Ginsenoside Rb2 alleviates myocardial ischemia/reperfusion injury through IKKα lactylation regulation of macrophage polarization

Myocardial ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury (MIRI) is a major contributor to cardiovascular morbidity, characterized by inflammatory responses and cardiomyocyte death. Ginsenoside Rb2 (Rb2), a bioactive compound from Panax ginseng, has shown potential cardioprotective effects, but its mechanisms in I/R injury remain unclear. Macrophage polarization refers to the process by which macrophages dynamically shift between pro-inflammatory (M1) and anti-inflammatory (M2) phenotypes in response to microenvironmental signals. This study aimed to investigate whether Rb2 could participate in the progression of MIRI by regulating macrophage polarization.