Effect of Crude Saponin Fraction from Korean Red Ginseng on Physiological Events of Ovariectomized Rat

난소절제 흰쥐의 생리적 장애에 미치는 고려홍삼 조사포닌 분획의 영향

This study was carried out to investigate the effect of crude saponin fracton from Korean red ginseng on physiological events of ovariectomized rats. The saponin fractions was prepared by Diaion HP-20 adsorption chromatography and spirit. Total 50 rats were divided into 5 groups : normal control (NC), sham-ovariectomized (SO), ovariectomized (OR), ovariectomized and saponin treated (OS), and normal control treated with saponin (NS). Saponin was intraperitonally administered for 8 weeks. Ovariectomy was carried out at 1 st and 2nd weeks of experiment. Right-side ovary of rat was removed at 1st week, the otehr was done at 2nd week. The body weights fo ovariectomized rats showed no significant changes but that of NS group showed significant increase (p<0.05) compared with NC group. Ovariectomy of rats reduced the weights of femur by 6 to 8% compared with that of NC group. In addition, femur weight of NS group was 5 to 6% higher than that of NC. Uterus weight showed no significant differences by saponin treatment or ovariectomy. Serum testosterone level of ovariectomized rats increased by 60 times compared with that of NC. However, administration of crude saponin to ovariectomized rat attenuated testosterone level to almost that of NC. These results suggest that Korean red ginseng saponin attenuates physiological disorders induced by malfunction of ovary.