• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
• /
• v.8 no.1
• /
• pp.32-37
• /
• 2000

Recently new soybean saponins with D DMP (2,5-dihydroxy-6-methyl-2,3,- dihydro-4H-pyran-4-one) moiety have been isolated from legumes. The purpose of this study is to characterize ROS scavenging activities of DDMP saponins ($\alpha$g, $\beta$g saponin) isolated from Glycine max (L.) Merrill. The scavenging activity on OH was examined in terms of lipid peroxidation in the rat liver homogenates and the same activity on $O_2$ was also determined in the xanthine-xanthine oxidase system, respectively. Up to 0.25 mg DDMP saponins ($\alpha$g and $\beta$g saponins) did not cause any significant effects on the prevention of lipid peroxidation as compared with the control group. In terms of superoxide scavenging activities, 0.25 and 0.5 mg $\alpha$g saponin inhibits only 2.6% and 5.5% (p<0.05) of the control group, respectively. However, $\alpha$g saponin dose-dependently (p<0.01, r=0.955) inhibits the formation of superoxide radical unto 21.3% of the control group with a maximal dose of 0.5 mg (p<0.01), equivalent to 0.17 units of superoxide dismutase activity.

• Journal of Periodontal and Implant Science
• /
• v.35 no.2
• /
• pp.277-288
• /
• 2005

There is a potential role of collagenase-3 in alveolar bone loss and periodontal disease progression, we need to develope or find chemotherapeutic drugs or herbal agents which may regulate the expression of MMP-13. Ginseng saponin, one of the major components of Korea ginseng(panax ginseng) root, has many various biologic effects, such as cytotoxic effect, tumoricidal effects, cytokine regulations, and protein biosynthesis effect. The purpose of this study was to determine the effects of Korea red ginseng saponin on MMP-13 gene expression in osteoblasts. The experimental groups were cultured with ginseng saponin in concentration of 1.0, 10, 25, 50, 100, 250 and $500{\mu}g/ml$ for MTT assay. Primary rat calvarial cells were pre-treated for 1 hour with ginseng saponin(100 ${\mu}g/ml$) and then stimulated with $IL-1{\beta}(1.0ng/ml)$ and PTH(10 nM). MMP-13 gene expression was evaluated by RT-PCR. The results were as follows: Ginseng saponin was cytotoxic to osteoblast at concentration exceeding $250{\mu}g/ml$ for longer than 24 hours in tissue culture(p<0.01). In RT-PCR analysis, steady state MMP-13 mRNA levels were increased approximately 350% by $IL-1{\beta}$, and 400% by PTH when normalized to untreated control. $IL-1{\beta}-indued$ MMP-13 mRNA expression was reduced 50% by pretreatment with ginseng saponin. But ginseng saponin didn't inhibit MMP-13 expression from PTH stimulated cells. This results suggest that ginseng saponin Inhibit $IL-1{\beta}-indued$ MMP-13 mRNA expression.

• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
• /
• v.10 no.3
• /
• pp.171-175
• /
• 1982

An oxytetracycline as being a tetracycline-antibiotic substance displayed a general synergism in the antimicrobial activity by the interaction of ginseng saponin and antibiotics, but did not to Sarcina maginata. Penicillin G.Na as being a $\beta$-lactam-antibiotic substance displayed a synergism in the antimicrobial activities by the addition of ginseng saponin to microorganisms used, but changed the effects in the antimicrobial activity of penicillin G.Na against the genus Serratia. An antimicrobial activity by the addition of ginseng saponin to antibiotics showed a non-specificity, and it varied synergism or antagonism to Gram-positive or Gram-negative bacterium. It was assumed that a drug-resistance could be eliminated by the dual administration of ginseng saponin and antibiotics.

• KOREAN JOURNAL OF CROP SCIENCE
• /
• v.48
• /
• pp.49-57
• /
• 2003

There is much evidence suggesting that compounds present in soybean can prevent cancer in many different organ systems. Especially, soybean is one of the most important source of dietary saponins, which have been considered as possible anticarcinogens to inhibit tumor development and major active components contributing to the cholesterol-towering effect. Also they were reported to inhibit of the infectivity of the AIDS virus (HIV) and the Epstein-Barr virus. The biological activity of saponins depend on their specific chemical structures. Various types of triterpenoid saponins are present in soy-bean seeds. Among them, group B soyasaponis were found as the primary soyasaponins present in soybean, and th e 2, 3-dihydro-2, 5-dihydroxy-6- methyl-4H-pyran-4-one(DDMP)-conjugated soyasaponin $\alpha\textrm{g}$, $\beta\textrm{g}$, and $\beta$ a were the genuine group B saponins, which have health benefits. On the other hand, group A saponins are responsible for the undesirable bitter and astringent taste in soybean. The variation of saponin composition in soybean seeds is explained by different combinations of 9 alleles of 4 gene loci that control the utilization of soyasapogenol glycosides as substrates. The mode of inheritance of saponin types is explained by a combination of co-dominant, dominant and recessive acting genes. The funtion of theses genes is variety-specific and organ specific. Therefore distribution of various saponins types was different according to seed tissues. Soyasaponin $\beta\textrm{g}$ was detected in both parts whereas $\alpha\textrm{g}$ and $\beta$ a was detected only in hypocotyls and cotyledons, respectively. Soyasaponins ${\gamma}$g and $\gamma\textrm{g}$ were minor saponin constituents in soybean. In case group A saponins were mostly detected in hypocotyls. Also, the total soyasaponin contents varied among different soy-bean varieties and concentrations in the cultivated soy-beans were 2-fold lower than in the wild soybeans. But the contents of soyasaponin were not so influenced by environmental effects. The composition and concentration of soyasaponins were different among the soy products (soybean flour, soycurd, tempeh, soymilk, etc.) depending on the processing conditions.

• Archives of Pharmacal Research
• /
• v.9 no.1
• /
• pp.29-38
• /
• 1986

The effects of ginseng saponins on the sarcolemmal $Na^{+}$, $K^{+}$-ATPase were compared to gypsophila saponin, sodium dodecylsulfate (SDS), and Triton X-100 to elucidate whether the effects are due to the membrane distruption, using a highly enriched preparation of cardiac sarcolemma prepared from dog ventricular myocardium. About 26% and 29% of vesicles in the preparation, enriched in ouabain-sensitive $Na^{+}$, $K^{+}$-ATP ase, $\beta$-adrenergic and muscarinic receptors are rightside-out and inside-out orientation, respectively. Ginseng saponins (triol>total> diol) inhibited $Na^{+}$, $K^{+}$-ATP ase activity, $Na^{+}$, $K^{+}$-ATPase activity and [$^{3}$H]ouabain binding of sarcolemmal vesicles. However, gypsophila saponin, SDS (0.4$\mu$g/$\mu$g protein) and Triton X-100 (0.6 $\mu$g/$\mu$g protein) caused about 1.35 and 1.40-fold increase in $Na^{+}$, $K^{+}$-ATPase activity and [$^{3}$H] oubain binding, respectively. Especially, the activating effect of gypsophila saponin on membrane Na+, K+ ATPase was detected at gypsophila saponin to sarcolemmal protein ratios as high as 100. Low dose of ginseng saponin (3$\mu$g/$\mu$g protein) decreased the phosphorylation sites and the concentration of ouabain binding sites (Bmax) without affecting the turnover number and affinity for ouabain binding, while gypsophila saponin, SDS(0.4 ug/ug protein), ahd Triton X-100 (0.6$\mu$g/$\mu$g protein) increased the Bmax. The results suggest that ginseng saponins cause a decrease in the number of active sites by interacting directly with $Na^{+}$, $K^{+}$-ATPase before disruption of membrane barriers of sarcolemmal vesicles.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
• /
• v.28 no.2
• /
• pp.120-126
• /
• 2004

Glial cells such as astrocytes and microglial cells are the main source of proinflammatory cytokines and nitric oxide(NO) in the central nervous system, which exert neuroimmune and inflammatory functions and other various neurobiologic effects. Though Panax ginseng C.A. Meyer has been known to strengthen the body's defence mechanisms and also to maintain the homeostasis in the central nervous system, the effects of Panax ginseng on the production of immune and inflammatory mediators have not been studied well in the brain. Therefore, this study was designed to study the effects of ginseng saponins on the production of proinflammatory cytokines and NO in the primary cultures of mixed glial cells. White ginseng saponin, 200-500 $\mu$g/ml, showed significant cytotoxicity after 72 hrs and increased TNF-$\alpha$, IL-$\beta$, and NO production. Lower doses of 50-100 $\mu\textrm{g}$/ml showed little cytotoxicity until 72 hrs and also increased the production of TNF-$\alpha$, IL-1$\beta$, and NO. Triple immune staining showed that white ginseng saponin, 200$\mu\textrm{g}$/ml for 72 ks, induced stellation of astrocytes and iNOS expression exclusively in microglial cells. Taken together, the white ginseng saponin increased the production of proinflammatory cytokines such as TNF-$\alpha$ and IL-1$\beta$, and induced iNOS expression and NO production in mixed glial cell cultures, which may be ascribed to the enhancement of central immune responses and the regulation of inflammatory reactions by Panax ginseng.

• KOREAN JOURNAL OF CROP SCIENCE
• /
• v.53 no.1
• /
• pp.34-41
• /
• 2008

This study was conducted to investigate antioxidant component content during maturity for judgement of optimum harvest time in black soybean. For high-functional black soybean production, accumulation pattern of isoflavone and saponin contents and anti oxidative activity according to maturity stage were investigated. Varieties used in this experiment were Ilpumgemojeongkong and heukcheongkong, which are the recommended black soybean in Korea. Isoflavone and saponin contents during maturity period in black soybean was the highest at $6{\sim}7$ days earlier than general harvesting time. It was indicated that optimum harvesting time for high quality soybean were $3{\sim}7$ days earlier than harvesting time for higher yield. As a result of investigation about accumulation pattern of antioxidant components by maturity stages in seed, total isoflavone content was the highest at 61 DAF in Ilpumgeomjeongkong and at 77 DAF in Heukcheongkong. Contents of total saponin were the highest at 61 DAF and at 71 DAF, respectively. In case of leaf, total isoflavone content was the highest at 55 DAF in Ilpumgeomjeongkong and Heukcheongkong. Contents of total saponin were the highest at 18 DAF and at $55{\sim}71$ DAF, respectively. It showed that black soybean's leaf could be developed as a new health food material, owing to high contents of antioxidant components and biological activity and it's suitable harvest time was at $R_7$.

• Applied Biological Chemistry
• /
• v.43 no.2
• /
• pp.136-140
• /
• 2000

Two steroidal saponins were isolated from MeOH extract of the rhizomes of Asparagus oligoclonos. Using the spectroscopic techniques of $^1H,\;^{13}C$ NMR and 2D NMR, they were identified as $3-O-[{\beta}-D-glucopyranosyl-(1{\rightarrow}2)-{\beta}-D-glucopyranosyl]-(25S)-spirostan-3{\beta}-ol$ and $3-O-{{\beta}-D-glucopyranosyl-(1{\rightarrow}2)-[{\beta}-D-xylopyranosyl-(1{\rightarrow}4)]-{\beta}-D-glucopyranosyl}-(25S)-spirostan-3{\beta}-ol$, respectively. They were first isolated from A. oligoclonos. The in vitro antibacterial activities as well as antibacterial spectrums against 20 bacteria strains were investigated with MIC test. Both saponins inhibited the growth of 10 bacteria strains at the concentration of$100\;{\mu}g/ml$.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
• /
• v.38 no.8
• /
• pp.1084-1089
• /
• 2009

This study investigated the changes of saponin and $\beta$-glucan content on the cultured ginseng with mushroom mycelia of Phellinus linteus (PL), Ganoderma lucidum (GL), and Hericium erinaceum (HE). Cultured ginsengs with mushroom mycelia were extracted with 80% ethanol, fractionated with n-buthanol, and analysed for ginsenosides by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Crude saponin content of raw ginseng was 4.11% (d.b) but cultured ginseng with mushroom mycelia of PL, GL, and HE were increased to 6.74, 6.77 and 6.23% (d.b), respectively. Ginsenoside-Rd, among the 12 ginsenosides which were available for analysis, was remarkably increased to 13.61, 24.26, and 32.69 mg/g, respectively (raw ginseng: 0.80 mg/g). The $\beta$-glucan content of cultured ginseng with mushroom mycelia of PL, GL, and HE were decreased to 8.85, 5.51 and 5.46% rather than mushroom mycelia of 29.14, 19.44, and 23.39% (d.b), respectively.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
• /
• v.32 no.3
• /
• pp.270-274
• /
• 2008

A bacterium isolated from contaminated white ginseng was identified using API kit and electron microscope. This isolate was determined as rod shaped bacterium having about 1.0 ${\mu}m$ in diameter and 2.0 to 6.0 ${\mu}m$ in length. It had motility by peritrichous flagellum. The isolate had ${\beta}-galactosidase$, arginine dihydrolase and ornithin decarboxylase. It did not have ability not only to use citrate as sole carbon source and but also to produce $H_2S$. However, it could ferment glucose, manitol, sorbitol, rhamnose, arabinose and amygdalin. From these obserbations, the isolate was identified as Citrobacter sp. Ginseng saponin was added to culture of Citrobacter sp. in order to investigate saponin's influence on its growth. The strain was incubated at $38^{\circ}C$ for 3 days after addition of 0.05, 0.5, 2.0 and 4.0% (w/v) of saponin, respectively and the growth rates was investigated. The relative bacterial growth inhibition rates showed 28.6, 66.7, 92.4 and 97.7%, respectively, when compared with saponin non-treated group. These results suggest that the growth of Citrobacter sp. is inhibited by saponin in a concentration-dependent manner.