[Effects of saponins from stems and leaves of Panax quinquefolium L. on the contraction of rabbit aortic strips].

It has been found out that the saponins from stems and leaves of Panax quinquefolium (PQS) can non-competitively antagonize the dose-response curves of norepinephrine (NE), potassium chloride and calcium chloride on the isolated aortic strips of rabbits, and obviously inhibit intracellular and extracellular Ca2(+)-dependent contraction of the aortic strips induced by NE. These effects of PQS are similar to verapamil.