Protective Effects of a Ginseng Component, Malto1(2-Mlethyl-3-Hydrox)-4-Pyrone) against Tissue Damages Induced By Oxygen Radicals

활성산소에 의한 조직손상에 미치는 인삼성분의 보호효과

Maltol(2-methyl-3-hydroxy-r-pyrone), a component known to be present in Korean Ginseng root showed an antioxidant action but its potency as an antioxidant was low: about 1150th that of other antioxidants such as pphenylenediamine, BHA and BHT. However, maltol was able to protect the oxidation damages in biological systems such as adriamycin-induced membrane damage in isolated cardiomyocytes, paraquat-induced toxicities in isolated hepatocytes and reperfusion injury in isolated hearts. The antioxidant action of maltol was also shown to be effective in vivo. The antioxidant action of this compound was probably due to the removal of hydroxyl radicals. In view of the roles of oxygen radical in various pathological proceises, Korean Ginseng root which contains several antioxidants including maltol is expected to have beneficial effects on the oxygen radical-involved processes.