Ginsenoside Rg1 inhibits myocardial ischaemia and reperfusion injury via HIF-1α-ERK signalling pathways in a diabetic rat model

The aim of this study was to observe the effects of HIF-1α activation on myocardial I/R in diabetes. Diabetes was induced in an experimental rat model, and regulators of HIF-1α including KC7F2, deferoxamine and ginsenoside Rg1 were administered to observe the changes on diabetic rats. The results demonstrated that HIF-1α activation could effectively reduce myocardial injury following I/R in diabetic hearts via ERK but not MMP-2 signalling pathways. This activation promoted myocardial apoptosis, which was accompanied by modulation of Bax/Bcl-2, caspase-3 and caspase-9 expression following deferoxamine administration. Ginsenoside Rg1 application but not Re can activate HIF-1α, resulting in a similar protectively effect on these pathology processes. Our data demonstrated that ginsenoside Rg1 has a potential therapeutic effect by protecting diabetic hearts after myocardial injury following I/R via HIF-1α activation.