• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.47 no.2
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• pp.210-217
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• 2023

Background: Effects of the major ginsenoside Rg1 on mammalian longevity and physical vitality are rarely reported. Purpose: To examine longevity, tumor, and spontaneous locomotor activity in rats consuming Rg1. Methods: A total of 138 Wistar rats were randomized into 2 groups: control (N = 69) and Rg1 (N = 69). Rg1 (0.1 mg/kg per day) were orally supplemented from 6 months of age until natural death. Spontaneous mobility was measured by video-tracking together with body composition (dual energy x-ray absorptiometry) and inflammation markers at 5, 14, 21, and 28 months of age. Results: No significant differences in longevity (control: 706 days; Rg1: 651 days, p = 0.77) and tumor incidence (control: 19%; Rg1: 12%, p = 0.24) were observed between the two groups. Movement distance in the control group declined significantly by ~60% at 21 months of age, together with decreased TNF-α (p = 0.01) and increased IL-10 (p = 0.02). However, the movement distance in the Rg1 group was maintained ~50% above the control groups (p = 0.01) at 21 months of age with greater magnitudes of TNF-α decreases and IL-10 increases. Glucose, insulin, and body composition (bone, muscle and fat percentages) were similar for both groups during the entire observation period. Conclusion: The results of the study suggest a delay age-dependent decline in physical vitality during late life by lifelong Rg1 consumption. This improvement is associated with inflammatory modulation. Significant effects of Rg1 on longevity and tumorigenesis were not observed.

• KSBB Journal
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• v.16 no.6
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• pp.620-625
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• 2001

This study was examined to investigate the time course behaviors of cell growth and sucrose consumption, and effects of various elicitors on ginsenoside production in batch suspension cultures of Panax ginseng Meyer. Suspended cells reached to the stationary phase at 12 days after innoculation. The maximum cell concentration was 14.7 g-DCW/L at 17 days. The highest cell growth rate was 0.59 g-DCW/L d. The sucrose used as a sole carbon source was hydrolysed to glucose and fructose in 4 days, then quickly utilized until the middle-log phase and consumpted completely at 16 days. Various elicitors were app1ied at 8 days from inoculation which is the middle-log phase. Among the elicitors tested, jasmonic acid was the most efficient to increase the ginseneside production, which was 1.5 times higher than control.

• Korean Journal of Medicinal Crop Science
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• v.16 no.6
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• pp.446-454
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• 2008

An advanced extraction method by ultrasonic extraction with applied solid phase extraction (SPE) has been developed for the determination of simultaneous eight major ginsenosides, namely ginsenosides Rg1, Re, Rf, Rb1, Rg2, Rc, Rb2, and Rd in the root of Panax ginseng. Four extraction methods including n-BuOH reflux extraction (Method A), 70% EtOH reflux extraction (Method B), 50% MeOH reflux extraction with SPE (Method C), and 50% MeOH ultrasonication with SPE clean-up process (Method D) were investigated for the determination of eight major ginsenosides. Total contents of ginsenosides were highest by extraction of Method C as $2.408{\pm}0.011%$. However, Method D was evaluated as relatively simpler and more efficient method due to short extraction time, small solvent consumption and less expensive, compared to conservative reflux method. Ginsenosides were also satisfactorily separated with good resolution and the accuracy range was between 1.05 and 4.06% as relative standard deviation (RSD) by Method D. SPE condition and HPLC condition were further optimized for determination of eight major ginsenosides by the ultrasonic extraction method. Conclusively, ultrasonic extraction of 2 g sample of ginseng using ultrasonic bath and 1 loading for SPE was evaluated as proper condition for extraction of ginseng.

• Journal of Food Hygiene and Safety
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• v.28 no.1
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• pp.13-18
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• 2013

This study was conducted to monitor residual pesticides in ginseng and balloon flower roots and to assess their risk to human health. All of 112 samples consisted of ginseng and balloon roots were purchased from traditional domestic markets and supermarkets in nine provinces of Korea in 2012. Multi-residue analysis of 122 pesticides was conducted and the analysis was performed by gas chromatography-electron capture detector, gas chromatography- nitrogen/phosphorus detector, and high-performance liquid chromatography. Seven pesticides were detected in 12 root samples and the detection rate was 10.7%. The detected twelve root samples were 10 ginseng root samples and 2 balloon root samples. Pesticides detected in root samples were procymidone, kresoxim-methyl, endosulfan, cypermethrin, tralomethrin, tetraconazole and chlorfluazuron. Among them, two pesticides as tetraconazole in a balloon flower root and cypermethrin in a ginseng root exceeded the recommended maximum residue limit set by Korea Food and Drug Administration. Five pesticides detected from 10 root samples were identified as unregistered pesticides in Korea. In order to do risk assessment with Korean medicinal plant consumption, estimated daily intake of residual pesticides were determined and compared to acceptable daily intake, referring to %ADI values. The range of %ADI values was from 0.006% to 0.333%. Taken together, it demonstrates the pesticides found in the two root samples were below the safety margin, indicating no effect on human health.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.47 no.3
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• pp.408-419
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• 2023

Background: Ginsenoside compound K (CK), the main active metabolite in Panax ginseng, has shown good safety and bioavailability in clinical trials and exerts neuroprotective effects in cerebral ischemic stroke. However, its potential role in the prevention of cerebral ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury remains unclear. Our study aimed to investigate the molecular mechanism of ginsenoside CK against cerebral I/R injury. Methods: We used a combination of in vitro and in vivo models, including oxygen and glucose deprivation/reperfusion induced PC12 cell model and middle cerebral artery occlusion/reperfusion induced rat model, to mimic I/R injury. Intracellular oxygen consumption and extracellular acidification rate were analyzed by Seahorse multifunctional energy metabolism system; ATP production was detected by luciferase method. The number and size of mitochondria were analyzed by transmission electron microscopy and MitoTracker probe combined with confocal laser microscopy. The potential mechanisms of ginsenoside CK on mitochondrial dynamics and bioenergy were evaluated by RNA interference, pharmacological antagonism combined with co-immunoprecipitation analysis and phenotypic analysis. Results: Ginsenoside CK pretreatment could attenuate mitochondrial translocation of DRP1, mitophagy, mitochondrial apoptosis, and neuronal bioenergy imbalance against cerebral I/R injury in both in vitro and in vivo models. Our data also confirmed that ginsenoside CK administration could reduce the binding affinity of Mul1 and Mfn2 to inhibit the ubiquitination and degradation of Mfn2, thereby elevating the protein level of Mfn2 in cerebral I/R injury. Conclusion: These data provide evidence that ginsenoside CK may be a promising therapeutic agent against cerebral I/R injury via Mul1/Mfn2 mediated mitochondrial dynamics and bioenergy.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.5 no.4
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• pp.313-321
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• 2011

The Korea Food and Drug Administration (KFDA) revised the Health Functional Food Act in 2008 and extended the form of health functional foods to general food types. Therefore, this study was performed to investigate consumers' perceptions of the expanded form of health functional food and to predict consumption patterns. For this study, 1,006 male and female adults aged 19 years and older were selected nationwide by multi-stage stratified random sampling and were surveyed in 1:1 interviews. The questionnaire survey was conducted by Korea Gallup. The subjects consisted of 497 (49.4%) males and 509 (50.6%) females. About 57.9% of the subjects recognized the KFDA's permission procedures for health functional foods. Regarding the health functional foods that the subjects had consumed, red ginseng products were the highest (45.3%), followed by nutritional supplements (34.9%), ginseng products (27.9%), lactobacillus-containing products (21.0%), aloe products (20.3%), and Japanese apricot extract products (18.4%). Opinions on expanding the form of health functional foods to general food types scored 4.7 points on a 7-point scale, showing positive responses. In terms of the effects of medicine-type health functional foods versus generic health functional foods, the highest response was 'same effects if the same ingredients are contained' at a rate of 34.7%. For intake frequency by food type, the response of 'daily consistent intake' was 31.7% for capsules, tablets, and pills, and 21.7% for extracts. For general food types, 'daily consistent intake' was 44.5% for rice and 22.8% for beverages, which were higher rates than those for medicine types. From the above results, consumers had positive opinions of the expansion of health functional foods to generic forms but are not expected to maintain accurate intake frequencies or amounts. Thus, continuous promotion and education are needed for proper intake of generic health functional foods.

• The Journal of Pediatrics of Korean Medicine
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• v.24 no.2
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• pp.40-48
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• 2010

Objectives The purpose of this study is to get the basic information about the actual amount of consumption of the Health supplements and Herbal Medicines. Also, we investigated the consumption differences according to the regions. Methods 500 questionnaires were handed out to parents of elementary students in O O, Gyeonggi-do province, and 331 questionnaires were collected and evaluated for this study. Results Among the 331 students, 58.4% were female, and 41.6% were male. The percentages of the subjects consuming health supplements and herbal medicines were 67.4% and 59.2% respectively. The maximum period of taking the health supplements were from 1 month to 6 month (49.5%), and the maximum period of taking the herbal medicine was within one month (55.6%). The total cost of the health supplements was less than 100,000won (43.7%), which was the most common while herbal medicine cost was between 100,000won and 200,000won (40.6%). The most common age of consuming the health supplements and herbal medicine for the first time was six to ten years old (47.3%); the case of herbal medicine was one to six years old (64.0%). Most of people purchased health supplements from pharmacy (48.0%), and purchased the herbal medicine from the oriental medical clinic (61.8%). Among those people who purchased health supplements, they bought nutritional supplements (82.8%), red ginseng or ginseng products (43.4%), plum extract products (10.9%), and chlorella products (6.8%). The reason for consuming health supplements was to be healthier even though there is no ongoing illness (47.1%), which was the most common reason. The reason for consuming herbal medicine was to cure weakness (39.3%). For the responses about effectiveness after taking medications, people thought herbal medicine seemed to be more effective compare to health supplements (72.3%, 63% respectively). Only 1.4% of the subjects consuming the health supplements showed adverse effects while herbal medicine showed 4.6%. The most common adverse effects were 'general reaction' caused by the health supplements and dermatologic problems caused by the herbal medications. Conclusions Among 331 subjects, the percentage of consuming the health supplements (67.4%) was higher than the Herbal Medicine (59.2%). The total consuming cost of the herbal medications was higher than general health supplements. Also, the maximum period of consuming the health supplements was longer than herbal medications. Therefore, it is shown that herbal medications have no price competitiveness compare to health supplements. The age of using the herbal medicine for the first time was younger than the health supplements. Even though many people can purchase both health supplements and herbal medication from pharmacies and local oriental medical clinic, it is also shown that some people thought that the health supplements should be purchased from oriental medical hospital (13.9%). The most commonly taken forms of the health supplement was nutrition-supplying products, and the second common health supplements were ginseng and red ginseng. The health supplements were commonly consumed for preventing illness and for maintaining healthy life rather than for cure diseases. On the other hand, the herbal medicine was more commonly consumed to be taller or to treat diseases. More than half of the entire people replied as 'satisfied' for their purchase. Some adverse effects and general reaction were common with the subjects consuming health supplements while dermatological adverse reaction was common with the subjects consuming herbal medications.

• Journal of the Korean Dietetic Association
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.47-57
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• 2011

The purpose of this research was to investigate consumption and satisfaction of Takju (Makgeolli) among consumers ages 20 to 29 living in Seoul and Gyeonggi province. It was found that 86.2% of the respondents drank Takju once or twice a month, and the high satisfaction group drank Takju with a frequency of 8 times a month (P<0.01). Respondents selected market (44.4%) and restaurants (34.9%) as the most common place of purchase, whereas pub (42.2%) and Takju bar (32.8%) were the drinking places selected. Regarding the preferred ingredients, respondents liked pear the most followed by Lycium chinense, corn, pine nuts, ginseng, and citrus fruit. The most compatible foods with Takju were identified as Buchimgae (Jeon) (97.4%), Kimchi (45.6%), Bokkeum (36.4%), Namul & Muchim (25.0%), and Jjim (21.5%). Pajeon was mentioned as the most compatible food with Takju, followed by Bulgogi, Gamjatang, Agwijjim, Dubukimchibokkeum, and Ojingeotwigim. Regarding consumers' satisfaction of Takju, taste was the most highly valued, with color, price, alcohol content, function, flavor, diversity of raw materials, and accuracy of label also highly considered. Further, to formulate a plan to encourage consumption of Takju, the high satisfaction group decided that promotion of local festivals and events related to Takju, standardization of quality, creation of brands, expansion of distribution network, and organization of relevant departments are the most important compared to other items (P<0.05).

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.18 no.12
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• pp.521-528
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• 2017

Excessive alcohol consumption is one of the leading causes of many neurological diseases, such as dementia and Alzheimer's disease, and many efforts are under way to solve them. Red ginseng is known to enhance neuronal survival, inhibit apoptosis, and promote nerve regeneration of nerve cells. This study examined whether Rg3-enriched Korean red ginseng extract (KRG) inhibits the apoptosis of PC12 cells caused by alcohol-induced neurotoxicity and how KRG regulates several factors related to the caspase mediated pathway. In this way, the cell survival rate and apoptosis rate of PC12 cells were measured using an EZ-Cytox cell viability assay kit and flow cytometry, respectively. The expression of the apoptosis-related proteins (Bcl-2, Bid, Bax and caspase-3) were analyzed by western blotting, and the significance of the measured results was confirmed using the ANOVA method. As a result, KRG increased the expression of Bcl-2; inhibited the expression of Bid, Bax, and caspase-3; and inhibited the apoptosis of alcohol-induced PC12 cells. These results mean that the KRG-induced increase in Bcl-2 expression and down-regulation of Bid and Bax expression down-regulate caspase-3 expression, which in turn inhibits the mitochondrial apoptotic pathways. This study suggests that KRG is worth developing as a neuroprotective agent candidate.

• Applied Biological Chemistry
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• v.23 no.4
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• pp.228-241
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• 1980

The red ginseng extract and its components were investigated for their activation effects on the growth of Saccharomyces cerevisiae IAM and Saccharomyces formosensis No. 396 IAM. Changes in the number of cells, alcohol production, $CO_2$ evolution, pH and the rate of sugar consumption and of fermentation were compared during growth at $30^{\circ}C$ for 120 hours. The addition of ethanol extract and saponins from red ginseng were found to exihibite a significant increase in all physiological activaties of yeast, and its maximum activites were obtained at 1.5% ethanol extract concentration. The physiological effects of panaxadiol and panaxatriol, two major groups of saponin, were also compared to those of crude saponin and found that the former showed a small increase in physiological changes. However the difference was not significant. The overall contents of ginsenosides of ethanol extract and crude saponin during fermentation were not significantly affected by the growth of roasts, except a small increase in ginsenoside $-Rg_2$ and decrease in -Rd.