Panax ginseng reduces adriamycin-induced heart failure in rats.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the protective effects of Panax ginseng on adriamycin-induced heart failure. Wistar rats were divided into four groups: control, adriamycin, ginseng and adriamycin with ginseng. Adriamycin (cumulative dose, 15 mg/kg) was administered to rats in six equal intraperitoneal injections over a period of 2 weeks. Ginseng was administered via an oral feeding tube once a day for 30 days (cumulative dose, 150 g/kg). At the end of the 5 week post-treatment period, the hearts of the rats were used to study the synthesis rates of DNA, RNA and protein, myocardial antioxidants and lipid peroxidation. At the end of 3 weeks treatment, heart failure was characterized by ascites, congested liver and depressed cardiac function. Nucleic acid as well as protein synthesis was inhibited, lipid peroxidation was increased and myocardial glutathione peroxidase activity was decreased indicating adriamycin-induced heart failure. In contrast, the administration of ginseng, before and concurrent with adriamycin, significantly attenuated the myocardial effects, lowered the mortality as well as the amount of ascites, increased in myocardial glutathione peroxidase, macromolecular biosynthesis and superoxide dismutase activities, with a concomitant decrease in lipid peroxidation. These findings indicated that ginseng may be partially protective against adriamycin-induced heart failure.