OBJECTIVETo study the effects of Ginseng and Sanchi Compositions (GSC) on the protein and mRNA expressions of Ras, extracellular signal-regulated Kinase1/2 (ERK1/2), and C-Raf-1 of ischemic myocardium of rats with acute myocardial infarction (AMI).

METHODSBy adopting myocardial ischemia Wistar rat model with the ligation of the left anterior descending coronary artery, the normal control group, the sham-operation group, the model group, the Betaloc group, the high and low dose GSC group were set up. The protein expressions of Ras, C-Raf-1, ERK1/2,and phosphor-ERK1/2, p-ERK1/2 (p-ERK1/2) were detected by Western blot. The mRNA expressions of Ras, C-Raf-1, ERK1, and ERK2 were detected using Real-time PCR.

RESULTSThe protein expressions of Ras, c-Raf-1, and p-ERK1/2 and their mRNA expressions in the model group increased more than those in the normal control group and the sham-operation group (P < 0.05). The protein expressions of Ras, c-Raf-1, and p-ERK1/2 and their mRNA expressions in the high and low dose GSC groups and the Betaloc group were significantly higher than those in the model group (P < 0.05). The protein expressions of Ras, c-Raf-1, and p-ERK1/2 and their mRNA expressions increased more obviously in the high dose GSC group than in the low dose GSC group (P < 0.05). The ERK1/2 protein expression was not significantly different among all groups (P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONSGSC could up-regulate the protein expressions and mRNA expressions of Ras, C-Raf-1, and p-ERK1/2. It suggested that GSC might promote the angiogenesis through Ras signal transduction pathway dose-dependently.