Studies on the Anti - aging Action of Korean Ginseng

Abstract

The inhibitory effects of red-ginseng saponin hydrolyzates (prosapogenin, panaxadiol and panaxatriol) on lipoperoxide formation in vitro and in vivo were investigated and correlated with anti-aging. Saponin hydrolyzates showed the electron-donating ability (EDA) of 12.88 - 19.76% to DPPH in vitro, and the ability was distinctively decreased in order of prosapogenin, panaxatriol and panaxadiol. The induction period of saponin hydrolyzates, which was measured by the method of peroxide value (POV), was much longer than red-ginseng saponin and decreased in order of prosapogenin, panaxatriol and panaxadiol. The inhibitory effect of saponin, hydrolyzates in vivo was remarkably greater than control. In contrast to red-ginseng saponin, almost similar inhibitory effect in rat liver and kidney was observed, whereas they were much more effective than red-ginseng saponin in blood. The superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity of saponin hydrolyzates in vitro was also measured, and the inhibitory effect of saponin hydrolyzates was found to be 24.2-36.4% and 2-3 times greater than that of red-ginseng saponin (12.1%). Saponin hydrolyzates showed the inhibitory effects of 11.2-21.6% and 12.9-22.2% in oral and intraperitioneal administrations, respectively. It was also found from the measurement of peroxidase activity that the inhibitory effects of saponin hydrolyzates were 111.4-139.6% in oral administration and 129.0-188.6% in intraperitoneal administration.