Comparative Studies of Panax ginseng and Panax quinquefolium on TCDD-induced Toxicity in Rats

One prominent characteristic of2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzop-dioxin (TCDD) toxicity in rats is a reduction of body weight accompanied by an altered serum lipid profile such as hyperlipidemia. A single administration of TCDD (50 ug/kg) resulted in a decrease of body weight and increase of serum cholesterol in rats. TCDD-induced weight loss and serum cholesterol elevation was reduced in rats administered with water extract (100 mg/kg) or saponin fraction (40 mg/kg) of Panax ginseng C.A.Meyer. In contrast, the administration of Panax quinquefolium did not inhibit the TCDD-induced weight loss and serum cholesterol elevation. Histological examinations of liver and testis revealed the administration of saponin fraction of Panax ginseng attenuated the TCDD-induced hispathologicallesions whereas the administration of saponin fraction of Panax quinquefolium did not. High performance liquid chromatographic analysis demonstrated high percentiles of ginsenoside Rg and ginsenoside $Rh_1$ were evident in saponin fraction of Panax ginseng. Results indicate that the protective effects of Panax ginseng, not Panax quinquefolium, on the TCDD-induced toxicity might be resulted from different compositions of saponins in Panax ginseng.