Plasma Lipid-lowering Action of Ginseng Saponins and Mechanism of the Action

Elevation of plasma levels of cholesterol and triglyceride was reduced by the intramuscular injection ginseng principles fraction 4 (saponin content, ca. ½). The elimination of intraperitoneally injected 4-[¹⁴C]-cholesterol from plasma was accelerated by fraction 4 administration. Fecal excretion [¹⁴C] bile acids and [¹⁴C] sterols after intraperitoneal injection of 4-[¹⁴C]-cholesterol was significantly increased by fraction 4 administration.