고려 인삼 saponin 분획이 흰쥐의 장기에서 polyamine대사에 미치는 영향을 관찰한 것은 이 분야에서 최초로 시도하여 아래와 같은 결론을 얻었다. 인삼 saponin을 흰쥐에 12개월 따지 계속 복용시킨 결과 male의 reproductive에 관여하는 장기인 prostate와 testis에서는 3개월 이후부터 ODC와 SAMDC의 활성을 증가시켜 polyamine 대사에 뚜렷한 영향을 보여 주었다. Liver 의 경우에는 6개월째에서 ODC 활성을 증가시켜 poluamine중 putrescine대사에 영향을 주었으나 그 외의 장기에서는 별 다른 영향을 미치지 못하였다. Polyamine은 세포의 성장과 분열 그리고 노화에 중요하게 작용하는 물질이므로 대조군에 비해 prostate, testis그리고 lover의 장기에서는 인삼 saponin 분획에 의해 세포 생리적 활성이 증대될 것으로 사료된다.

In order to study effects of Korean ginseng (Pauax ginseng C.A. Meyer) saponin fraction on polyamine metabolism in rat organs, Korean ginseng saponin fraction was administrated to rats for 1, 2, 3, 4, 6 and 12 months and brain, liver, prostate, spleen and testis were removed from these rats. Two enzyme activities were measured from those organs; ornithine decarboxylase (ODC), which is a regulatory enzyme of putrescine biosynthesis and S-adenosylmethionine decarboxylase (SAMDC), which is also a regulatory enzyme of spermidine and spermine biosynthesis. The amounts of polyamine were also determined. As for prostate and testis organs, Korean ginseng saponin fraction was innocuous for ODC and SAMDC activities from rats fed for 1 and 2 months. However, after 3 months, the stimulatory effect on the activities of two enzyme gradually increased in test groups and reached its maximum in 12 months. The contents of spermidine and spermine of test groups in prostate and testis were also much higher than those of contol groups. Another stimulatory effect on the activities of two enzymes was observed in liver and reached its maximum in 6 months. In the other organs such as brain and spleen, the enzymes were turned out to be not affected by feeding Korean ginseng saponin fraction. From the cumulative results, the stuimulatory effect of Korean ginseng saponin fraction on polyamine metabolism was observed in prostate, testis and liver.