• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.29 no.1
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• pp.1-18
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• 2005

Ginseng Radix, the root of Panax ginseng C. A. Meyer has been used in Eastern Asia for 2000 years as a tonic and restorative, promoting health and longevity. Two varieties are commercially available: white ginseng(Ginseng Radix Alba) is produced by air-drying the root, while red ginseng(Ginseng Radix Rubra) is produced by steaming the root followed by drying. These two varieties of different processing have somewhat differences by heat processing between them. During the heat processing for preparing red ginseng, it has been found to exhibit inactivation of catabolic enzymes, thereby preventing deterioration of ginseng quality and the increased antioxidant-like substances which inhibit lipid peroxide formation, and also good gastro-intestinal absorption by gelatinization of starch. Moreover, studies of changes in ginsenosides composition due to different processing of ginseng roots have been undertaken. The results obtained showed that red ginseng differ from white ginseng due to the lack of acidic malonyl-ginsenosides. The heating procedure in red ginseng was proved to degrade the thermally unstable malonyl-ginsenoside into corresponding netural ginsenosides. Also the steaming process of red ginseng causes degradation or transformation of neutral ginsenosides. Ginsenosides $Rh_2,\;Rh_4,\;Rs_3,\;Rs_4\;and\;Rg_5$, found only in red ginseng, have been known to be hydrolyzed products derived from original saponin by heat processing, responsible for inhibitory effects on the growth of cancer cells through the induction of apoptosis. 20(S)-ginsenoside $Rg_3$ was also formed in red ginseng and was shown to exhibit vasorelaxation properties, antimetastatic activities, and anti-platelet aggregation activity. Recently, steamed red ginseng at high temperature was shown to provide enhance the yield of ginsenosides $Rg_3\;and\;Rg_5$ characteristic of red ginseng Additionally, one of non-saponin constituents, panaxytriol, was found to be structually transformed from polyacetylenic alcohol(panaxydol) showing cytotoxicity during the preparation of red ginseng and also maltol, antioxidant maillard product, from maltose and arginyl-fructosyl-glucose, amino acid derivative, from arginine and maltose. In regard to the in vitro and in vivo comparative biological activities, red ginseng was reported to show more potent activities on the antioxidant effect, anticarcinogenic effect and ameliorative effect on blood circulation than those of white ginseng. In oriental medicine, the ability of red ginseng to supplement the vacancy(허) was known to be relatively stronger than that of white ginseng, but very few are known on its comparative clinical studies. Further investigation on the preclinical and clinical experiments are needed to show the differences of indications and efficacies between red and white ginsengs on the basis of oriental medicines.

• Journal of the Korean Applied Science and Technology
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• v.38 no.6
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• pp.1466-1475
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• 2021

Compound K (20-O-β-(_D-glucopyranosyl)-20(S)-protopanaxadiol) is an active ingredient of ginsenosides. Compound K has been known to produce from biotransformation by β-glucosidase action of human intestinal microbes after oral admistration of ginseng. We have investigated the cytotoxicity of compound K obtained from bio-converted ginseng extract. As a result, compound K showed no significant cytotoxicity in the concentration of 0.001 to 1 ㎍/mL and inhibited the production of TNF-α, MCP-1, IL-6 and NO in RAW 264.7 cells induced by LPS inflamation. In the same concentration, HaCaT cells induced by inflammation with TNF-α and IFN-γ decreased IL-8 production due to compound K treatment. In the brine shrimp lethality assay, the LC₅₀ of compound K was 0.37 mg/mL indicating some toxicity, but the bioconverted product containing 35% compound K showed relatively low toxicity with an LC₅₀ of 0.87 mg/mL. These results suggest that the compound K enriched extract is a potential functional material for acne relief cosmetic products.

• Journal of Environmental Science International
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• v.15 no.1
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• pp.85-94
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• 2006

The simultaneous analysis of multi-residual pesticides was developed using a gas chromatography (GC) method. In this study, a simple and reliable methodology was improved to detect 154 kinds of pesticides in sinseng extract sample by using a liquid-liquid extraction procedure, open column chromagraphy and chromatographic analysis by CC electron capture detector (ECD) and GC nitrogen-phosphorus detector (NPD). The 154 kinds of pesticides were classified in 4 groups according to the chemical structure. The extraction of pesticides was experimented with $70\%$ acetone and dichloromethane/petroleum ether in order, and cleaned up via open column chromatography $(3\times30cm)$ packed with florisil $(30g,\;130^{\circ}C,\;12hrs)$. The final extract was concentrated in a rotator evaporator at $40^{\circ}C$ until dryness. Then the residue was redissolved to 2ml with acetone, and analyzed by GC-ECD and GC-NPD. The applied concentration of pesticides was over $1\~10{\mu}g/ml$. The recovery tests were ranged from $70.7\%$ to $115.2\%$ with standard deviations between 0.3 and $5.7\%$ of the standard spiked to the ginseng extract sample (Group $I\~IV$). The limit of detection (LOD) ranged from 0.001 to $0.099{\mu}g/ml$ (Group $I\~IV$). The 9 kinds of pesticides were not detected. The developed method was applied satisfactory to the determination of the 154 kinds of pesticides in the ginseng extract with good reproducibility and accuracy.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.35 no.9
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• pp.1245-1250
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• 2006

This study was carried out to develop the method of preparing lecithin-fortified ginseng extract. Firstly, soybean lecithin was mixed with soybean oil (LCS) in varying ratio (2.5%, 5%, 10% and 20%). Then, one part volume of LCS was mixed with three parts volume of ginseng extract with 10% solid matter content and the mixture was vortexed vigorously. Finally, the mixture was spinned at the speed of 3,000 rpm for 30 minutes to separate oil and aqueous ginseng extract layer (AG). AG was then subjected to qualitative and quantitative analysis of phospholipids and ginsenosides. Fatty acid composition and crude fat content before and after LCS was determined. Stability of lecithin in ginseng extract was determined by analyzing phospholipid content in the one third upper and lower layer of the concentrated AG in Falcon tubes while storing the LCS treated concentrated AG in 4, 25 and 40oC for 6 months. Ratio of lecithin transferred to AG increased with the increase in lecithin content of soybean oil. There was no significant change in fatty acid composition and crude fat content, and ginsenoside content in the ginseng extract before and after LCS treatment. TLC and HPLC pattern of saponin fraction before and after treating the ginseng extract with LCS demonstrated no observable difference. There was no change in lecithin content in the upper and lower one third layer of ginseng extract in the tubes after storing the concentrated AG in 4, 25 and $40^{\circ}C$ for 6 months. Ginsenosides HPLC pattern was not changed when stored the LCS-treated ginseng extract in those conditions for six months, indicating satisfiable stability of the LCS-treated concentrated ginseng extract. From these results, it can be concluded that treatment of the ginseng extract with lecithin containing soybean oil is a labor effective method with satisfiable stability to fortify lecithins to ginseng extract.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.28 no.1
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• pp.45-51
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• 2004

This study was conducted to investigate the effect of crude saponin of red ginseng and aqueous extracts from several medicinal herbs on the activity of alcohol dehydrogenase(ADH) and aldehyde dehydrogenase(ALDH) in alcohol metabolism. In order to develop a liquid phase product a model product was prepared using functional plants. In case of red ginseng crude saponin, and some medicinal herbs(Puerariae radix, the flower of Puerariae lobata, the fruits of Hovenia dulcis Thunb., Morus alba L.) the relative activity of ADH was significantly increased, which was from 104～114%. The relative activity of ALDH was also significantly increased in the cases of the fruits of Hovenia duicis Thunb., Morus alba L. which was from 102∼106%. To improve of soju flavours by addition of liquid phase product, it is prepared three samples added a given content (0.28%) of chik, ssanghwa and kyungokgo flavour. The total acceptability test showed significant differences among three samples, and it is observed that the sample added ssanghwa flavour get the best grade. As the second acceptability test, the preference of ssanghwa flavoured sample, sample without flavour and a similar product in market was compared. There was no significant difference among three samples.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.31 no.2
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• pp.109-116
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• 2007

Korean red ginseng has broad efficacious effects against hypertension, diabetes, nociception, and cancer, and it counteracts weakness. It has been reported that Korean red ginseng is able to normalize blood pressure, improve cholesterol and lower blood glucose levels. We have recently reported that Korean red ginseng extract (KRGE) significantly prevented rat carotid arterial thrombosis in vivo, and inhibited platelet aggregation ex vivo and in vitro in a dose-dependent manner. The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of KRGE on blood circulation in human by measuring ex vivo platelet aggregation, plasma coagulation and serum lipid profiles in healthy volunteers. Subjects were randomly divided into three groups (placebo-group, KRGE-low dose group, KRGE-high dose group). Administration of KRGE to subjects significantly inhibited ADP-induced platelet aggregations both in KRGE-low dose group from $72.79{\pm}20.53$ to $62.00{\pm}23.06%$ (p=0.0009), and in KRGE-high dose group from $75.14{\pm}21.86$ to $64.52{\pm}24.72%$ (p=0.0039), respectively. Administration of KRGE to subjects also significantly inhibited collagen-induced platelet aggregations both in KRGE-low dose group from $85.52{\pm}12.57$ to $79.62{\pm}20.47%$ (p=0.0916), and in KRGE-high dose group from $80.24{\pm}18.11$ to $70.31{\pm}25.93%$ (p=0.0565), respectively. Whereas, KRGE has no significant effects on coagulation system, such as prothrombin time (PT) and activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT), and serum lipid profiles, such as total cholesterol, low density lipoprotein cholesterol, high density lipoprotein cholesterol and triglyceride. KRGE also has no significant effects on hematological and serum biochemical profiles. These results suggest that KRGE has a potential to improve blood circulation through antiplatelet activity in human, and KRGE intake may be beneficial for the individuals with high risks of thrombotic and cardiovascular diseases.