In vitro Degradation of Saikosaponin-a in Physiological Condition

In vitro degradation of saikosaponin-a in physiological condition was conducted. Saikosaponin-a in 0.1 N-HCl of 25% 1,4-dioxane was incubated at $37^{\circ}$ and the products were analyzed and the time course of degradation was observed. Saikosaponin-a(Sa) was transformed to $saikosaponin-b_1(Sb_1)$ and saikosaponin-g(Sg) in the course of time. Sa was decreased drastically and not detected after 6 hours. $Sb_1$0 and Sg was increased with the time. After 6 hours the ratio of $Sb_1$ and Sg was about 4:1 and was maintained for 24 hours.