Abstract
The effect of orally administered ginseng ethanol extract on potassium deficient and normal rat skeletal muscles was investigated in terms of Ca uptake by sarcoplastic reticulum fragments. The ginseng ethanol extract (100mg/kg/day) was administered orally to Sprague-Dawley rats for 21 days and their changes of body weights, $K^+$ content in skeletal muscles, and calcium uptake capacity of sarcoplamic reticulurn of each groups were measured. The growth rate of rats fed with the potassium deficient diet was significantly decreased compared to that of normal rats. Ginseng components did not show any effect on the decreased growth rate of the postassium deficient rats. Potassium content in skeletal muscle from potassium deficient rats was significantly reduced compared to that of normal rats. Ginseng components showed the tendency to prevent the reduction in potassium content of potassium deficient rats, but differences were not statistically significant. Calcium uptake of SR prepared from skeletal muscles of potassium deficient rats was increased significantly compared to that of normal rats. Ginseng components prevented such increase of calcium uptake by 30%. In summary, it can be concluded that ginseng may prevent the increase in Cauptake of SR obtained from potassium deficient rats.
