The present in vitro study on rat liver microsomal lipid per-oxidation showed that Gypenosides ( GP ) , the total saponin of Gy-nostemma pentaphyllum Makino, produced a marked inhibitory effect on the lipid peroxidation either spontaneously or induced by Fe2+-cystein, Vit C-NADPH and CCl4. The inhibitory effect was found to be stronger than that of Ginsenosides. GP also resisted the decrease of fluidity of liver microsomal and mitochondrial membrane induced by Fe2+-cystein.

In this paper we report im-munopharmacologic effects of Epimedium Polysaccharide (EPS) and Icarrin on mouse thy-mus. It was found that EPS or Icarrin administered subcutaneously in mouse had following effects: (1)EPS enhanced the proliferation and IL-2 production of thymocytes, and decreased the L3T4 and Lyt2 cell numbers and responses to Con A stimulation of the thymus; (2) Icarrinincreased response to ConA stimulation to mouse thymus cell. These results suggest that both EPS and Icarrin have immunes stimulating effect on thymus. EPS possibly promoted the migration of thymocytes from the thymus to peripheral organs.