• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.35 no.4
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• pp.497-503
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• 2011

In order to enhance bioactive functionalities of ginseng, an acid impregnation processing was applied as a pre-treatment in producing red ginseng. Acid impregnation studies were conducted, and acids (ascorbic, malic, and citric acid) were selected. The optimal concentration of each acid was investigated in this study in terms of ginsenoside contents. The most concerned ginsenoside, $Rg_3$ was increased by ascorbic, malic, and citric acid pre-treated red ginseng up to 1 M acid concentration. In the case of ascorbic acid pre-treated red ginseng, $Rg_2$ concentration was increased depending on acid concentrations. Citric acid pre-treatment enhanced $Rg_2$, $Rg_3$, and $Rh_1+Rh_2$ formation in red ginseng. Therefore, ginsenoside patterns in red ginseng could be changed by acid impregnation pre-treatment depending on acid concentration and acid types. This research is expected to contribute to the development of the ginseng industry via new red ginseng products with selective and intensified functionality.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.45 no.3
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• pp.433-441
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• 2021

Background: Multiple sclerosis (MS) and its animal model, the experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE), are primarily characterized as dysfunction of the blood-brain barrier (BBB). Ginsenoside-Rg3-enriched Korean Red Ginseng extract (Rg3-KRGE) is known to exert neuroprotective, anti-inflammatory, and anti-oxidative effects on neurological disorders. However, effects of Rg3-KRGE in EAE remain unclear. Methods: Here, we investigated whether Rg3-KRGE may improve the symptoms and pathological features of myelin oligodendroglial glycoprotein (MOG)_35-55 peptide - induced chronic EAE mice through improving the integrity of the BBB. Results: Rg3-KRGE decreased EAE score and spinal demyelination. Rg3-KRGE inhibited Evan's blue dye leakage in spinal cord, suppressed increases of adhesion molecule platelet endothelial cell adhesion molecule-1, extracellular matrix proteins fibronection, and matrix metallopeptidase-9, and prevented decreases of tight junction proteins zonula occludens-1, claudin-3, and claudin-5 in spinal cord following EAE induction. Rg3-KRGE repressed increases of proinflammatory transcripts cyclooxygenase-2, inducible nitric oxide synthase, interleukin (IL)-1 beta, IL-6, and tumor necrosis factor-alpha, but enhanced expression levels of anti-inflammatory transcripts arginase-1 and IL-10 in the spinal cord following EAE induction. Rg3-KRGE inhibited the expression of oxidative stress markers (MitoSOX and 4-hydroxynonenal), the enhancement of nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADPH) oxidase 2 (NOX2) and NOX4, and NADPH activity in the spinal cord of chronic EAE mice. Furthermore, apocynin, a NOX inhibitor, mimicked beneficial effects of Rg3-KRGE in chronic EAE mice. Conclusion: Our findings suggest that Rg3-KRGE might alleviate behavioral symptoms and pathological features of MS by improving BBB integrity through modulation of NOX2/4 expression.

• Korean Journal of Pharmacognosy
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• v.45 no.1
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• pp.1-10
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• 2014

Ginsenoside Rg3 (G-Rg3) is one of protopanaxadiol ginsenosides characteristic of red ginseng, steamed and dried ginseng (Panax ginseng), which has recently attracted much attention for its antitumor properties in vitro and in vivo animal models. Experimental studies have demonstrated that it could promote cancer cell apoptosis, inhibit cancer cell growth, the apoptosis of cancer cells, adhesion, invasion and metastasis, and also prevent an angiogenetic formation in prostate, breast, ovarian, colorectal, gastric, liver and lung cancer etc. It has shown the antitumor activities by modulation of diverse signaling pathways, including regulation of cell proliferation mediators (CDKs and cyclins), growth factors (vascular endothelial growth factor), tumor suppressors (p53 and p21), cell death mediators (caspases, Bcl-2, Bax), inflammatory response molecules ($NF-{\kappa}B$ and COX-2), protein kinases (JNK, Akt, and AMP-activated protein kinase) and Wnt/${\beta}$-catenin signaling. In addition, the combination of Rg3 and chemotherapeutic agents have synergistically enhanced therapeutic efficacy and reduced antagonistically side effects. Furthermore, it can reverse the multidrug resistance of cancer cells, prolong the survival duration and improve life quality of cancer patients. Taken together, accumulating evidences could provide the potential of G-Rg3 in the treatment of cancers and the feasibility of further randomized placebo controlled clinical trials.

• Korean Journal of Pharmacognosy
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• v.47 no.4
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• pp.352-359
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• 2016

The purpose of this study is to develop a new preparation process of ginseng leaf and stem extracts having high concentrations of ginsenoside Rg2, Rg3, Rg5, Rh1, a special component of red and black ginseng. Chemical transformation from ginseng saponin glycosides to prosapogenin was analyzed by the HPLC. Extracts of ginseng (Panax ginseng) leaf and stem were processed under several treatment conditions including ultrasonication treatments. The content of total saponin reached their heights at 17 hr (UGL-17) of ultrasonication treatment, followed by 16 hr (UGL-16) and 7 hr (UGL-7) of ultrasonication treatment at $100^{\circ}C$. UGL-17 findings show that the ginseng leaf and stem that had been processed with ultrasonication for 17 hours peaked in the level of Rg2, Rg3 and Rh1. In addition, UGL-16 contained ginsenoside Rg5 at high concentrations. It is thought that such results provide basic information in preparing ginseng leaf and stem extracts with functionality enhanced.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.37 no.4
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• pp.457-467
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• 2013

A quick and simple method for simultaneous determination of the 30 ginsenosides (ginsenoside Ro, Rb1, Rb2, Rc, Rd, Re, Rf, Rg1, 20(S)-Rg2, 20(R)-Rg2, 20(S)-Rg3, 20(R)-Rg3, 20(S)-Rh1, 20(S)-Rh2, 20(R)-Rh2, F1, F2, F4, Ra1, Rg6, Rh4, Rk3, Rg5, Rk1, Rb3, Rk2, Rh3, compound Y, compound K, and notoginsenoside R1) in Panax ginseng preparations was developed and validated by an ultra performance liquid chromatography photo diode array detector. The separation of the 30 ginsenosides was efficiently undertaken on the Acquity BEH C-18 column with gradient elution with phosphoric acids. Especially the chromatogram of the ginsenoside Ro was dramatically enhanced by adding phosphoric acid. Under optimized conditions, the detection limits were 0.4 to 1.7 mg/L and the calibration curves of the peak areas for the 30 ginsenosides were linear over three orders of magnitude with a correlation coefficients greater than 0.999. The accuracy of the method was tested by a recovery measurement of the spiked samples which yielded good results of 89% to 118%. From these overall results, the proposed method may be helpful in the development and quality of P. ginseng preparations because of its wide range of applications due to the simultaneous analysis of many kinds of ginsenosides.

• Natural Product Sciences
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• v.27 no.2
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• pp.86-98
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• 2021

This study was designed to characterize the effect of ginsenoside-Rg2 (Rg2), one of panaxatriol saponins isolated from Korean ginseng root, on the release of catecholamines (CA) in the perfused model of the rat adrenal medulla, and also to establish its mechanism of action. Rg2 (3~30 µM), administered into an adrenal vein for 90 min, depressed acetylcholine (ACh)-induced CA secretion in a dose- and time-dependent manner. Rg2 also time-dependently inhibited the CA secretion induced by 3-(m-chloro-phenyl-carbamoyl-oxy)-2-butynyltrimethyl ammonium chloride (McN-A-343), 1.1-dimethyl-4-phenyl piperazinium iodide (DMPP), and angiotensin II (Ang II). Also, during perfusion of Rg2, the CA secretion induced by high K⁺, veratridine, cyclopiazonic acid, methyl-1,4-dihydro-2,6-dimethyl-3-nitro-4-(2-trifluoro-methyl-phenyl)-pyridine-5-carboxylate (Bay-K-8644) depressed, respectively. In the simultaneous presence of Rg2 and N^ω-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester hydrochloride ʟ-NAME), the CA secretion induced by ACh, Ang II, Bay-K-8644 and veratridine was restored nearly to the extent of their corresponding control level, respectively, compared to those of inhibitory effects of Rg2-treatment alone. Virtually, NO release in adrenal medulla following perfusion of Rg2 was significantly enhanced in comparison to the corresponding spontaneous release. Also, in the coexistence of Rg2 and fimasartan, ACh-induced CA secretion was markedly diminished compared to the inhibitory effect of fimasartan-treated alone. Collectively, these results demonstrated that Rg2 suppressed the CA secretion induced by activation of cholinergic as well as angiotensinergic receptors from the perfused model of the rat adrenal gland. This Rg2-induced inhibitory effect seems to be exerted by reducing both influx of Na⁺ and Ca²⁺ through their ionic channels into the adrenomedullary cells as well as by suppressing Ca²⁺ release from the cytoplasmic calcium store, at least through the elevated NO release by activation of NO synthase, which is associated to the blockade of neuronal cholinergic and AT₁-receptors. Based on these results, the ingestion of Rg2 may be helpful to alleviate or prevent the cardiovascular diseases, via reduction of CA release in adrenal medulla and consequent decreased CA level in circulation.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.22 no.2
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• pp.126-132
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• 1998

In the present study, we examined effects of ginseng saponins (ginsenosides) on pp60c-src protein tyrosine kinase (PTK) activity, intracellular calcium concentration ([$Ca^{2+}$]i), and cell proliferation in NIH3T3 cells. Eight different ginsenosides [ginsenoside-Rb1 (G-$Rb_1$), -$Rb_2$, -Rc, -Rd, -Re, -Rf, -$Rg_1$, -$Rg_2$) and ginseng total saponin (GTS) were used for these experiments. All ginsenosides and GTS tested stimulated the activation of $pp60^{c-src}$ kinase, and especially G-$Rb_1$,-Rd,-$Rg_1$, and -$Rg_1$ showed a higher stimulatory effect than others at 16.7 $\mu\textrm{g}$/ml of ginsenosides with a 18 hr-incubation, increasing the activity by 4.5, 3.5, 3.5, and 3.0-fold, respectively, over that of untreated control. In addition, both G-Rd and -$Rg_2$)Rg2 increased ($Ca^{2+}$), to 202 and 334 nM, respectively, about 2-3-fold above the basal level within 7min at 250 $\mu\textrm{g}$/yml of ginsenosides. The increases of ($Ca^{2+}$), were eliminated by Pretreatment of EGTA, an extracellular calcium chelator, suggtasting that they result from an influx of calcium ion from extracellular medium rather than an efflux from intracellular calcium store, endoplasmic reticulum (ER). All ginsenosides studied enhanced cell proliferation to 1.2-1.4-fold over that of untreated control at 5~250 $\mu\textrm{g}$/ml of concentrations. Interestingly the promotion of cell proliferation by ginsenosides corresponded with the activation of c-src kinase, which is an early step in the mitogenic signaling cascade. Taken together, we suggest that some ginsenosides may lead to cellProliferation via the activation of cellular signal transduction Pathway involving $pp60^{c-src}$ kinase.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.38 no.1
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• pp.1-7
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• 2014

Background: Although ginsenosides such as Rg1, Rb1 and Rg3 have shown promise as potential nutraceuticals for cognitive impairment, their use has been limited due to high production cost and low potency. In particular, the process of extracting pure Rg3 from ginseng is laborious and expensive. Methods: We described the methods in preparing ginseol k-g3, an Rg3-enriched fraction, and evaluated its effects on scopolamine-induced memory impairment in mice. Results: Ginseol k-g3 (25-200 mg/kg) significantly reversed scopolamine-induced cognitive impairment in the passive avoidance, but not in Y-maze testing. Ginseol k-g3 (50 and 200 mg/kg) improved escape latency in training trials and increased swimming times within the target zone of the Morris water maze. The effect of ginseol k-g3 on the water maze task was more potent than that of Rg3 or Red ginseng. Acute or subchronic (6 d) treatment of ginseol k-g3 did not alter normal locomotor activity of mice in an open field. Ginseol k-g3 did not inhibit acetylcholinesterase activity, unlike donezepil, an acetylcholinesterase inhibitor. Rg3 enrichment through the ginseol k-g3 fraction enhanced the efficacy of Rg3 in scopolamine-induced memory impairment in mice as demonstrated in the Morris water maze task. Conclusion: The effects of ginseol k-g3 in ameliorating scopolamine-induced memory impairment in the passive avoidance and Morris water maze tests indicate its specific influence on reference or long-term memory. The mechanism underlying the reversal of scopolamine-induced amnesia by ginseol k-g3 is not yet known, but is not related to anticholinesterase-like activity.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.18 no.4
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• pp.1021-1027
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• 2004

Panax ginseng has been used as a typical tonic medicine in Asian countries, such as Korea, China, and Japan. It has been reported that ginsenoside Rg1 in Panax ginseng increases the proportion of T helper cells in the whole T cells and promotes IL-2 gene expression in murine splenocytes. These studies imply that ginsenoside Rg1 increases the immune activity of CD4+ T cell, however the exact mechanism of ginsenoside Rg1 on helper T cell remains to be verified. The present study tried to elucidate the direct effect of Rg1 on helper T cell s activities and its Th1/Th2 lineage development. The results demonstrated that ginsenoside Rg1 had not mitogenic effects on the unstimulated CD4+ T cell, but augmented CD4+ T cell proliferation upon activating with anti-CD3/anti-CD28 antibodies in a dose dependent manner. Rg1 also enhanced the expression of cell surface protein CD69 on CD4+ T cell. In Th0 condition, ginsenoside Rg1 increases the expression of IL-2 mRNA, and enhances the expression of IL-4 mRNA on CD4+ T cells, suggesting Rg1 prefer to induce Th2 lineage development. In addition, ginsenoside Rg1 increases IL-4 secreting CD4+ T cell under Th2 skewed condition, while decreases IFN-γ secreting cell in Th1 polarizing condition. Thus, Rg1 enhances Th2 lineage development from naive CD4+ T cell both by increasing Th2 specific cytokine secretion and by repressing Th1 specific cytokine production. Therefore, these results suggest that ginsenoside Rg1 might be desirable agent for enhancing CD4+ T cell's activity, as well as the correction of Th1 dominant pathological disorders.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.41 no.4
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• pp.524-530
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• 2017

Background: Panax ginseng is a physiologically active plant widely used in traditional medicine that is characterized by the presence of ginsenosides. Rb1, a major ginsenoside, is used as the starting material for producing ginsenoside derivatives with enhanced pharmaceutical potentials through chemical, enzymatic, or microbial transformation. Methods: To investigate the bioconversion of ginsenoside Rb1, we prepared kimchi originated bacterial strains Leuconostoc mensenteroides WiKim19, Pediococcus pentosaceus WiKim20, Lactobacillus brevis WiKim47, Leuconostoc lactis WiKim48, and Lactobacillus sakei WiKim49 and analyzed bioconversion products using LC-MS/MS mass spectrometer. Results: L. mesenteroides WiKim19 and Pediococcus pentosaceus WiKim20 converted ginsenoside Rb1 into the ginsenoside Rg3 approximately five times more than Lactobacillus brevis WiKim47, Leuconostoc lactis WiKim48, and Lactobacillus sakei WiKim49. L mesenteroides WIKim19 showed positive correlation with b-glucosidase activity and higher transformation ability of ginsenoside Rb1 into Rg3 than the other strains whereas, P. pentosaceus WiKim20 showed an elevated production of Rb3 even with lack of b-glucosidase activity but have the highest acidity among the five lactic acid bacteria (LAB). Conclusion: Ginsenoside Rg5 concentration of five LABs have ranged from ${\sim}2.6{\mu}g/mL$ to $6.5{\mu}g/mL$ and increased in accordance with the incubation periods. Our results indicate that the enzymatic activity along with acidic condition contribute to the production of minor ginsenoside from lactic acid bacteria.