ABSTRACT
Bupleurum species are naturally occurring small shrubs widely distributed in East Asia and the Mediterranean area. The affinity of saikosaponins for the cell membrane is well evidenced by the change of membrane fluidity of erythrocytes monitored by electron spin resonance spectroscopy. Saikosaponins have been demonstrated to cause the activation of immunological functions of macrophages, a parameter of immune potentiation, and to modify immune responses of T and B cells. Anti-inflammatory actions of Bupleurum saponins were suggested from the suppressive effect of crude saponin fraction, containing saikosaponins a and d, on dextran-induced edema of rat paw. The toxicity of saikosaponins is to be considered for the choice of saikosaponins in the clinical use, where the membrane effect such as hemolytic action should be reduced or minimized. An attempt to induce the selective expression of pharmacological action of saikosaponins is worthy of much attention in the near future.
