Abstract
This study was divised to observe the effects of defatted(by petroleum ether) Korean ginseng on the cholesterol level of Sprague-Dowley Albino male rats by alternating the diet. 130 heads of weaned rats having 83$\pm$4g of body weight were fed with each stock diets supplemented with 0.5, 1.0 and 3.0% defatted ginseng powder for 4 or 8 weeks, and after that fed with stock diet only for 8 or 4 weeks. Total cholesterol and free form cholesterol contents in serum, liver and aorta of them were determined, and compared with the each corresponding group which was fed with defatted ginseng control diet for 12 weeks. Total cholesterol and free form cholesterol contents in the serum were increased caused by the alternating diets which was fed on 0.5, 1.0 and 3.0% defatted ginseng diet for 4 and 8 weeks after being fed on stock diet for 8 and 4 weeks, conversely total cholesterol contents in the aorta were decreased by the same alternating diets. Free form cholesterol contents in the serum, liver and aorta of the group which was fed on 1.0% defatted ginseng diet 8 weeks after being fed on stock diet for 4 weeks were increased, but that of the group which was fed alternately on 3.0% defatted ginseng diet were decreased than the corresponding defatted ginseng control diet group.