THE ANTI-STRESS EFFECT OF SAPONINS EXTRACTED FROM PANAX GINSENG FRUIT AND THE HYPOPHYSEAL- ADRENAL SYSTEM

With various methods (temperature, swimming, hypoxia and toxicant), observations were made on the anti-stress effects of the saponins extracted from panax ginseng fruit (SPGF) injected intraperitoneally into white mice. The results obtained are as follows: SPGF exhibited a highly significant anti-hypoxia effect and anti-fatigue action. In addition, saponins strikingly raised the animals' ability to tolerate temperature stress and impede significantly the elevation of SGPT liver induced by injection of CCl₄. But this effect was abolished by the extirpation of the adrenals. Administration of SPGF by gavage caused marked depletion of adrenal ascorbic acid in intact rats. Stress condition and ACTH depleted the ascorbic acid content of the adrenals in rats. Previous administration of SPGF exhibited an inhibiting effect on such depletion. However, the adrenal ascorbic acid regulating effect of the compound disappeared in hypophysectomized rats. From these results, it would appear that SPGF has a stimulatory action on the hypophyseal—adrenal system.