Abstract
Pharmacological action of the saponin obtained from the crude drug, Mu-bie-zi (seed of Momordica cochinchinensis), was examined. 1) LD50 of this saponin in mice was 32.35 mg/kg by intravenous injection and 37.34 mg/kg by intraperitoneal injection. 2) Intravenous injection of 6.6 mg/kg of this saponin produced transitory stimulation of respiration and fall of blood pressure in rats. 3) This saponin increased peripheral blood flow in a dog. 4) This saponin inhibited cardiac movement in excised frog heart and inhibited intestinal motility in excised duodenum of a rabbit. 5) With the excised ileum of a guinea pig, 2×10-4g/ml of this saponin fortified the acetylcholine reaction and inhibited the papaverine effect but higher concentration (over 4×10-4g/ml) of this saponin produced irreversible contraction of the ileum. 6) Oral or subcutaneous administration of this saponin in a rat inhibited the carageenin edema on foot pad. 7) Physiological saline solution of 2×10-4g/ml of this saponin completely hemolyzed rabbit erythrocytes.
