Biochemical studies on ginseng saponins part 5 the effect of ginseng saponins on chicken hepatic mitochondrial succinate dehydrogenase malate dehydrogenase and alpha keto glutarate dehydrogenase
Joo, C.N.; Han, J.H.
Korean Biochemical Journal 9(1): 43-51
1976
ISSN/ISBN: 0368-4881
Accession: 004834199
The effects of gingseng saponins, 1 of the major components of Panax ginseng roots, on several TCA [tricarboxylic acid] cycle enzymes such as succinate dehydrogenase (SDH), malate dehydrogenase (MDH) and .alpha.-ketoglutarate dehydrogenase (.alpha.-KGDH) was studied in vitro. The activity of SDH was highest when the concentration of the saponins in the assay mixture was 8.3 .times. 10-2%, which caused an increment of 37% of the control. SDH was inhibited when the concentration of the saponins in the reaction mixture was over 1.7 .times. 10-1%. Malonate inhibition of SDH was recovered slightly (about 10%) by the addition of the saponins, suggesting that a complete recovery of malonate inhibition of SDH cannot be expected by the saponins. The ginseng saponins also activated MDH. When the concentration of the saponins in the assay mixture was 1.4 .times. 10-5% the activity of MDH was highest, 1.32 times that of the control, and when the concentration was over 1.4 .times. 10-4%, the MDH was inhibited. .alpha.-KGDH was also activated in the presence of saponins. The activity of .alpha.-KGDH was highest when the concentration of the saponins in the assay mixture was 1.5 .times. 10-3%. The oxidation of pyruvate was found to be increased by about 1.4 times that of the control, probably through the activation of mitochondrial dehydrogenases by the saponins.