Anti-Thrombotic Effect of Protoparaxotriol Saponins From Panax notoginseng Using Zebrafish Model

ABSTRACT: Panax notoginseng has the effect of stimulating circulation to end stasis. Our study was designed to evaluate the anti-thrombotic effect of protoparaxotriol saponins (PTS) from P. notoginseng and the involved mechanisms. A thrombosis model was constructed, and the anti-thrombotic activity of PTS was determined by erythrocyte staining, heart rate, and blood flow velocity. In addition, quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction was used to identify changes in the expression of genes related to coagulation, inflammation, and apoptosis. PTS alleviated arachidonic acid-induced caudal vein thrombosis, restored blood flow, and increased the area of cardiac erythrocyte staining, heart rate, and blood flow velocity. It reduced the ponatinib-induced cerebral thrombus area and decreased the intensity of erythrocyte staining. The quantitative polymerase chain reaction data showed that the anti-thrombotic effect of PTS was mediated by suppression of genes related to coagulation, inflammation, and apoptosis and also involved inhibition of nuclear factor kappa-light-chain-enhancer of activated B cells (NF-κB) and phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K)/protein kinase B (AKT) pathways.