Interaction of alfalfa saponins with components of the erythrocyte membrane in hemolysis

Abstract The interactions of saponins with erythrocyte membrane components involved in the hemolytic mechanism were studied. It was found that the alfalfa saponin, medicagenic acid 3- β - O -triglucoside, forms interaction products of different stability with membrane cholesterol, proteins and phospholipids. The resulting structural changes affect only slightly the membranous enzyme activities examined. It is suggested that breakdown of the structure of the membrane stems from a combination of non-specific interactions of saponins with membrane proteins phospholipids and cholesterol leading consequently to hemolysis.