Targeting angiogenesis: Effects and mechanisms of action of ginsenosides

Ya-Wei Lu; Jing-Tian Zhang; Chen Chen; Hong-Mei Lin; Wei Li

doi:10.1016/j.phymed.2025.157353

Targeting angiogenesis: Effects and mechanisms of action of ginsenosides

Phytomedicine. 2025 Nov 25:148:157353. doi: 10.1016/j.phymed.2025.157353. Epub 2025 Oct 1.

Authors

Ya-Wei Lu¹, Jing-Tian Zhang¹, Chen Chen², Hong-Mei Lin³, Wei Li⁴

Affiliations

¹ College of Chinese Medicinal Materials, Jilin Provincial International Joint Research Center for the Development and Utilization of Authentic Medicinal Materials, Jilin Agricultural University, Changchun 130118, China.
² Endocrinology and Metabolism, SBMS, University of Queensland, St Lucia Campus, Brisbane 4072, Australia.
³ College of Chinese Medicinal Materials, Jilin Provincial International Joint Research Center for the Development and Utilization of Authentic Medicinal Materials, Jilin Agricultural University, Changchun 130118, China. Electronic address: baolinhm@126.com.
⁴ College of Chinese Medicinal Materials, Jilin Provincial International Joint Research Center for the Development and Utilization of Authentic Medicinal Materials, Jilin Agricultural University, Changchun 130118, China; College of Life Sciences, Engineering Research Center of the Chinese Ministry of Education for Biorector and Pharmaceutical Development, Jilin Agricultural University, Changchun 130118, China. Electronic address: liwei7727@126.com.

PMID: 41067201
DOI: 10.1016/j.phymed.2025.157353

Abstract

Background: Angiogenesis is a key link in a variety of physiological and pathological processes and plays a crucial role in tissue repair, tumor growth and ischemic diseases. Ginsenosides, as the main active component of ginseng, have a unique ability to bidirectionally regulate angiogenesis, but the systematic mechanism of their action in different diseases has not been fully elucidated.

Purpose: This article comprehensively reviews the bidirectional regulatory effects of ginsenosides on angiogenesis by regulating multiple signaling pathways, aiming to provide new therapeutic strategies for angiogenesis-related diseases and explore their application prospects in combination with biomaterials.

Methods: Through systematic searches of databases such as PubMed, Web of Science, CNKI and Science Direct, the search keywords were "angiogenesis", "fibrosis", "myocardial infarction", "cerebral ischemia-reperfusion", "endometriosis", "bone repair", "retinopathy", "skin", "Ginsenosides", "ginseng" and other combinations of these key words. The search time is up to May 2025. The core target was analyzed by network pharmacology, combined with the experimental data inside and outside the body and the research on the biomaterial delivery system, to evaluate its mechanism of action.

Results: Ginsenosides can regulate multiple signaling pathways such as PI3K/Akt/mTOR, HIF-1α/VEGF and MAPK/NF-κB, exerting anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, anti-apoptotic and bidirectional regulatory effects on angiogenesis. In addition, ginsenosides are combined with biomaterials to achieve targeted delivery and controlled release. It has demonstrated remarkable therapeutic effects and biosafety in the treatment of heart repair, cerebral ischemia, skin trauma, tumor treatment and diabetic retinopathy.

Conclusions: Ginsenosides show broad prospects in the treatment of angiogenesis-related diseases by regulating angiogenesis through multiple targets and in both directions. In the future, it is necessary to further combine clinical research to verify its mechanism and optimize the drug delivery system to achieve precise treatment.

Keywords: Anti-angiogenesis; Ginseng; Ginsenosides; Pro-angiogenesis; Review.

Publication types

Review

MeSH terms

Angiogenesis
Animals
Ginsenosides* / pharmacology
Humans
Neovascularization, Pathologic* / drug therapy
Panax / chemistry
Signal Transduction / drug effects

Substances

Ginsenosides