Induction of resistance vessel dilation by ginger root juice,possibly through extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2 and endothelial nitric oxide synthase activation in endothelial cells

Objective:To investigate the effects of ginger root juice on contractibility of resistance blood vessels from mice and on activation of extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2(ERK1/2)and endothelial nitric oxide synthase(eNOS)in human endothelial cells.Methods:Juice was prepared from semi-dry ginger roots.Mesenteric artery rings were dis-sected from healthy adult C57BL/J6 mice.Primary human umbilical vein endothelial cells(HU-VECs)were isolated from umbilical cords of normal full-term babies.The contractibility of the dissected vessel rings in the presence or absence of ginger root juice at 0.1%(v/v)after potassium(100 mM KCL)stimulation was measured by wire myography.The phosphorylation levels of ERK1/2 and eNOS in the presence of ginger root juice in the culture medium at 0,0.025%,0.05%,0.1%,and 0.2%(v/v)in HUVECs were assessed by western blotting analysis.Results:An immediate sharp increase in the contractile activity was observed in mesenteric artery rings in response to KCL stimulation.Ginger root juice effectively attenuated the KCL-mediated vessel contraction.Moreover,ginger root juice significantly increased phosphorylation of ERK1/2 and eNOS in a dose-dependent manner.Conclusions:Ginger root juice is capable of relaxing resistance blood vessels.Activation of ERK1/2 and eNOS through phosphorylation in endothelial cells may be a mechanism underlying the vasodilator activity of ginger root.