• Proceedings of the SCSK Conference
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• 2003.09a
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• pp.741-762
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• 2003

Ginsenosides, the major active ingredients of ginseng, show a variety of biomedical efficacies such as anti-aging, anti oxidation and anti-inflammatory activities. To understand the effects of compound K (20-O-D-glucopyranosyl-20 (S)-protopanaxadiol), one of the major metabolite of ginsenosides on the skin, we assessed the expression level of ∼ 100 transcripts in compound K-treated HaCaT cells using cDNA microarray analysis. Compound K treatment induced differential expression of 21 genes, which have been reported to be involved in the organization of ECM structure as well as defense responses in human skin cells. One of the most interesting findings is 2-fold increase in hyaluronan synthase2 (HAS2) gene expression by compound K. We found that change in expression of HAS2 gene represents a specific response of HaCaT cells to compound K because hyaluronan synthase 1, 3 was not changed by treatment with compound K. We also demonstrated that the compound K effectively induced hyaluronan synthesis in human skin cells and hairless mouse skin. The human clinical study indicates that topical application of compound K-containing oil-in-water emulsion showed improvement of xerosis, wrinkle and fine lines in the aged skin. We concluded that compound K has anti-aging effects by the induction of HAS2 gene expression and following hyaluronan synthase.

• Biotechnology and Bioprocess Engineering:BBE
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• v.11 no.1
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• pp.7-12
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• 2006

Telomerase activation is detected in most cancerous cells; hence, telomerase is a highly selective target for cancer therapy, which plays an important role in the apoptotic process. We have previously reported that the ginseng saponin metabolite, Compound K (20-O-D-glucopyranosyl-20(S)-protopanaxadiol, IH901), inhibits cell proliferation by inducing apoptosis and cell cycle arrest at the $G_1$ phase. The present study investigated the regulation of telomerase activity in Compound K treated U937 cells. Compound K treatment caused a reduction in telomerase activity and down-regulated the human telomerase reverse transcriptase (hTERT) gene, resulting in the decreased expressions of its protein, and of the c-Myc and Spl proteins (transcription factors of hTERT). These results indicate that the anticancer activity of Compound K could be mediated by inhibition of the telomerase activity.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.38 no.3
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• pp.208-214
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• 2014

Background: In previous work, we reported that Korean Red Ginseng saponin fraction (RGSF) showed anti-inflammatory activities in vitro and in vivo. Methods: The present study investigated the radioprotective properties of RGSF by examining its effects on ionizing radiation (IR)-enhanced and lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-mediated inflammatory responses in murine macrophage cells. Results: RGSF induced strong downregulation of IR-enhanced and LPS-induced proinflammatory responses such as nitric oxide (NO) production (Inhibitory Concentration $50(IC_{50})=5.1{\pm}0.8{\mu}M$) and interleukin-$1{\beta}$ levels. RGSF was found to exert its radioprotective effects by inhibition of a signaling cascade that activated checkpoint kinase 2enuclear factor-${\kappa}B$. In addition, RGSF strongly inhibited IR-enhanced LPS-induced expression of hemoxyganase-1, implying that the latter may be a potential target of RGSF. Conclusion: Taken together, our data suggest that RGSF can be considered and developed for use as an effective radioprotective agent with minimal adverse effects.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.47 no.2
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• pp.255-264
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• 2023

Background: Red ginseng (RG) alleviates psychiatric disorders. Fermented red ginseng (fRG) alleviates stress-induced gut inflammation. Gut dysbiosis causes psychiatric disorders with gut inflammation. To understand the gut microbiota-mediated action mechanism of RG and fRG against anxiety/depression (AD), we investigated the effects of RG, fRG, ginsenoside Rd, and 20(S)-β-D-glucopyranosyl protopanaxadiol (CK) on gut microbiota dysbiosis-induced AD and colitis in mice. Methods: Mice with AD and colitis were prepared by exposing to immobilization stress (IS) or transplanting the feces of patients with ulcerative colitis and depression (UCDF). AD-like behaviors were measured in the elevated plus maze, light/dark transition, forced swimming, and tail suspension tests. Results: Oral gavage of UCDF increased AD-like behaviors and induced neuroinflammation, gastrointestinal inflammation, and gut microbiota fluctuation in mice. Oral administration of fRG or RG treatment reduced UCDF-induced AD-like behaviors, hippocampal and hypothalamic IL-6 expression, and blood corticosterone level, whereas UCDF-suppressed hippocampal BDNF⁺NeuN⁺ cell population and dopamine and hypothalamic serotonin levels increased. Furthermore, their treatments suppressed UCDF-induced colonic inflammation and partially restored UCDF-induced gut microbiota fluctuation. Oral administration of fRG, RG, Rd, or CK also decreased IS-induced AD-like behaviors, blood IL-6 and corticosterone and colonic IL-6 and TNF-α levels, and gut dysbiosis, while IS-suppressed hypothalamic dopamine and serotonin levels increased. Conclusion: Oral gavage of UCDF caused AD, neuroinflammation, and gastrointestinal inflammation in mice. fRG mitigated AD and colitis in UCDF-exposed mice by the regulation of the microbiota-gut-brain axis and IS-exposed mice by the regulation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis.

• Proceedings of the Ginseng society Conference
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• 1988.08a
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• pp.115-121
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• 1988

Although Saponin A from Panax ginseng has previously been shown to inhibit carageenin induced edema. a paucity of information exists on the effects of components from ginseng on the cellular inflammatory response. specifically polymorphonuclear leukocyte (PMNL) function. The purpose of this study was 10 determine the effects of isolated neutral dammarane saponins from ginseng (i.e..glycosidic derivatives of 20(S)-protopanaxadiol [ginsenoside $Rb_1,\;Rb_2$ and Rc] and 20(S)-protopanaxatriol [ginsenosides Re and $Rg_1$]) on in vivo PMNL function and to compare their effects with those produced by a steroidal anti-inflammatory agent (dexamethasone) and commercially available saponin. Dexamethasone. the ginsenosides and saponin were all shown to he potent inhibitors of PMNL chemotaxis using the $^{51}Cr$ assay with $5{\times}10^{-8}M$ f-met-leu-phe [FMLP] as the chemoattractant. Inhibition or PMNL chemotaxis by dexamethasone. the ginsenosides and saponin were all shown to be both time-and dose-dependent and these agents did not affect cellular viability at the concentrations tested Saponin and the ginsenosides were more potent inhibitors of chemotaxis than was dexamethasone. while oxidant generation (as measured by the luminol-enhaneed chemil-uminescence of PMNL using FMNL $[10^{-6}]$ as the stimulus) was inhibited by dexamethasone. the ginsenosides $(Rb_1\;Rb_2\;Rc\;Re\;and\;Rg_1)$ and saponin at a concentration of 1 ${\mu}M$ had no significant effect on PMNL chemiluminescence. Thus. the neutral dammarane saponins are potentially important modulators or PMNL function and their inhibitory effects may he differentiated from those of the Steroidal anti-inflammatory agents.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.41 no.1
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• pp.103-112
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• 2017

Background: 20(S)-Protopanaxadiol 20-O-D-glucopyranoside, also called compound K (CK), exerts antidiabetic effects that are mediated by insulin secretion through adenosine triphosphate (ATP)-sensitive potassium ($K_{ATP}$) channels in pancreatic ${\beta}$-cells. However, the antidiabetic effects of CK may be limited because of its low bioavailability. Methods: In this study, we aimed to enhance the antidiabetic activity and lower the toxicity of CK by including it with ${\beta}$-cyclodextrin (CD) (CD-CK), and to determine whether the CD-CK compound enhanced pancreatic islet recovery, compared to CK alone, in an alloxan-induced diabetic zebrafish model. Furthermore, we confirmed the toxicity of CD-CK relative to CK alone by morphological changes, mitochondrial damage, and TdT-UTP nick end labeling (TUNEL) assays, and determined the ratio between the toxic and therapeutic dose for both compounds to verify the relative safety of CK and CD-CK. Results: The CD-CK conjugate ($EC_{50}=2.158{\mu}M$) enhanced the recovery of pancreatic islets, compared to CK alone ($EC_{50}=7.221{\mu}M$), as assessed in alloxan-induced diabetic zebrafish larvae. In addition, CD-CK ($LC_{50} =20.68{\mu}M$) was less toxic than CK alone ($LC_{50}=14.24{\mu}M$). The therapeutic index of CK and CD-CK was 1.98 and 9.58, respectively. Conclusion: The CD-CK inclusion complex enhanced the recovery of damaged pancreatic islets in diabetic zebrafish. The CD-CK inclusion complex has potential as an effective antidiabetic efficacy with lower toxicity.

• Proceedings of the Ginseng society Conference
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• 2007.05a
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• pp.23-24
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• 2007

Purpose: 인삼이 항당뇨 활성을 가진다는 연구가 많은 연구자들에 의해 진행되었고, 이는 인삼의 구성 성분 중 ginsenoside에 기인한다는 보고가 있다. 본 연구는 ginsenoside의 항당뇨 작용기전을 in vitro에서 알아보고자 3T3-L1 지방세포에서 glucose uptake와 췌장 베타세포인 HIT-T15 세포에서 insulin 분비 효과를 확인하였다. 이를 위하여 인삼을 식초로 처리한 긴삼의 70% MeOH 분획으로부터 protopanaxadiol 계인 ginsenoside $Rb_2$, $Rg_3$ 그리고 protopanaxtriol 계인 $Rg_2$를 분리하여 본 실험에 사용하였다. Method: Ginsenoside $Rb_2$, $Rg_2$, $Rg_3$가 지방 세포에서 glucose uptake에 미치는 효과를 확인하기 위하여 3T3-L1 세포를 DMEM (Dulbecco's Modified Eagle's Medium) 배지에서 분화 유도시켰으며 3T3-L1 preadipocyte가 80% 정도 자라면 분화 유도 배지 (5% fetal bovine serum (FBS), 0.5 mM isobutylmethylxanthine (IBMX), 1 mM dexamethasone 그리고 $10{\mu}g/ml$ insulin가 포함된 DMEM)로 4일, $10{\mu}g/ml$ insulin가 포함된 DMEM으로 2일, FBS만 포함된 DMEM으로 2일 배양하여 총 8일 동안 분화를 유도하였다. 분화 유도된 3T3-L1 adipocytes 에 각각 $Rb_2$, $Rg_2$, $Rg_3$를 $20{\mu}M$로 처리하여 16시간 배양하여 low glucose DMEM에서 3시간 배양한 후에 $37^{\circ}C$에서 insulin 10 ng/ml 과 각각 $Rb_2$, $Rg_2$, $Rg_3$가 포함된 Krebs Ringer Hepes buffer(KRP buffer)에서 20분간 배양하였다. 2-deoxy-D-[$^3H$]-glucose를 넣고 10분 후에 차가운 PBS로 반응을 종결시켜 lysis buffer로 cell을 모은 후 scintillation counter를 이용하여 glucose를 측정하였다. Insulin 분비 효과는 HIT-T15 세포와 일차 배양한 흰쥐 소도세포(islets)를 사용하여 확인하였다. HIT-T15 세포는 24 well plate에 well 당 $2{\times}10^5$ 개씩 분주하여 24시간 동안 배양한 후 시료를 처리하였으며 소도 세포는 Sprague-Dawley rat의 췌장에 collagenase가 포함된 Hanks' Balanced Salt Solution(HBSS)을 주입하여 분리하고 islets을 얻었다. 분리한 소도세포를 $1{\sim}2$일 동안 배양하여 $Rb_2$, $Rg_2$, $Rg_3$가 각각 $20{\mu}M$의 농도로 첨가된 insulin 측정용 buffer인 Krebs-Ringer buffer (KRB+0.3% BSA, KRBB)에 $37^{\circ}C$에서 1시간 incubation 시킨 후 배양액으로 분비된 인슐린의 양을 측정하였다. 한편 ginsenoside의 인슐린 분비 촉진 기전을 알아보기 위한 실험에서는 ATP-sensitive $K^+$ channel opener인 diazoxide (0.5 mM)가 ginsenoside에 의해 촉진된 인슐린 분비를 억제하는지 살펴보았다. Result: glucose uptake assay 에서는 $Rg_2$가 가장 크게 glucose uptake를 증가시켰고 $Rb_2$, $Rg_3$는 그 활성이 크지 않았다. 한편 Insulin 분비 효과는 diol계인 $Rg_3$에서 용량 의존적으로 인슐린의 분비를 촉진시켰으며 $20{\mu}M$ 농도에서 대조군과 비교해 1.5배 이상의 분비 촉진 효과를 보였고 triol계인 $Rg_2$ 에서는 이러한 효과가 나타나지 않았다. $Rg_3$의 인슐린 분비 촉진 기전을 0.5 mM 의 diazoxide를 이용하여 확인한 결과 $Rg_3$에 의해 촉진된 인슐린 분비를 감소시켰다. 이로 미루어보아 $Rg_3$의 인슐린 분비 촉진 기전은 ATP-sensitive $K^+$ 채널의 봉쇄에 의한 것임을 확인할 수 있었다.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.45 no.4
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• pp.465-472
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• 2021

Background: Ginseng can help regulate brain excitability, promote learning and memory, and resist cerebral ischemia in the central nervous system. Ginsenosides are the major effective compounds of Ginseng, but their protein targets in the brain have not been determined. Methods: We screened proteins that interact with the main components of ginseng (ginsenosides) by affinity chromatography and identified the 14-3-3 ζ protein as a potential target of ginsenosides in brain tissues. Results: Biolayer interferometry (BLI) analysis showed that 20(S)-protopanaxadiol (PPD), a ginseng saponin metabolite, exhibited the highest direct interaction to the 14-3-3 ζ protein. Subsequently, BLI kinetics analysis and isothermal titration calorimetry (ITC) assay showed that PPD specifically bound to the 14-3-3 ζ protein. The cocrystal structure of the 14-3-3 ζ protein-PPD complex showed that the main interactions occurred between the residues R56, R127, and Y128 of the 14-3-3 ζ protein and a portion of PPD. Moreover, mutating any of the above residues resulted in a significant decrease of affinity between PPD and the 14-3-3 ζ protein. Conclusion: Our results indicate the 14-3-3 ζ protein is the target of PPD, a ginsenoside metabolite. Crystallographic and mutagenesis studies suggest a direct interaction between PPD and the 14-3-3 ζ protein. This finding can help in the development of small-molecular compounds that bind to the 14-3-3 ζ protein on the basis of the structure of dammarane-type triterpenoid.