Hyperosmotic hemolysis and antihemolytic activity of saponin fraction and triterpenoidal glycosides from Panax ginseng C.A. Meyer

It was shown, that a fraction of saponins and triterpene glycosides (R-b1, R-b2, R-g1) from Panax ginseng C.A. Meyer (saponins) inhibit hyperosmotic h emolysis of erythrocytes. Using scanning electron microscopy and light scat tering saponins were found to restore the form of erythrocytes and inhibit cells compression and formation of echinocytes and microspherocytes. Scanni ng microcalorimetry demonstrated that an increase in osmomolarity and ionic strength of the medium eliminated structural transitions of erythrocyte gh ost membranes. It was shown that the hyperosmotic conditions caused destruc tion of the membrane skeleton of erythrocytes, except for the cytoplasmic a nd membrane domains of band 3 protein. Saponins changed parameters of all m embrane structural transitions and induced new reversible transitions in th e membranes. Saponins eliminated the ripple phase of dipalmitoylphosphatidy lcholine. The mechanism of antihemolytic action is discussed on a basis of bilayer couple model.