Effect of ginseng principle on pyruvate kinase activity in rat liver

• Published in: Chemical & pharmaceutical bulletin Vol. 27; no. 2; pp. 419 - 423
• Main Authors: Yokozawa, T, Kitahara, N, Okuda, S, Oura, H
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Japan The Pharmaceutical Society of Japan 01-01-1979; Japan Science and Technology Agency
• Subjects: actinomycin-D; Animals; diet; Liver - drug effects; Liver - enzymology; Male; Panax; Plant Extracts - pharmacology; Plants, Medicinal; Pyruvate Kinase - metabolism; Rats
• ISSN: 0009-2363; 1347-5223
• DOI: 10.1248/cpb.27.419

In comparing the effect of ginseng principle on the activity of pyruvate kinase (EC 2. 7. 1. 40), there was a marked difference among various diet groups. Administration of the extract (fraction 5) from the roots of Panax ginseng C. A. MEYER increased the activity of hepatic pyruvate kinase in rats fed on a laboratory pellet chow. Maximum increase in the enzyme activity was observed 1 hr after the administration of ginseng principle, and it was found that this response depended on the amount of fraction 5 administered to rats. However, rise of the enzyme activity due to ginseng treatment did not seem to involve de novo protein synthesis which requires mRNA production. In contrast, when the diet contained an excess of carbohydrate, ginseng treatment resulted in a decreased enzyme level, and the elimination of food resulted in the loss of the effect of ginseng principle.