Ginsenoside Rg3 can induce the procoagulant activity of erythrocytes through phosphatidylserine exposure via hemolysis.

Ginsenoside Rg3 can induce the procoagulant activity of erythrocytes through phosphatidylserine exposure via hemolysis. Food Chem Toxicol. 2019 Jun 01;: Authors: Bian Y, Kim K, Ngo T, Shin S, Bae ON, Lim KM, Chung JH Abstract Ginseng and its active gradient, ginsenoside Rg3 (Rg3), are widely used for a variety of health benefits, but concerns over their misuses are increasing. Previously, it has been reported that Rg3 can cause hemolysis, but its health outcome remains unknown. Here, we demonstrated that Rg3 could promote the procoagulant activity of erythrocytes through the process of hemolysis, ultimately leading to increased thrombosis. In freshly isolated human erythrocytes, Rg3 caused pore formation and fragmentation of the erythrocyte membrane. Confocal microscopy observation and flow cytometric analysis revealed that remnant erythrocyte fragments after the exposure to Rg3 expressed phosphatidylserine (PS), which can promote blood coagulation through providing assembly sites for coagulation complexes. Rat in vivo experiments further confirmed that intravenous administration of Rg3 produced PS-bearing erythrocyte fragments and increased thrombosis. Collectively, we demonstrated that Rg3 could induce the procoagulant activity of erythrocytes by generating PS-bearing erythrocyte fragments through hemolysis, which might provoke thrombosis. PMID: 31163221 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]
Source: Food and Chemical Toxicology - Category: Food Science Authors: Tags: Food Chem Toxicol Source Type: research