[Ameliorative effect of ginseng glycopeptide on cross-linking of rat tail tendon collagen].

Objective: To investigate the ameliorative effect of ginseng glycopeptide on cross-linking of rat tail tendon collagen.

Method: ELISA was used to determine the inhibitory effect of ginseng glycopeptide on cross-linking of rat tail tendon collagen in vitro. After ginseng glycopeptide was intraperitoneally administrated to streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats for 12 weeks, the acid solubility, limited pepsin degradation properties and solubility in SDS-2-mercaptoethanol of the rat tail tendon collagen were determined, and the effect of ginseng glycopeptide on the tail tendon collagen cross-linking was evaluated.

Result: Ginseng glycopeptide inhibited significantly the cross-linking of rat tail tendon collagen in vitro. The solubility of the tail tendon collagen (in acid, pepsin and SDS-2-mercaptoethanol) was markedly decreased in diabetic rats and ginseng glycopeptide-treated diabetic rats had significantly an increase in the collagen solubility in the above-mentioned solutions, suggesting that ginseng glycopeptide decreased severity of the collagen cross-linking.

Conclusion: Ginsengglycopeptide exhibits an significantly ameliorative effect on cross-linking of rat tail tendon collagen.