• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.28 no.6
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• pp.1349-1354
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• 1999

This study was carried out to investigate the protective effect of Korean red ginseng water extract (KRG WE) on clinical chemical parameters in male guinea pigs acutely exposed to 2,3,7,8 tetrachlorodibenzo p dioxin(TCDD). Forty male guinea pigs(200 $\pm$20g) were divided into 4 groups. Normal controls(group 1) received vehicle and saline; group 2(single TCDD treated) received TCDD(5 g/kg, single dose) intraperitoneally; group 3 received KRG WE(200mg/kg, i.p.) for 2 weeks from 1 week before TCDD exposure; group 4 received KRG WE for 1 week since the day of TCDD exposure. Increase in body weight was retarded greatly by TCDD exposure. Body weight of animals in group 2 was significantly decreased starting 2 days after TCDD exposure. However, body weight of animals in group 3 increased throughout the experimental period, although the increasing rate was slower than that of group 1. Decrease in body weight was not observed during the experimental period in group 4. Increases in blood glucose, amylase, lipase, total cholesterol, triglyceride, GOT, GPT, and LDH levels by TCDD intoxication were significantly attenuated by the KRG WE treatment(p<0.05). These results provide a strong evidence that Korean red ginseng might be a useful protective agent against TCDD, an endocrine disruptor.