Abstract

Aerobic cells are normally protected from the damage of free radicals by antioxidative on , zymes such as superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase, glutathione (GSH) peroxidase, GSH S- transferase and GSH reductase which scavenge free radicals as well as nonenzymatic antioxidants such as ceruloplasmin, albumin and nonprotein-SH including GSH. The effects of each component (ginsenoside $Rb_1$, $Rb_2$, Rc, Rd, Re, $Rb_1$, Rf, $Rh_1$ and $Rh_2$) of red ginseng on the antioxidative enzyme activities were investigated in the liver in order to screen antioxidative components of red ginseng. Ginsenoside $Rb_1$ and Rc showed a tendency to increase GSH peroxidase activity, while ginsenoside Rc significantly decreased Cu,Zn-SOD activity. Especially, ginsenoside $Rh_2$ significantly increased catalase activity. These results suggest that ginsenoside $Rh_2$ is an important active component among total saponins of red ginseng.

Keywords

• free radicals;
• antioxidative effect;
• catalase;
• GSH peroxidase Cu;
• Zn-SOD