Effect of Ginseng Alcohol Extract on Sodium Movements across the Red Cell Membrane

인삼이 적혈구막을 통한 $Na^+$ 이동에 미치는 영향

In an attempt to explore the effect of Ginseng on the permeability of the biological membrane to cations we have investigated the effect of Ginseng-alcohol extract on the transport of $Na^+$ human red blood cell preprations. The $Na^+$ influx was measured in intact red cells using $^{22}Na$ as a tracer and the efflux in reseated red cells using $^{24}Na$ as a tracer. 1. The influx of $Na^+$ was not apparently changed by the Ginseng-alcohol extract of 20mg% in the incubation medium. 2. Similarly, 20mg% Ginseng-alcohol extract in the cellular space did not alter the efflux of $Na^+$ from the cell. However, 50mg% of Ginseng-alcohol extract in the cell resulted in a significant increase in the $Na^+$ efflux and this effect was magnified when the cell was suspended in the medium containing the Ginseng-alcohol extract in a concentration of 20mg %. The results suggest that Ginseng-alcohol extract over 50mg% increase permeability of red blood cell membrane to $Na^+$ by altering the membrane integrity.