Protection effect of 20(S)-ginsenoside Rg2 extracted from cultured Panax notoginseng cells on hydrogen peroxide-induced cytotoxity of human umbilical cord vein endothelial cells in vitro

Ginseng saponins 20(S)-ginsenoside Rg2 extracted from cultured Panax notoginseng cells in a fermenter show a protection effect on human umbilical cord vein endothelial cells (VEC-304) from H2O2-induced cell apoptosis. When 50 μg/ml 20(S)-ginsenoside Rg2 was present in the culture medium for 8 h, the H2O2-damaged VEC-304 cells acquired about 11-fold (p < 0.01) on the amount and about 2-fold (p < 0.05) increase in PA activity compared with those untreated cells. And the Rg2 has a strong ability in scavenging intracellular ROS induced by H2O2.