Panax quinquefolius saponin improve myocardial ischemia with depression in vivo and in vitro by regulating the PI3K/Akt/eNOS pathwayOA

Background:American ginseng has been used in the food processing and pharmaceutical industry as a medicinal plant with both nutritional value and economic benefit.Panax quinquefolius saponins(PQS),the main active component,have significant antioxidant,neuroprotective,and cardioprotective effects.Clinically,myocardial ischemia(MI)and depression often interact,which has increasing morbidity and mortality rates.However,the mechanism of PQS on MI with depression remains unclear.Methods:The study employed both in vivo and in vitro experiments.Depression-like behaviour changes and cardiac function were observed in mice with MI and depression induced by a high-fat diet(HFD)and intraperitoneal injection of isoproterenol(ISO)plus chronic unpredictable mild stress(CUMS).Both ISO-exposed H9c2 cells and corticosterone(CORT)-induced HT22 cells were selected for in vitro experiments.Biochemical indices and PI3K/Akt/eNOS pathway-related proteins were measured through enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA)and Western blotting.Results:PQS significantly improved depression-like behaviour and heart damage in mice and substantially increased H9c2 and HT22 cell activities in vitro.Western blotting analysis showed that PQS could dramatically reverse the changes in the PI3K/AKT/eNOS signalling pathway both in vivo and in vitro.In addition,applying the PI3K inhibitor LY294002 weakened the neuroprotective and cardioprotective effects of PQS.Conclusion:PQS can effectively improve MI with depression,probably through activating PI3K/Akt/eNOS pathway.