Description
Protopanaxatriol is a triterpene sapogenin originally found in species of Panax (ginseng) that exhibits antihypertensive, neuromodulatory, and antioxidative activities. Protopanaxatriol prevents breakdown of vitamin D3 and inhibits GABA-A and GABA-C receptors as well as slow-activating delayed rectifier K+ channels. Protopanaxatriol also stimulates production of eNOS and NO, increasing vascular relaxation and decreasing blood pressure. In animal models of isoproterenol-induced myocardial injury, protopanaxatriol decreases levels of maldionaldehyde and increases activity of superoxide dismutase and glutathione peroxidase.