• Journal of Plant Biotechnology
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• v.36 no.4
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• pp.352-359
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• 2009

Panax ginseng roots produce triterpene saponins called ginsenosides, which are high value secondary metabolites and has been used as drugs, detergents, sweeteners, and cosmetics. In the recent years plant cell, tissue and organ cultures have developed as important alternative sources for the saponin production in Panax ginseng. Adventitious roots and hairy roots have been successfully induced and cultured for the improvement of saponin contents. Genetic and metabolic engineering to regulate saponin biosynthesis in P. ginseng might be important way to improve the medicinal values of P. ginseng. Here we introduced the protocol of genetic transformation and recent progress of functional characterization of genes involved in saponin biosynthesis in P. ginseng.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.34 no.1
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• pp.59-67
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• 2010

Response surface methodology was used to predict the optimum conditions of explosive puffing process for ginseng. A central composite design was used to monitor the effect of moisture content and puffing pressure on dependent variables such as functional compounds (extract yield, crude saponin, acidic polysaccharide, and total phenolic content) and sensory properties. Correlation coefficients $(R^2)$ of models for crude saponin, acidic polysaccharide, and total phenolic content were 0.9176 (p<0.05), 0.9494 (p<0.05), and 0.9878 (p<0.001), respectively. Functional compounds increased with decreasing moisture content and increasing puffing pressure. Overall palatability was high at 15-20% moisture content and 98-294 kPa of puffing pressure. On the basis of superimposed contour maps for functional compounds and overall palatability of puffed ginseng, the optimum ranges of puffing conditions were 10-17% moisture content and 294-392 kPa puffing pressure.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.16 no.4
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• pp.370-376
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• 2008

Ginsenoside Rp1 (G-Rp1) is a ginseng saponin derivative with chemopreventive and anti-cancer activities. In this study, we examined the regulatory activity of G-Rp1 on the functional activation of macrophages. G-Rp1 remarkably inhibited TNF-$\alpha$ production, LPS-induced cell cytotoxicity, NO production, ROS generation, and phagocytic uptake from lipopolysacchride (LPS)-activated RAW264.7 cells. According to structural feature study using several G-Rp1 analogs, two carbohydrates (glucose-glucose) at R1 position were observedto be highly effective, compared to other structural derivatives. Although the inhibitory activities of G-Rp1 on macrophage functions were not remarkable, several points that G-Rp1 was known to be safe, and that this compound was orally effective, suggest that G-Rp1 may be beneficial in treating macrophage-mediated immunological diseases.

• The Korean Journal of Food And Nutrition
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• v.15 no.2
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• pp.151-157
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• 2002

This study was carried out to investigate functional activities of the free radical scavenging and germ of Glycin max. Merrill fur cytotoxicity toward P338 and L1210 cells derived from mouse. Effect of crude saponin were examined to oxygen radicals and their scavenger enzymes in liver fractions of Spragae-Dawley(SD) rats. Male rats were fed basic diets of control and experiment diets of 0.5∼1.0% crude saponin. There were no significant differences in hydroxy radical($.$OH) formation of liver mitochondria and microsomes in 1.0% group, while $.$OH formations were significantly decrease in 0.5% and 1.0% saponin compared with control group. Their oxygen radical(O$_2$$\^$$.$/) scavenging activities were significantly decrease in liver cytosol of 0.5% and 1.0% saponin group compared with control group. Soybean germ saponin was isolated purified by the method of HPLC to investigate the cytotoxicity of mouse cells by using the MTT assay. SA-1 saponin fraction of soybean germ showed to inhibit toward growth cell of P338 and L1210 cells and its showed less than 50% cytotoxicity These results suggest that the saponin may play a effective role in attenuating a oxygen radical formations and increasing a scavenger enzyme activities.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.17 no.3
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• pp.187-195
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• 1993

We have examined the functional role of central dopaminergic processes on the behavioral pharmacological effects induced by psychotropics and red ginseng saponins of normal rats and compared with that of brain damaged rats. Desipramine and clomipramine produced, a significant depression of the locomotor activity in normal rats, but in brain damaged rats, they did not have any effect throughout the experimental period of 4 hours. Total saponin (50~200 mg/kg), PT (25~50 mg/kg), PD (25~50 mg/kg), $Rg_1$(12.5~25 mg/kg), $Rb_1$ (12.5~50 mg/kg) did not change, and high concentrations of PT (100 mg/kg), PD (100 mg/kg) and $Rg_1$ (50 mg/kg) showed a significant decrease in the locomotor activity of one hour after administration but total saponin (100 mg/kg), PD (25~50 mg/kg), Rgl (12.5 mg/kg), $Rb_1$ (12.5 mg/kg) markedly increased the locomotor activity of four hour after administration in normal rats. On the other hand, total saponin (50 mg/kg), PT (100 mg/kg) and PD (100 mg/kg) Produced a prominent stimulation of the locomotor activity in brain damaged rats. These results suggest that the inhibition of the locomotor activity induced by antidepressants was not affected by the sensitivity of cerebral DA system, whereas red ginseng saponin showed antifatigue effect and also the stimulation of the locomotor activity induced by red ginseng saponin was mediated by the inhibition of cerebral DA system. These psychotropic action of red ginseng saponins could be responsible for the beneficial effects on conditions of fatigue and decreased alertness.

• KSBB Journal
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• v.28 no.5
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• pp.332-337
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• 2013

The gene encoding for xylose isomerase from the thermophilic bacterium Thermotoga maritima was cloned and recombinantly expressed in E. coli cells. Optimal activity was shown at $90^{\circ}C$ and pH 8.0. Treatment of saponin by recombinant xylose isomerase increased the growth inhibitory effect against human gastric cancer (AGS) cells and human colon cancer (HT-29) cells. On the other hand, treatment of fucoidan by the enzyme could not change the growth inhibitory effect against the same cancer cells. One ${\mu}g/ml$ of enzyme-treated saponin exhibited the same or higher growth inhibitory effect against both cancer cells compared with 100 ${\mu}g/ml$ of enzymeuntreated saponin. These results would be useful in the development of functional food or drug.

• The Korean Ginseng Research and Industry
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• v.2 no.2
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• pp.13-21
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• 2008

• Korean Journal of Pharmacognosy
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• v.50 no.4
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• pp.305-311
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• 2019

The purpose of this study was to examine the changes in seasonal bioactive components of 4 and 6 years old fresh ginseng (Panax ginseng) and to provide basic information on the development of functional food using fresh ginseng. Seasonal changes were investigated by ginseng saponin analysis using HPLC method and acidic polysaccharides by carbazole sulfuric acid method. Total saponins showed the highest content of fresh ginseng collected in May, followed by March, July, and September. Fresh ginseng collected in May showed 2.5 times (4 years old) - 3.0 times (6 years old) higher than fresh ginseng collected in September. Acidic polysaccharides showed high content of fresh ginseng collected in March and September, and low content of fresh ginseng collected in May and July. From these results, the fresh ginseng collected in May can develop high concentrations of saponin. On the other hand, fresh ginseng collected in March and September is thought to be able to develop high concentration products of acidic polysaccharides.

• Natural Product Sciences
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• v.27 no.1
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• pp.10-17
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• 2021

The purpose of this study is to develop a new method of producing tienchi seng (notoginseng, Panax notoginseng) extracts featuring high concentrations of the ginsenoside Rg3, Rg5, and Rg6, special components of Korean red ginseng. The chemical transformation from ginseng saponin glycosides to prosapogenin was analyzed by HPLC. Tienchi seng was heat-processed at 100℃ and the optimum conditions were identified. The highest concentrations of total saponin (29.723%) and the ginsenoside Rg3 (1.769%), Rg5 (5.979%), and Rg6 (13.473%) were produced at 48 hours. Also, when tienchi seng was subjected to the ultrasonic thermal fusion (100℃) process, the concentrations of total saponin (30.578%), ginsenoside Rg3 (2.392%), Rg5 (6.614%), and Rg6 (13.017%) were highest at 36 hours. On the other hand, the 2-hour heat-processed extract and 2-hour ultrasonic thermal fusion-processed extract did not contain ginsenoside Rg3, Rg5, and Rg6. The ultrasonic thermal fusion process had an extraction yield that was approximately 1.26 times greater than that of the heat process. These results indicate that the highly functional tienchi seng extracts created through the ultrasonic thermal fusion process are more industrially useful than those produced using the heat process.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.34 no.10
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• pp.1509-1513
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• 2005

To develop a new functional food material, edible crude saponin was isolated from soybean cake using HP-20 resin and its anticancer effect and immune-activity were investigated. The saponin significantly inhibited the growth of cancer cells such as A549, MCF-7 and SW480 at a concentration of 1,000 $\mu$g/mL. Morphological changes was observed in the AS49 cells surface treated with the saponin of 1,000 $\mu$g/mL concentration. The proliferation of mouse spleen cells treated with saponin was increased in a dose-dependent manner compared with untreated control cells until the concentration of 1 $\mu$g/mL but decreased at higher concentrations than that. The NO production in marcrophage cell lines (RAW 264.7) treated with saponin was increased in a dosedependent manner compared with untreated control cells.