• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.45 no.2
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• pp.316-324
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• 2021

Background: Korea Red Ginseng (KRG) has been used as remedies with hepato-protective effects in liver-related condition. Microbiota related gut-liver axis plays key roles in the pathogenesis of chronic liver disease. We evaluated the effect of KRG on gut-liver axis in patients with nonalcoholic statohepatitis by the modulation of gut-microbiota. Methods: A total of 94 patients (KRG: 45 and placebo: 49) were prospectively randomized to receive KRG (2,000 mg/day, ginsenoside Rg1+Rb1+Rg3 4.5mg/g) or placebo during 30 days. Liver function test, cytokeraton 18, and fatigue score were measured. Gut microbiota was analyzed by MiSeq systems based on 16S rRNA genes. Results: In KRG group, the mean levels (before vs. after) of aspartate aminotransferase (53 ± 19 vs. 45 ± 23 IU/L), alanine aminotransferase (75 ± 40 vs. 64 ± 39 IU/L) and fatigue score (33 ± 13 vs. 26 ± 13) were improved (p < 0.05). In placebo group, only fatigue score (34 ± 13 vs. 31 ± 15) was ameliorated (p < 0.05). The changes of phyla were not statistically significant on both groups. In KRG group, increased abundance of Lactobacillus was related with improved alanine aminotransferase level and increased abundance of Clostridium and Intestinibacter was associated with no improvement after KRG supplementation. In placebo group, increased abundance of Lachnospiraceae could be related with aggravation of liver enzyme (p < 0.05). Conclusion: KRG effectively improved liver enzymes and fatigue score by modulating gut-microbiota in patients with fatty liver disease. Further studies are needed to understand the mechanism of improvement of nonalcoholic steatohepatitis. ClnicalTrials.gov: NCT03945123 (www.ClinicalTrials.gov).

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.51 no.6
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• pp.576-583
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• 2019

The effect of aeration process in causing changes in the prosapogenin content and the antioxidant activity of red ginseng powder extracts was investigated. With respect to the color change of the extracts, the L-value and b-value decreased significantly with the lapse of extraction time both with and without the aeration process. The a-value increased with the lapse of the extraction time in the non-aeration process but decreased in the aeration process. This result suggests that when the aeration process was performed, the lightness, yellowness, and redness decreased with the lapse of the extraction time, resulting in a darker color. The total polyphenolic and total flavonoid contents were the highest at 0.84 and 0.96 mg Gallic Acid Equivalent (GAE)/mL, 21.77 and 21.93 mg GAE/mL at 24 h and 36 h, respectively for the aerated red ginseng powder extracts. The DPPH, ABTS, H₂O₂ scavenging activity, and reducing power were measured to confirm the antioxidant effects of red ginseng powder extracts after the aeration process. Thus, the antioxidant activity was increased in the aerated red ginseng powder extracts. In addition, when comparing the contents of Rb1, Rg1, and Rg3, the content of Rg3 was significantly different, and it was confirmed that a large amount was produced in the aerated red ginseng extracts. These results indicate that the red ginseng extracts subjected to the aeration process are superior than the ones processed by the non-aeration process.