Chronic Treatment with Panax ginseng and Angelica keiskei Decreases Blood Pressure and Improves Endothelial Function in Ovariectomized Rats.

Background: Menopause is a natural physiological process that can impact various systems and organs, often leading to increased blood pressure. The combination of Panax ginseng and Angelica keiskei (Pg + Ak) is a formulation known to improve vascular function.

Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the in vivo effects of these combined plants on cardiovascular parameters in female rats experiencing menopause induced by ovariectomy.

Methods: Twenty-four 70-day-old female Wistar rats were randomly assigned to three groups: sham-operated (Sham), ovariectomized (OVX), and ovariectomized with Pg + Ak treatment (OVX + Pg + Ak). The rats in the Pg + Ak treatment group received an intraperitoneal injection of 100 mg/kg/day for two weeks. Blood pressure was measured using tail plethysmography, and endothelial function was assessed through vascular reactivity tests.

Results: At the end of the treatment, mean blood pressure in the SH group was lower than in the control group (OVX), and the Pg + Ak treatment improved the endothelial dysfunction caused by ovariectomy. This was evident in the restored endothelium-dependent vasodilation in the aortic rings of the OVX rats treated with Pg + Ak compared to untreated OVX rats.

Conclusions: Our findings suggest that the Pg + Ak combination effectively reduces blood pressure and reverses endothelial dysfunction in ovariectomized rats.