• Food Science and Biotechnology
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• v.16 no.2
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• pp.281-284
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• 2007

The objective of this research is to provide basic information necessary to differentiate between ginseng (Panax ginseng) grown in woods environments and cultivated ginseng. The ginseng saponin (ginsenoside) contents of Korean woods-grown, 4 year-old cultivated, and 6 year-old cultivated ginsengs were determined via HPLC analysis. The total saponins in the woods-grown ginseng (0.648%) were approximately twice that of the 4 year-old cultivated (0.270%) and the 6 year-old cultivated ginsengs (0.280%). The protopanaxadiols (PD)/protopanaxatriols (PT) ratio of the woods-grown ginseng (3.258%) was higher than that of the 4 year-old cultivated (2.456%) and the 6 year-old cultivated ginsengs (2.183%). The $Rb_1/Rg_1$ ratio of the woods-grown ginseng (10.225%) was also higher than those of the 4 year-old cultivated (3.514%) and the 6 year-old cultivated ginsengs (4.865%).

• Korean Journal of Medicinal Crop Science
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• v.25 no.4
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• pp.238-243
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• 2017

Background: The production method of ginseng seedlings for ginseng cultivation is very important to ensure healthy rooting system as well as high quality, and yield of the resultant plants. This study was carried out to compare the growth characteristics of 2-year-old ginseng plants that were produced from seedlings grown in self soil nursery (SSN), nursery soil (NS) or hydroponic culture (HC). Methods and Results: The shading prop used was composed of four-layered 4 polyethylene (blue 3 + black 1) shade screen. The management of main field was done by inserting oil cake (1,200 kg/10 a) and then allowing Sudan grass to grow for a year. Seedling transplantation was carried out on April 6. Root growth was measured on October 25. Root weight was observed to be excellent at 6.0 g, following SSN transplantation. Root length was 21.2 cm for HC seedlings, but these plants had a physiological disorder (i.e., rusty root), in 83.5% plants of this treatment. The ratio of PD/PT (protopanaxadiol saponins / protopanaxatriol saponins) was higher in NS seedlings. Plant analysis revealed that Fe content was lower in HC seedlings with high rustiness. The growth of 2-years-old ginseng was different following these varying seedling cultivation methods, but seedlings from NS were not different from those grown in SSN. Conclusions: For the propagation of 2-year-old ginseng plants, NS seedlings may be a good substitute for SSN seedlings.

• Proceedings of the Ginseng society Conference
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• 1998.06a
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• pp.63-70
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• 1998

Superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase constitute the first coordinated unit of defense against reactive oxygen species. Here, we examined the effect of ginseng saponins on the induction of SOD and catalase gene expression. To explore this possibility, the upstream regulatory promoter region of Cu/Zn superoxide dismutase (SODI) and catalase genes were linked to the chloramphenicol acetyl-transferase (CATI structural gene and introduced into human hepatoma HepG2 cells. Total saponin and panaxatriol did not activate the transcription of SODI and catalase genes but panaxadiol increased the transcription of these genes about 2-3 fold. Among the Panaxadiol ginsenosides, the Rb2 subtraction appeared to is a major induce of SODI and catalase genes. Using the deletion analyses and mobility shift assays, we showed that the 5051 gene was greatly activated by ginsenoside Rba through transcription factor AP2 binding sites and its induction. We also examined the effect of the content ratio of panaxadiol extracted from various compartment of ginseng on the transcription of 5031 gene. Saponin extract that contains 2.6-fold more PD than PT from the fine root Increased the SODI induction about 3-fold. These results suggest that the panaxadiol fraction and its ginsenosides could induce the antioxidant enzymes, which are important for maintaining cell viability by lowering level of oxygen radical generated from intracellular metabolism.

• KOREAN JOURNAL OF CROP SCIENCE
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• v.29 no.4
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• pp.342-349
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• 1984

In order to obtain the basic information for the development of ginseng varieties with high saponin contents. saponin contents and ginsenosides of Panax ginseng (Korean ginseng) and Panax quinquefolium (American ginseng) grown under the same environmental conditions were analysed. Crude saponin contents of root and aerial parts were more in Panax quinquefolium than in Panax ginseng, and aerial parts had more saponin contents in comparison with a root. Protopanaxatriol saponin was greatly more in the aerial parts of ginseng while more amount of protopanaxadiol saponins were detected in the root. As for the ginsenosides, the patterns of ginsenosides detected in total saponin of the aerial parts were not different between two species, Panax ginseng and Panax quinquefolium, but the root ginsenoside patterns were quite different. Ginsenosides such as Rg$_2$, R$_{f}$. R$_{a}$ and R$_{o}$ were not detected in the root of Panax quinquefolium (American ginseng).).).).

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.24 no.1
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• pp.29-34
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• 2000

The effects of each component (water extracts, alcohol extracts, lipophillic extracts, total saponin, panaxadiol, panaxatriol) of red ginseng on the antioxidative enzyme activities were investigated in the liver in order to screen antioxidative components of red ginseng. 20∼25g ICR mouse which were pretreated with 50 mg/kg body weight of red ginseng component for 15 days. The ability of red ginseng component to protect against oxidative damage to the mouse liver was examined by determining the level of lipid peroxidation (MDA), hydroperoxide (H$_2$O$_2$) and the activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase. The hepatic total-SOD activity was highest in lipophilic extracts group and panaxadiol group next (p<0.01). The content of hepatic hydroperoxide was lowest in the order of panaxatriol group and alcohol extracts group (p < 0.01). The hepatic catalase activity in the liver was highest in order of lipophillic extracts group (p <0.01) and total saponin group (p<0.05). Finally the lipid peroxidation (MDA) level was lowest in lipophillic extracts group, alcohol extracts group and panaxadiol next (p <0.01). In conclusion, the order of effectiveness of antioxidants was to be lipophillic extracts>panaxadiol >total saponins.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.23 no.1 s.53
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• pp.13-20
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• 1999

We previously reported that Korean red ginseng (KRG) has a relaxation effect on the smooth muscles of corpus cavernosum via nitric oxide (NO) pathway and calcium and potassium channels. However, it is suggested that the active ingredients of KRG might be different depending on the sources of preparation, and there might be differences in actions for different compositions. We first investigated the composition of KRG saponins according to the extractions of the various sources of KRG, then with these extractions the relaxation effects were evaluated in vitro and hemodynamical in vivo using New Zealand white rabbit and rat corpus cavernosum. The total compositions of ginsenoside $(G-Rb_1,\;-Rb_2,\;-Rc,\;-Rd,\;G-Re,\;-Rf,\;-Rg_1)$ in fractionated KRG saponin designated as TS-1, TS-2, TS-3 were $41\%,\;40\%,\;and\;62\%,$ respectively, and the ratios of PD saponin and PT saponin (PD/PT) were 1,55, 1.72, 2.25, and 2.61, the values of which were statistically significant. In vitro studies using the rabbit corpus cavernosal muscle strips, the KRG saponin relaxed cavernosal strips in a dose-dependent manner, and same results were observed in in vivo studies, that KRG saponin increased the intracavernosal pressure in the rat. There was difference in the efficacy according to fractionation techniques. The differences in the total contents of ginsenosides did not affect relaxation, rather PT saponin content was statistically related to the degree of cavernosal relaxation, and this action presumed to be mediated by NO pathway and calcium and potassium channels. In conclusion, KRG exerts relaxation which is a key step in erection via combination of effects on NO system or calcium and potassium channels. The efficacy of this action is different to the sources of ginseng, which is affected by the different composition of ginsenosides $(G-Rb_1,\;-Rb_2,\;-Rc,\;-Rd,\;G-Re,\;-Rf,\;-Rg_1).$ Thus the further studies on the active ingredients such as minor ginsenosides and non-saponin components of red ginseng with maximum potency should be sought.

• 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.