• Archives of Pharmacal Research
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• v.29 no.9
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• pp.800-807
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• 2006

This study examined the possibility of using a tissue cultured root of wild Panax ginseng (tcwPG) as a fertility agent. The effect of tcwPG on spermatogenesis was studied using male rats. The tcwPG crude powder was administered orally to 7-week-old rats over a 6-week period. The number of sperm in the testes and epididymides was significantly higher than the control. A histological examination did not reveal any morphological changes in the testes from the tcwPG powder treated rats. Moreover, there were no significant differences in the weights of the heart, spleen, liver, kidney, brain, testes and epididymides. Oligospermia was also induced by administering 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodaibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD) to the rats in order to estimate the feasibility of using tcwPG as treatment for infertility caused by spermatogenic disorders. After exposing the rats to TCDD, the tcwPG saponin fraction treated rats showed some improvement in the body weight, sperm number and testis morphology. It was estimated that tcwPG had feasibility as a therapeutic agent on spermatogenic disorder.

• Preventive Nutrition and Food Science
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• v.19 no.2
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• pp.59-68
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• 2014

The extracts and pure saponins from the roots of Platycodon grandiflorum (PG) are reported to have a wide range of health benefits. Platycosides (saponins) from the roots of PG are characterized by a structure containing a triterpenoid aglycone and two sugar chains. Saponins are of commercial significance, and their applications are increasing with increasing evidence of their health benefits. The biological effects of saponins include cytotoxic effects against cancer cells, neuroprotective activity, antiviral activity, and cholesterol lowering effects. Saponins with commercial value range from crude plant extracts, which can be used for their foaming properties, to high purity saponins such as platycodin D, which can be used for its health applications (e.g., as a vaccine adjuvant). This review reveals that platycosides have many health benefits and have the potential to be used as a remedy against many of the major health hazards (e.g., cancer, obesity, alzheimer's) faced by populations around the world. Methods of platycoside purification and analysis are also covered in this review.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.20 no.1
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• pp.54-59
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• 1996

Red Ginseng extracts sol'n was sterilized at 85f for 20 mins and/or stored at 4$0^{\circ}C$ for 6 months and centrifuged for 20 mins at 8,500xg in order to investigate the changes in chemical components of supernatants and the properties of precipitates. Contents of crude saponin and ginsenoside-$Rb_1$, -$Rg_1$, -Re were partially decreased during heating and storage. Starch contents were decreased from 26.81% in red ginseng extracts to 17.50-8.81% in supernatants, whereas free sugar contents were increased from 15.50% to 20.29~21.35% by heating and storage. The contents of protein and minerals in supernatants were decreased, but acidic polysaccharides and polyphenol compounds were not changed. pH values of supernatants and precipitates were decreased. The absorbances of brown color precursor and brown pigment in precipitates, detected at 285 nm and 440 nm were remarkably increased. The Overa11 data suggest that precipitates in red ginseng extracts sol'n formed during steilization and storage are provably the brown pigments resulting from Maillard reaction of amino compounds with reducing sugar which could be released from starch and protein matrix and $Cu^+$, $Ca^{2+}$ and $Fe^{3+}$ ions are implicated with the reaction incorporated.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.52 no.4
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• pp.342-349
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• 2020

This study was conducted to investigate the applicability of the ground parts such as flower (GF), berry (GR), and leaf (GL) from Panax ginseng C. A. Meyer. The ground parts were extracted from hot water (WE) and 60% ethanol (EE). Total polyphenol and flavonoid contents were 15.02-32.74 and 21.60-484.05 mg GAE/g, respectively. Hot water extract of ginseng leaf (GLWE) and 60% ethanol extract of ginseng leaf (GLEE) showed higher total polyphenol and total flavonoid contents than other extracts. Crude saponin contents were found in the range of 15.30-37.27%. Antioxidant activity of these extracts from ginseng was also analyzed by DPPH, ABTS, H₂O₂ scavenging activity, reducing power, and inhibition effect on lipid peroxidation. We confirmed the results that hot water extract of ginseng leaf (GLWE), 60% ethanol extract of ginseng leaf (GLEE) has high anti-oxidative effects. According to the antioxidant activity results of each extract of ginseng flower, ginseng berry, and ginseng leaf, it is judged that their availability is very high, and if proper processing is performed, it can be used as a functional raw material.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.25 no.1
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• pp.115-121
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• 2011

This study was performed to investigate the antioxidant activity of extracts of black Panax ginseng (BGE) and its crude saponin (BGECS). The antioxidant activities of BGE and BGECS were evaluated for free radical scavenging activity against stable free radical (1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl) DPPH, nitrite, hydrogen peroxide and superoxide. In addition, the antioxidant activity of BGE and BGECS against peroxyl radicals, hydroxyl radicals and peroxynitrites were determined by the total oxy-radical scavenging capacity (TOSC) assay. As a result, BGE and BGECS were found to have a strong inhibitory activity with >90% against the DPPH radical at $1000{\mu}g/m{\ell}$ concentrations. Also, BGE and BGECS exhibited strong inhibitory activity with >80% against hydrogen peroxide at lower concentration ($125{\mu}g/m{\ell}$). Moreover, specific TOSC values (405 and 473 TOSC/mM) of BGE and BGECS against peroxynitrites were higher than GSH (347 TOSC/mM) used a positive control. These results suggest that BGE and BGECS could be useful to develop functional foods against disease related oxidative stress.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Culture
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• v.16 no.5
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• pp.478-482
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• 2001

This study was conducted to investigate the difference of general feature and ginsenoside content of 6 years old ginseng root among different grade of roots. Total weight of a 1st grade-6 years old ginseng root was 115.1g and weight, length, diameter and specific gravity of main root were 64.68g, 8.39cm, 3.31cm and 0.96, respectively. Main root of 1st grade ginseng root was larger in size and specific gravity and more heavy than that of End or 3rd grade of the roots. Though crude saponin contents were not so different among the different grade of roots, but ginsenoside Rb1, Rg1 and Re content were higher in 1st grade of root than that of 2nd or 3rd grade of root. Those ginsenosides were located mainly in periderm and cortex.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.13 no.1
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• pp.66-70
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• 1989

The specific growth rate was investigated to find the of(emits of major ginseng components in fractions extracted by several solvents on the growth of Candida parapsilosis. The cell proliferation of C. purapsilosis was inhibited by fraction A(hexane soluble components), while enhanced by fraction B(Et2O soluble components), C(AcOEt soluble components), E and F(dialysis outer and inner extract). The additive stimulant effect of cell proliferation was exerted by fraction D(crude saponinE) and B, C or E.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.25 no.2
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• pp.89-93
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• 2001

This study was carried out to investigate a point of difference in chemical characteristics between normal and inferior Korean red ginseng (Naeback red ginseng=red ginseng with white part of clear boundary in phloem and/or xylem of ginseng body, saengnaeback red ginseng=red ginseng with white part of indistinct boundary). content of total sugar as chemical components of naeback and saengnaeback part from Korean red ginseng were less than that of normal part, and content of reducing sugar in normal and saengnaebakc part showed higher than that of naeback part. But differences in content of total phenolic compounds was not found. The content of crude saponin in normal part was highest, amounts of ginsneoside were about same. The content of constituent amino acid in normal part was about 2 times as compared with those in naeback and saengnaeback part in red ginseng. Among the various amino acids, the contents of arginine, glutamic acid, aspartic acid, leucine and alanine of normal and naeback part were higher than others, but in saengnaeback proline, glutamic acid, aspartic acid, threonin and glycine etc. were higher. In the total amount of free amino acids, those in normal, naeback and saengnaeback part were about the same one another, and arginine, glutamic acid and aspartic acid were major free amino acids.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.34 no.1
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• pp.68-75
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• 2010

This study sought to optimize the extraction and enzymatic treatment conditions of Panax ginseng leaves, stems, and roots for the production of fermented ginseng. The optimization enhanced the extraction of total saccharide, a nutrient and growth-activating factor for Lactobacillus bacteria. The hydrolysis of ginseng leaves, stems, and roots was tested with eight enzymes (Pentopan, Promozyme, Celluclast, Ultraflo, Pectinex, Ceremix, Viscozyme, and Tunicase). The enzymatic hydrolysis conditions were statistically optimized by the experimental design. Optimal particle size of ginseng raw material was <0.15 mm, and optimal hydrolysis occurred at a pH of 5.0-5.5, a reaction temperature of 55-$60^{\circ}C$, a Ceremix concentration of 1%, and a reaction time of 2 hr. Ceremix produced the highest dry matter yield and total saccharide extraction. Ginseng leaves were found to be the most suitable raw material for the production of fermented ginseng because they have higher carbohydrate and crude saponin contents than ginseng roots.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.28 no.3
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• pp.586-592
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• 1999

Microwave assisted extraction(MAE) is known as a more environmental friendly process with economic advantages in terms of less time, less solvent, less energy and less wastes than the current time consuming reflux method. It was applied to develop a rapid extraction method for soluble ginseng components that are major materials used for the processing of ginseng products. In a comparative study between pre established MAE(ethanol 60%, power 80 W, process time 4 min$\times$5) and current extraction method(ethanol 80%, temp. 85oC, time 8 hr$\times$5), MAE was more efficient than the current method to obtain an extract yield(soluble solid), but it was insufficient to extract individual ginsenosides, total phenols, reducing components and acidic polysaccharides. MAE with 80% ethanol by 5 times showed, however, that its extraction efficiency on soluble solid, crude saponin, major ginsenosides, and the other components was equal or superior to that of the current method, indicating that ethanol concentration is one of the critical parameters influencing the MAE process. The quality of ginseng extracts from MAE was assured by evaluating the corresponding standards and by comparing TLC and HPLC patterns with the control.