The effects of ginseng saponins, gypsophila saponin, sodium dodecyl sulfate(SDS), and Triton X-100 on membrane $K^+-dependent$ phosphatase activity which is lipid dependent and represents dephosphorylation step of the complete Na+, $K^+-ATPase$ reaction were investigated in this study to elucidate whether the effects of ginseng saponins are due to the detergent action, using sarcolemma enriched preparation isolated from dog ventricle. $Na^+$, $K^+-ATPase$ and $K^+-dependent$ phosphatase activities of cardiac sarcolemma were about $143;{mu}mol$ Pi/mg protein/hr and $34;{mu}mol$ p-nitrophenol/mg protein/hr, respectively. While ginseng saponins (triol>total>diol) inhibited $K^+-dependent$ phosphatase activity, gypsophila saponin, and low dose of SDS($0.4;{mu}g/{mu}g$ protein), and Triton X-100 ($0.6;{mu}g/{mu}g$ protein) increased the enzyme activity, indicating disruptive effect of detergents on membrane barriers. The activating effect of low doses of Triton X-100 on membrane $K^+-dependent$ phosphatase appeared at concentration decreasing light scattering. However, the inhibitory effect of ginseng saponin appeared before a decrease in light scattering. These results suggest that low concentrations of ginseng saponins inhibit the membrane $K^+-dependent$ phosphatase by interacting directly with enzyme before membrane disruption.