Effect of ginseng saponins on nuclear ribonucleic acid (RNA) metabolism. I. RNA synthesis in rats treated with ginsenosides.

Abstract

The effect of ginsenosides purified from Ginseng (the roots of Panax ginseng) on nuclear RNA synthesis was investigated. Four hours after i.p. injection of each of the ginsenosides (-Rb1, -Rc and -Rg1) at a dose of 5 mg/100 g body wt, incorporation of 3H-orotic acid into nuclear RNA of rat liver was determined. The ginsenosides showed different activities: Rb1 increased and Rc decreased the incorporation, and Rg1 did not affect it. The effect of ginsenoside-Rb1 and -Rc on RNA polymerase activity was investigated 3 h after the i.p. administration. Rb1 enhanced and Rc repressed the enzyme activity, the results being consistent with those on the incorporation study. Both purified ginsenosides did not show any effect on RNA polymerase activity when added in vitro.