Pharmacological Studies of Panacis Japonici Rhizoma. I

Pharmacological properties of preparations from Panacis Japonici Rhizoma were studied by the screening methods consisting of 5 tests. CNS-depressant, tranquillizing, cholinergic, anticholinergic, histamine-like, antihistamine-like, antinicotinic, blood pressure elevating and lowering, and antiinflammatory activities were estimated. Chikusetsusaponin III whose aglycone is 20S-protopanaxadiol is especially remarkable as it has tranquillizing, anticholinergic, antihistamine-like, antinicotinic, and blood pressure elevating and lowering activities. Cholinergic, histamine-like and blood pressure elevating activities were found in the fraction which did not contain saponins. Antiinflammatory activity was estimated to chikesetsusaponin V.