Alleviation of diabetic complications by ginsenoside Rg3-enriched red ginseng extract in western diet-fed LDL–/– mice

Fig. 1. Rg3-RGE attenuated serum glucose and liver biomarker levels in LDL–/– mice. (A–C) Serum glucose, GOT, and GPT levels were determined using an ELISA kit after oral treatment of the mice with Rg3-RGE over 4 wk. Bar graphs represent means ± SEM (n = 6). A p value of <0.05 was considered significant compared with the atorvastatin group (positive control). (D) This figure part represents the following: (a) normal liver section of mice treated with regular chow diet; (b) LDL–/– mice fed with a western diet for 12 wk; (c) LDL–/– mice treated with atorvastatin at 5 mg/kg as positive control; and LDL–/– mice given Rg3-RGE at (d) 2.5 mg/kg and (e) 5 mg/kg. GOT, glutamic-oxaloacetic transaminase; GPT, glutamate-pyruvate transaminase; LDL, low-density lipoprotein; Rg3-RGE, Rg3-enriched red ginseng extract; SEM, standard error of the mean.

Fig. 2. Inhibition of cholesterol parameters by Rg3-RGE. (A–E) The levels of LDL, HDL, total cholesterol, and triglycerides were measured in the serum of normal and LDL–/– mice fed a WD, and treated with Rg3-RGE and atorvastatin. Bar graphs represent means ± SEM (n = 6). A p value of <0.05 was considered significant compared with the atorvastatin group (positive control). The H&E staining of aortic sections indicates thickening of the endothelial layer in WD-fed LDL–/– mice, which was attenuated by Rg3-RGE treatment. (F) This figure part represents the following: (a) normal aortic sections of mice fed with a regular chow diet; (b) LDL–/– mice fed a WD for 12 wk; (c) LDL–/– mice treated with atorvastatin 5 mg/kg as positive control; and LDL–/– mice treated with Rg3-RGE at (d) 2.5 mg/kg and (e) 5 mg/kg. HDL, high-density lipoprotein; H&E, hematoxylin and eosin; LDL, low-density lipoprotein; Rg3-RGE, Rg3-enriched red ginseng extract; SEM, standard error of the mean; WD, western diet.