• Korean Journal of Pharmacognosy
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• v.45 no.4
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• pp.315-319
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• 2014

This study compared the contents of ginseng prosapogenin depending on the extracting conditions of Skin White ginseng(Panax ginseng) to provide basic information for developing Skin White ginseng-based functional foods. Our findings show that the content of crude saponin peaked at 4 hours of extraction(SWG-4) and when extracted at $100^{\circ}C$. However, the content of total saponin reached its height at 8 hours of extraction at $100^{\circ}C$(SWG-8). On the other hand, the content of prosapogenin reached their heights at 60 hours of extraction(SWG-60), followed by 60 hours of extraction at $100^{\circ}C$. And at $100^{\circ}C$ the main prosapogenin of the content of Red and Black ginseng ginsenoside $Rg_3$, $Rg_5$ and $Rk_1$ reached their heights at 60 hours of extraction(SWG-60), followed by 60 hours of extraction.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.35 no.4
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• pp.421-428
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• 2011

This study evaluated cholineresterase inhibitory activity of Korean white ginseng extract (WGE), red ginseng extract (RGE), and black ginseng extract (BGE) and the cholinergic effect on scopolamine (SCOP)-induced amnesic mice. WGE, RGE, and BGE inhibited acetylcholineserase (AChE), as well as butyrylcholineserase (BuChE) in a concentration-dependent manner. BGE presented strong inhibition of AChE with an $IC_{50}$ value of 1.72 mg/mL, followed by WGE (5.89 mg/mL), RGE (6.30 mg/mL), respectively. The inhibitory activity of the three ginseng extracts on BuChE showed similar values among the groups. To better understand the mechanisms of the possible effect of ginseng extract on the cholinergic function, this study assessed the expression of the cholinergic markers of choline acetyltransferase (ChAT) and AChE using western blot and RT-PCR analysis in the brains of amnesic mice. Treatment with ginseng extracts led to inhibition of AChE expression and, the activation of ChAT expression in the hippocampus and the cerebral cortex of amnesic mice as induced by SCOP. The results suggest that ginseng extracts including BGE, appear to modulate the metabolism of acetylchoine (ACh), which would greatly increase synaptic ACh levels and most potently revert SCOP-induced amnesia.

• Korean Journal of Pharmacognosy
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• v.46 no.4
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• pp.321-326
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• 2015

The prevalence of diabetes mellitus continues to rise alarmingly because of industrialization of society. The aim of this study was to investigate the antidiabetic effects of black ginseng extract (BGE) which was performed panax ginseng. First we examined the inhibitory effects of BGE on ${\alpha}$-glucosidase. But there was no practical effects in our observations. We, also, investigate the effects of BGE on glucose uptake of skeletal muscle using 2-NBDG in $C_2C_{12}$ myotube. BGE significantly improved the glucose uptake considered as a lowered blood glucose level. Effects of GBG05-FF on fasting blood glucose and glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) were investigated in streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic mouse. After injection of STZ, fasting blood glucose and glycated hemoglobin rapidly increased. But STZ-induced diabetic mouse treated with GBG05-FF significantly reduced the level of fasting blood glucose and HbA1c. This results showed that supplementation of BGE improve the diabetic parameters and BGE have a potentiality as a functional food for Diabetes mellitus.

• The Plant Pathology Journal
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• v.25 no.1
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• pp.1-5
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• 2009

Root rot caused by Cylindrocarpon destructans is one of the most important diseases of ginseng (Panax ginseng C. A. Meyer). Two types of symptoms found in ginseng root rot are black root rot and rusty root (rusty spots), in which disease severities are high and low, respectively. Symptom development and related histopathological changes were examined in an inoculation test on 2-year-old ginseng roots using virulent (Cy9801) and avirulent (Cy0001) isolates of C. destructans under different temperature conditions (13, 18, 23, and $28^{\circ}C$). Black root rot was only induced by Cy9801 in the lower temperature range (13, 18, and $23^{\circ}C$) and not at the higher temperature ($28^{\circ}C$). No black root rot, but only rusty spot symptoms, were induced by Cy0001 at all temperatures tested except $13^{\circ}C$, at which no symptoms occurred on over half of inoculation sites, suggesting disease development was influenced by pathogen virulence and temperature. Wound periderms were formed in all root tissues with rust spot symptoms at $28^{\circ}C$ caused by Cy9801 and at 18, 23, and $28^{\circ}C$ temperatures caused by Cy0001. No wound periderm was formed at $13^{\circ}C$ by either Cy9801 or Cy0001. Light microscopy revealed that the wound periderm was formed by initial cell divisions in cell wall formation and/or additional cell wall layering in parenchyma cells without obvious nuclear division, followed by layering of the divided cells adjacent to the inoculation sites, blocking the spread of the rot. These results suggest that disease development declined at lower temperatures and by the formation of a wound periderm at higher temperatures, and that ginseng rusty root may develop under conditions unfavorable for further disease development of C. destructans.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.41 no.2
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• pp.188-194
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• 2017

Background: Fermented black ginseng (FBG) is processed ginseng by the repeated heat treatment and fermentation of raw ginseng. The protective effect and mechanism of FBG on cisplatin-induced nephrotoxicity was investigated to evaluate its therapeutic potential. Methods: The free radical scavenging activity of FBG was measured using 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH). In addition, the protective effect against cisplatin-induced renal damage was tested in rats. FBG was orally administered every day at a dose of 150 mg/kg body weight for 10 d, and a single dose of cisplatin was administered intraperitoneally (7.5 mg/kg body weight) with 0.9% saline on the $4^{th}$ d. Results: The DPPH radical-scavenging activity of FBG ($IC_{50}=384{\mu}g/mL$) was stronger than that of raw ginseng. The improved DPPH radical-scavenging activity was mediated by the generation phenolic compounds. The decreased cell viability by cisplatin was recovered significantly after treatment with FBG in a dose-dependent manner. Then, the protective effect of FBG on cisplatin-induced oxidative renal damage was investigated in rats. The decreased creatinine clearance levels, which are a reliable marker for renal dysfunction in cisplatin-treated rats, were reduced to the normal level after the administration of FBG. Moreover, FBG showed protective effects against cisplatin-induced oxidative renal damage in rats through the inhibition of $NF-{\kappa}B/p65$, COX-2, and caspase-3 activation. Conclusion: These results collectively show that the therapeutic evidence for FBG ameliorates the nephrotoxicity via regulating oxidative stress, inflammation, and apoptosis.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.43 no.2
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• pp.179-185
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• 2019

Background: Oxidative stress induces the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS), which play important causative roles in various pathological conditions. Black ginseng (BG), a type of steam-processed ginseng, has drawn significant attention due to its biological activity, and is more potent than white ginseng (WG) or red ginseng (RG). Methods: We evaluated the protective effects of BG extract (BGE) against oxidative stress-induced cellular damage, in comparison with WG extract (WGE) and RG extract (RGE) in a cell culture model. Ethanolic extracts of WG, RG, and BG were used to evaluate ginsenoside profiles, total polyphenols, flavonoid contents, and antioxidant activity. Using AML-12 cells treated with $H_2O_2$, the protective effects of WGE, RGE, and BGE on cellular redox status, DNA, protein, lipid damage, and apoptosis levels were investigated. Results: BGE exhibited significantly enhanced antioxidant potential, as well as total flavonoid and polyphenol contents. ATP levels were significantly higher in BGE-treated cells than in control; ROS generation and glutathione disulfide levels were lower but glutathione (GSH) and NADPH levels were higher in BGE-treated cells than in other groups. Pretreatment with BGE inhibited apoptosis and therefore protected cells from oxidative stress-induced cellular damage, probably through ROS scavenging. Conclusion: Collectively, our results demonstrate that BGE protects AML-12 cells from oxidative stress-induced cellular damages more effectively than WGE or RGE, through ROS scavenging, maintenance of redox status, and activation of the antioxidant defense system.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.18 no.3
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• pp.182-186
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• 1994

This study was conducted to define the effects of color of polyethylene (P.E.) net shading on the meteorological conditions under the shading growth status, photosynthesis and saponin contents of ginseng plant. Red and blue polyethylene net shading (4 fold) showed a good light intensity of ginseng growth, but red one not only increased air temperature but also resulted in early defoliation. Photosynthetic rate of ginseng leaves was increased in order of red, blue and black shade, Root yield and saponin contents were significantly increased red and blue net as compared with those of common straw shading. Blue color appeared to be most recommendable.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.29 no.2
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• pp.222-229
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• 2019

Korean ginseng (Panax ginseng Meyer) was processed by drying, steaming, or puffing, and the effects of these processes on the ginsenoside profile were investigated. The main root of 4-year-old raw Korean ginseng was dried to produce white ginseng. Steaming, followed by drying, was employed to produce red or black ginseng. In addition, these three varieties of processed ginseng were puffed using a rotational puffing gun. Puffed ginseng showed significantly higher extraction yields of ginsenosides (49.87-58.60 g solid extract/100 g of sample) and crude saponin content (59.40-63.87 mg saponin/g of dried ginseng) than non-puffed ginseng, respectively. Moreover, puffing effectively transformed the major ginsenosides (Rb1, Rb2, Rc, Rd, Re, and Rg1) of ginseng into minor ones (F2, Rg3, Rk1, and Rg5), comparable to the steaming process effect on the levels of the transformed ginsenosides. However, steaming takes much longer (4 to 36 days) than puffing (less than 30 min) for ginsenoside transformation. Consequently, puffing may be an effective and economical technique for enhancing the extraction yield and levels of minor ginsenosides responsible for the major biological activities of ginseng.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.42 no.4
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• pp.577-584
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• 2018

Background: Ginseng (Panax ginseng) is a widely used traditional herbal supplement that possesses various health-enhancing efficacies. Various ginseng products are available in market, especially in the Korean peninsula, in the form of drinks, tablets, and capsules. The different ginseng types include the traditional red ginseng extract (RGE), white ginseng, and black red ginseng extract (BRGE). Their fermented and enzyme-treated products are also available. Different treatment regimens alter the bioavailability of certain compounds present in the respective ginseng extracts. Therefore, in this study, we aimed to compare the antioxidant and immune-stimulating activities of RGE, BRGE, and fermented red ginseng extract (FRGE). Methods: We used an acetaminophen-induced oxidative stress model for investigating the reduction of oxidative stress by RGE, BRGE, and FRGE in Sprague Dawley rats. A cyclophosphamide-induced immunosuppression model was used to evaluate the immune-stimulating activities of these ginseng extracts in BALB/c mice. Results: Our results showed that most prominently, RGE (in almost all experiments) exhibited excellent antioxidant effects via increasing superoxide dismutase, catalase, and glutathione peroxidase activities in the liver and decreasing serum 8-hydroxy-2'-deoxyguanosine, aspartate aminotransferase, and lactate dehydrogenase levels compared with the groups treated with FRGE and BRGE. Moreover, RGE significantly increased the number of white blood cells, especially T and B lymphocytes, and antibody-forming cells in the spleen and thymus, and it also activated a number of immune cell subtypes. Conclusion: Taken together, these results indicate that RGE is the best supplement for consumption in everyday life for overall health-enhancing properties.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.35 no.1
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• pp.39-44
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• 2011

We studied the acute oral toxicity of black ginseng (BG) produced by heat process in rats. Single acute BG extract doses of 0, 5, 10, and 15 g/kg dissolved in saline were administered by oral gavage and the animals were kept under observation for 14 days. The single administration of BG extract up to 15 g/kg did not produce mortality, behavioral change or abnormal clinical signs in the rats. These results indicated that the oral $LD_{50}$ of the BG extract in the rats is higher than 15 g/kg. Compared to the control group, no treatment-related biologically significant effects of BG extract were noted in the measurements of the body weight or food intake. At the end of the period, the biochemical parameters and hematological parameters were analyzed in the plasma and blood. A histopathological examination of the liver and kidney was also conducted. Only the blood nitrogen urea and potassium levels in the biochemical indices showed significant differences at 10 and 15 g/kg doses of BG extract compared to the control group. These changes were not considered to be due to the toxicity. None of the other clinical chemistry parameters were affected. Therefore, these results indicate that the BG by heat processing is virtually nontoxic.