Elucidating mechanism of protection of saponins from Ginseng Panax against oxidative stress.

由于细胞内氧气和血红蛋白浓度高，循环中的红细胞不断暴露在氧化应激下，这是活性氧物种的来源之一。暴露在氧化应激下会显著改变红细胞膜的功能，如粘度升高，变形性降低。人参皂苷(特别是人参皂苷Rg2和Rh1)通过阻止带3蛋白中的SH基氧化来保护红细胞的流变性功能，从而对抗氧化应激。提示糖代谢参与了保护机制。

Circulating erythrocytes are constantly exposed to oxidative stress as a result of the high cellular concentration of oxygen and hemoglobin, which is a source of the reactive oxygen species. Exposure to oxidative stress dramatically alters the function of the erythrocyte membrane, such as elevation of viscosity, decrease of deformability. Saponins (especially ginsenosides Rg2 & Rh1) from Ginseng Panax protect the rheological functions of erythrocytes against oxidative stress by preventing the oxidation of SH-groups in band 3 protein. The glucose metabolism were suggested to participate in mechanism of protections.