypoxia model. We assessed the anti-hypoxic efficacy of GS through blood gas analysis, complete blood count, and hemorheology analysis. We used H&E and hypoxia probe assays to evaluate the protective effect of GS on organ ischemiainduced injury. Further, we used ELISA and qPCR analysis to detect the levels of inflammatory factors and oxidative stress markers. Immunohistochemistry and immunofluorescence staining were performed to determinate protein expression of hypoxia inducible factor 1-alpha (HIF-1α), erythropoietin (EPO), and prolyl hydroxylase 2 (PHD2).In the survival experiment of anoxic mice, 100mg/kg of GS had the best antianoxic effect. GS slowed down the weight loss rate of rats in hypoxic environment. In the fluorescence detection of hypoxia, GS reduced the fluorescence signal value of lung and kidney tissue and alleviated the hypoxia state of tissue. Meanwhile GS improved blood biochemical and hematological parameters. We also observed that GS treatment significantly decreased oxidative stress damage in lung and kidney tissues. Further, the levels of inflammatory factors, IL-1β, IL-6, and TNF-α were reduced by GS. Finally, GS regulated the PHD2/HIF-1α/EPO signaling pathway to improve blood viscosity and tissue hyperemia damage.GS could alleviate high-altitude induced lung and kidney damage by reducing the level of inflammation and oxidative stress, improving blood circulation through the PHD2/HIF-1α/EPO pathway.

    Keywords: Total ginsenoside, High-altitude hypoxia, Oxidative Stress, Inflammation, PHD2/HIF-1α/EPO

    Received: 05 Mar 2024; Accepted: 02 Jul 2024.

    Copyright: © 2024 Ji, Zhang, Mingyao, Liu, Qi, Hou, Zh ao and Li. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) or licensor are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.

    * Correspondence:
    Peng Ji, Changchun University of Chinese Medicine, Changchun, China
    Xiangyan Li, Changchun University of Chinese Medicine, Changchun, China

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