Influence of Total Saponin from Korean Red Ginseng on Structural Changes in Phospholipid Membranes and Ghost Erythrocytes

고려홍삼의 총사포닌에 의한 인지질막과 적혈구막의 구조적 변화

Total saponin from Korean red ginseng changed thermodynamic parameters of membranes from dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine (DPPC) and ghost erythrocytes of human. In liposomes from DPPC, temperature of the main transition (Lb'-La) in liquid-crystalline phase increases by 0.2$^{\circ}C$ in average, but enthalpy does not change. Total saponin at a concentration of smaller than $10^5$% "stabilizes" the timid bilayers. At larger than 0.07 of saponin/DPPC ratio, saponin leads to an exclusion of the bound lipid molecules from the main phase transition into lamella liquid crystalline La-phase. Total saponin influences specifically all erythrocyte membrane transitions in a concentration-dependent manner, i.e. on the structures of all the main membrane skeleton proteins. A high structural specificity of saponin with membrane proteins, could be a base of specificity of physiological response of not only erythrocytes, but also other cells.her cells.