• Proceedings of the Ginseng society Conference
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• 1984.09a
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• pp.113-118
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• 1984

The effect of the saponin fraction extracted from Panax ginseng C.A. Meyer on the antioxidant activity of ${\alpha}-tocopherol$ was investigated in vitro as well as in vivo. Microsomal preparation of albino rat (Sprague-Dawley, 180-200g) was incubated in the mixture containing NADPH, $Fe^{3+},$ ATP, ${\alpha}-tocopherol$ with and/or without ginseng saponin fraction for 30 minutes and the malondialdehyde formed was assayed and found that the saponin fraction stimulated the antioxidant activity of ${\alpha}-tocopherol$ cooperatively. It was also realized that the cooperative stimulation of the antioxidant activity of ${\alpha}-tocopherol$ was most eminent when the concentration of the saponin fraction was around $10^{-5}\%$ in the reaction mixture. Alcoholic suspension of ${\alpha}-tocopherol$ with and/or without ginseng saponin fraction was administered orally to rats in which the lipid peroxidation was induced by ethanol administration and the lipid peroxide contents of the liver were assayed at certain periods of time after ${\alpha}-tocopherol$ administration in this animal. It was reported that the saponin fraction stimulated the absorption of ${\alpha}-tocopherol$ in rats and this was confirmed again in the present work. From the previous work and present experimental results, it seemed that the saponin fraction accelerated the absorption of ${\alpha}-tocopherol$ and therefore stimulated the antioxidant activity of ${\alpha}-tocopherol$ more effectively in the animal body.

• Proceedings of the Ginseng society Conference
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• 1984.09a
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• pp.63-74
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• 1984

Preventive effect of the saponin fraction extracted from Panax ginseng C.A. Meyer against ethanol intoxication of the liver has been investigated biochemically and morphologically. Previous work in this laboratory showed that the moderate amounts of ginseng sponins stimulated several enzymes including mitochondrial dehydrogenases and transaminases so far examined in vitro. It was also realized that the half life of the saponin in the liver was estimated approximately five hours and the saponin concentration in the liver was around $10^{-5}\%$ level at two hours after the saponin (1mg) administration orally. In this study, it was confirmed that ginseng saponins stimulated alcohol dehydrogenase, aldehyde dehydrogenase and microsomal ethanol oxidizing system in vivo as well as in vitro. It seemed likely that toxic aldehyde formed during ethanol oxidation in the body might be removed relatively quickly from the liver and the excess hydrogen was used for the biosynthetic work in the presence of the saponin, resulting in the liver protection from alcohol intoxication. Electron microscopic observation demonstrated that the hepatocytes of rats doses with $12\%$ ethanol instead of water for six days were found severely damaged while those of the ginseng saponin administered rats were not impaired suggesting that the sapcnin protected the liver against ethanol intoxication.

• The Journal of Natural Sciences
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• v.10 no.1
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• pp.39-47
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• 1998

In the present study, We have tested the potential effects of ginseng saponin fractions on macrophage chemotaxis and intracellular calcium and F-actin mobilization. Peritoneal macrophages treated with various ginseng saponin fractions showed 28.4% to 71% of increasement of chemotaxis as compared with untreated cells. The activity of intracelluar calcium mobilization was increased up to 65% by treatment with saponins, and F-actin content also increased 10% in the cells loaded with NBD-phallacidin. When the cells were activated with calcium of PMA and treated with saponin fractions, the intracelluar F-actin content increased significantly and prolonged for 2 minutes. These results suggest that ginseng saponin fractions might be a chemoattractants.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.12 no.2
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• pp.128-134
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• 1988

The effect of the saponin fraction extracted from Panax ginseng C.A. Meyer on the antioxidant activity of $\alpha$-tocopherol was investigated in vitro as well as in vivo. Microsomal preparation of rat(Winter, 180-200g) liver was incubated in the mixture containing NADPH, $Fe^{3+}$, ATP, $\alpha$-tocopherol with and/or without ginseng saponin fraction for 30 minutes and the malondialdehyde formed was assayed and found that the saponin fraction stimulated the antioxidant activity of $\alpha$-tocopherol cooperatively. It was also realized that the cooperative stimulation of the antioxidant activity of $\alpha$-tocopherol was most eminent when the concentration of the saponin fraction was around $10^{-5}$% in the reaction mixture. Alcoholic suspension of $\alpha$-tocopherol with and f or without ginseng saponin fraction was administered orally to rats in which the lipid preoccupation was induced by ethanol administration and the lipid peroxide contents of the liver were assayed at certain periods of time after $\alpha$-tocopherol administration in this animal. From the previous work and present experimental results, it seemed that the saponin fraction accelerated the absorption of $\alpha$-tocopherol and therefore stimulated the antioxidant activity of $\alpha$-tocopherol more effectively in the animal body.

• Proceedings of the Ginseng society Conference
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• 1988.08a
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• pp.39-42
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• 1988

We have studied the mechanism by examing the effect of ginseng on the epoxide hydrolase which is catabolized the reactive intermetabolite of bromobenzene. and bromobenzene-induced hepatotoxicity. It was observed that ginseng saponin fraction protects against bromobenzene-induced hepatotoxicity in mice as evidenced 1. increased the epoxide hydrolase activity. 2. lower serum transaminase activity. 3. decreased the formation of lipid peroxide. These results suggested that the inducing effect of ginseng on the epoxide hydrolase is believed to be a possible detoxication mechanism for the bromobenzene toxicity in mice.

• Korean Journal of Biological Psychiatry
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• v.4 no.1
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• pp.102-107
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• 1997

Ginseng root, as a folk medicine, has been used in far eastern countries for thousands of years. Ginseng extract has been shown to have a variety of effects on the activity of the central nervous system, promoting stimulation as well as inhibition of the cortical activity. A survey of the relevant literatures has indicated that the putative anxiolytic activity of red ginseng has not been scientifically investigated. Therefore, the present study was designed to assess anxiolytic effect of gingseng total saponins(GTS). The putative anxiolytic effects of several fractions of GTS were investigated in mice using an elevated plus maze paradigm. Single dose administration of TS Fr.-I showed anxiolytic action in mice. Anxiolytic effect induced by TS Fr.-I was similar to that induced by diazepam. TS Fr.-II, TS Fr.-III and TS Fr.-IV did not show the anxiolytic action compared with that of TS Fr.-I. It was suggested that regulation of GABAergic neurotransmission may be important in the action of GTS. The Interaction of GTS fractions with benzodiazepine receptor was performed using rat cortical membranes. GTS inhibited the binding of [3H] Ro 15-1788 on the benzodiazepine receptor. Among from TS fractions, the binding activity of GTS in the TS Fr.-IV was highest, which did not show the anxiolytic activity. From these results, we conclude that GTS has anxiolytic action, and this is not related to benzodiazepine receptor binding activity.

• Journal of the East Asian Society of Dietary Life
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• v.17 no.3
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• pp.393-401
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• 2007

This study was performed to investigate the antioxidant activity of Korean ginseng using an ORAC(Oxygen Radical Absorbance Capacity) assay. Four fractions each (80% ethanol, ethyl acetate, water saturated 1-butanol, and water) were obtained from different ginseng samples (White Ginseng: ; 6 yrs-., 5 yrs-., ; Cork Ginseng: ; 5 yrs-., 4 yrs-.). The saponin content of each fraction was quantified by LC/MS, and the antioxidant capacity of the ginseng was measured by the ORAC assay. The ORAC method, which was recently validated using automatic liquid handling systems, has been adapted for manual handling with the use of a conventional fluorescence microplate reader. Furthermore, the ORAC assay provides a direct measure of hydrophilic chain-breaking antioxidant capacity against peroxy radical, which is the exiting and emission of 2,2'-Azobis (2-methylpropionamidine)-dihychloride (AAPH). As a result of our experiments, ginsenosides Rg1 and Rb1 were the two major saponins found in the ginseng samples, and Rc, Rb2, Re, Rd, Rg3, and Rh1 were detected in a small quantities. For the antioxidant capacities of the fractions (80% ethanol, ethyl acetate, butanol, and water), we found that the organic solvent fraction had similar antioxidant capacities, and were higher than the capacity of the water fraction. When determining the similarities in each fraction, only the ethyl acetate fraction showed similarity compared to other fractions (p>0.05). The antioxidant capacity of ginseng may come from phenolic compounds and some nonpolar saponins. However, based on the results of this study, we hypothesize that some acidic polysaccharides and other biological components may contribute to its antioxidant capacity. Additional research is required to determine other possible biological response modifiers that contribute to the antioxidant capacity of ginseng.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.29 no.3
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• pp.460-465
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• 2000

본 연구는 여성 갱년기장애에 대한 홍삼의 효과를 조사할 목적으로 수행하였다. 홍삼의 효과는 자연적으로 갱년기 장애가 유도되었다고 생각되는 자성 노령흰쥐를 사용하여 홍삼 조사포닌 분획을 투여(20mg/kg,b.w./day) 한 후 그 효괴를 조사하였다. 홍삼조사포닌 분획은 노령쥐의 체지방 축적으로 야기되는 체중 증가를 다소 감소시키는 것으로 관찰되었다. (p<0.01). 노령쥐는 젊은 쥐에 비해 혈중 당, 총콜레스테롤, BUN 함량이 증가하였는데 조사포닌 분획의 투여는 혈당, 총콜레스테롤 함량 및 BUN 함량증기를 유의하게 억제하는 것으로 나타났다. (p<0.05, p<0.01). 노령쥐는 노령화에 따른 간기능의 저하로 GOT 및 GPT 활성이 증가하였으나 사포닌의 투여는 GOT 및 GPT 활성증가를 억제하여 간기능을 젊은 쥐의 수준으로 회복시킴을 알 수 있었다. (p<0.01). 노령쥐의 대퇴골은 사포닌투여와 관계없이 현저한 무게차이가 관찰되자 않았으나 대퇴골중 무기이온 Na+ 함량은 사포닌 투여시 약 2배 증가하는 것으로 나타났다. 이러한 사실로부터 홍삼 조사포닌 분획은 노령쥐의 혈당, 총콜레스테롤, BUN 함량증가를 억제하는 효과를 나타내며 또한 노령화에 따른 간기능 관련 생화학 지수를 개선하는 것으로 사료된다.

• The Korean Journal of Food And Nutrition
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• v.24 no.4
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• pp.528-534
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• 2011

This study was conducted to investigate the changes in saponin content and antioxidant activity of crude ginseng and extruded ginseng by using different solvent extraction methods. Each of the fractions was first extracted by 80% ethanol followed by ether treatment to remove the lipid components. Water soluble components were separated by ethylacetate and water saturated butanol. Four fraction, including 80% ethanol, ethylacetate, butanol and water were obtained from crude and extruded ginsengs to analyze saponin content and antioxidant activity. Saponin content and antioxidant capacity of each of the four fractions were measured by LC/MS analysis and ORAC(Oxygen Radical Absorbance Capacity) assay, respectively. It was found that a major portion of saponin was present in ethyl acetate and water saturated butanol fractions. When extracted by 80% ethanol, ginsenoside Rb1 and Rg1 were mostly found in crude ginseng, while ginsenoside Re and Rb1 were detected in extruded ginseng. Even though Rh1 and Rg3 were found in a very small quantity in crude ginseng, there was a significant quantity of both in extruded ginseng when extracted by 80% ethanol. Similar tendency was also observed in extruded ginseng fraction when extracted with ethyl acetate and butanol. In crude ginseng, the level of Rg1 was the highest among other ginsenosides upon extraction by ethyl acetate, while Rh1 and Rg3 were predominantly found by employing similar solvent extraction in the extruded ginseng. Also, Rg1, Re and Rb1 were also found in the extruded ginseng with small quantity. Rg1, Re and Rb1 were found in crude ginseng by butanol extraction, while Rb1 and Re were extracted from the extruded ginseng. Overall, there was no difference in the saponin content between crude ginseng and extruded ginseng when extracted by butanol and water, but twice as much of saponin was obtained by 80% ethanol extraction and 6 times more saponin were obtained in ethyl acetate fraction in the extruded ginseng. Antioxidant capacity of crude ginseng as determined by ORAC assay was higher in 80% ethanol(high in many different kinds of biological compounds) and water saturated butanol(high in polar saponin) fractions than the ethyl acetate and water fractions. No difference in antioxidant capacity was observed between crude and extruded ginseng. However, antioxidant capacity of ethyl acetate and water fractions in extruded ginseng was significantly higher than crude ginseng($P$ >0.05). All the fractions in both, crude and extruded ginseng possessed antioxidant capacity and even water fractions that contained almost no saponin had some antioxidant capacity. While determining correlation coefficient between fractions in extruded ginseng by Pearson correlation, it was observed that 80% ethanol fraction was in correlation with ethyl acetate($P$ >0.01) and ethanol($P$ >0.001) and in the case of ethylacetate, correlation was observed only with butanol fraction($P$ >0.05).

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.23 no.1 s.53
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• pp.13-20
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• 1999

We previously reported that Korean red ginseng (KRG) has a relaxation effect on the smooth muscles of corpus cavernosum via nitric oxide (NO) pathway and calcium and potassium channels. However, it is suggested that the active ingredients of KRG might be different depending on the sources of preparation, and there might be differences in actions for different compositions. We first investigated the composition of KRG saponins according to the extractions of the various sources of KRG, then with these extractions the relaxation effects were evaluated in vitro and hemodynamical in vivo using New Zealand white rabbit and rat corpus cavernosum. The total compositions of ginsenoside $(G-Rb_1,\;-Rb_2,\;-Rc,\;-Rd,\;G-Re,\;-Rf,\;-Rg_1)$ in fractionated KRG saponin designated as TS-1, TS-2, TS-3 were $41\%,\;40\%,\;and\;62\%,$ respectively, and the ratios of PD saponin and PT saponin (PD/PT) were 1,55, 1.72, 2.25, and 2.61, the values of which were statistically significant. In vitro studies using the rabbit corpus cavernosal muscle strips, the KRG saponin relaxed cavernosal strips in a dose-dependent manner, and same results were observed in in vivo studies, that KRG saponin increased the intracavernosal pressure in the rat. There was difference in the efficacy according to fractionation techniques. The differences in the total contents of ginsenosides did not affect relaxation, rather PT saponin content was statistically related to the degree of cavernosal relaxation, and this action presumed to be mediated by NO pathway and calcium and potassium channels. In conclusion, KRG exerts relaxation which is a key step in erection via combination of effects on NO system or calcium and potassium channels. The efficacy of this action is different to the sources of ginseng, which is affected by the different composition of ginsenosides $(G-Rb_1,\;-Rb_2,\;-Rc,\;-Rd,\;G-Re,\;-Rf,\;-Rg_1).$ Thus the further studies on the active ingredients such as minor ginsenosides and non-saponin components of red ginseng with maximum potency should be sought.