Abstract
Effect of ginsenoside mixture, ginsenoside $Rb_1$,$Rb_2$,$Rg_1$ and the fat soluble fraction of the roots of Panax ginseng C.A. Meyer on the activity of glucokinase (GK) in vitro has been observed and found that GK activity was increased about 15c1c at the concentration of ginsenoside mixture and/or the fat soluble fraction being $10^{-7}$,$10^{-5}$%. It was also observed that glucose uptake by rat liver was increased in the presence of either ginsenoside mixture or the fat soluble fraction by perfusion technique. Ginsenoside mixture stimulated various enzymes related to glucose metabolism, however, both ginsenoside mixture and the fat soluble fraction did not stimulate GK activity as expected. Primary culture of liver cells showed that the ginsenoside mixture and the fat soluble fraction increased GK activity significantly and they stimulated the GK activity synergistically in the co-presence of insulin.