• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.40 no.4
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• pp.400-408
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• 2016

Background: Ginsenoside Rh2 (GRh2) is the main bioactive component in American ginseng, a commonly used herb, and its antitumor activity had been studied in previous studies. PDZ-binding kinase/T-LAK cell-originated protein kinase (PBK/TOPK), a serine/threonine protein kinase, is highly expressed in HCT116 colorectal cancer cells. Methods: We examined the effect of GRh2 on HCT116 cells ex vivo. Next, we performed in vitro binding assay and in vitro kinase assay to search for the target of GRh2. Furthermore, we elucidated the underlying molecular mechanisms for the antitumor effect of GRh2 ex vivo and in vivo. Results: The results of our in vitro studies indicated that GRh2 can directly bind with PBK/TOPK and GRh2 also can directly inhibit PBK/TOPK activity. Ex vivo studies showed that GRh2 significantly induced cell death in HCT116 colorectal cancer cells. Further mechanistic study demonstrated that these compounds inhibited the phosphorylation levels of the extracellular regulated protein kinases 1/2 (ERK1/2) and (H3) in HCT116 colorectal cancer cells. In vivo studies showed GRh2 inhibited the growth of xenograft tumors of HCT116 cells and inhibited the phosphorylation levels of the extracellular regulated protein kinases 1/2 and histone H3. Conclusion: The results indicate that GRh2 exerts promising antitumor effect that is specific to human HCT116 colorectal cancer cells through inhibiting the activity of PBK/TOPK.

• Korean Journal of Medicinal Crop Science
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• v.26 no.2
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• pp.148-156
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• 2018

Background: Hot steaming is known to be effective in improving the biological activities of plant extracts by breaking down useful compounds to low molecular weight ones. Methods and Results: This study aimed to develop an optimal extraction and steam processing method for enhancing the low molecular ginsenoside contents of the adventitious roots culture of wild mountain ginseng. The total ginsenoside was optimally extracted when 70% EtOH was used at $50^{\circ}C$, whereas low molecule ginsenoside such as Rg2, Rh1, Rh4 and Rk1 could be extracted using 70% EtOH at $70^{\circ}C$. The adventitious roots culture of wild mountain ginseng is known to contain four major ginsenosides, i.e., Rb2, Rb1, Rg1 and Rd, however new ginsenosides Rg6, Rh4, Rg3, Rk1 and Rg5 were new abundantly obtaind after steam processing method was applied. The contents of total ginsenosides were the highest when thermal steam processing was conducted at $120^{\circ}C$ for 120 min. Unlike ginsenosides such as Rg1, Re, Rb1, Rc, Rb2, and Rh1, which decreased after steam processing, Rg3, Rk1, and Rg5 increased after thermal processing. Steam processing significanltly reduced the content of Rb1, increased that of Rg6 by about ten times than that in the adventitious roots culture of wild mountain ginseng. Conclusions: Our study showed that the optimal extraction and steam processing method increased the content of total ginsenosides and allowed the extraction of minor ginsenosides from major ones.

• The Korean Journal of Food And Nutrition
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• v.23 no.3
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• pp.405-410
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• 2010

The effect of microwave treatment on Korean ginseng was studied by measuring the changes in moisture, crude lipid, crude ash, crude protein, total dietary fiber and saponin contents, as well as changes in density, color and microstructure. Korean ginseng was treated with 100 or 200 watts of microwaves for 1 or 3 hrs, respectively, followed by drying using an oven at $60^{\circ}C$ for 96 hrs. The moisture contents decreased to 13.12~10.77% from an initial 76.26%. The amounts of lipid and ash were reduced in proportion to the time of microwave treatment and level of microwave power. The amount of protein in ginseng after microwave treatment did not significantly change. The amount of total dietary fiber increased after microwave treatment and the color of dried ginseng became dark. The amounts of ginsenoside-$Rb_1$, $Rb_2+Rb_3$, Rc, Rd, Re, Rf, $Rg_1$, $Rg_2+Rh_1$ and $Rg_3$ were reduced after treatment with 100 watts of microwave radiation for 1 and 3. The amounts of ginsenoside-$Rb_1$, Rd, Re, Rf, $Rg_1$, $Rg_2+Rh_1$ and $Rg_3$ after treatment with 200 watts of microwave radiation for 1 and 3 hr also reduced. On the other hand, the amounts of ginsenoside-$Rb_2+Rb_3$ and Rc after treatment of ginseng with 200 watts of microwave radiation for 1 and 3 hrs were increased.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.60-65
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• 1994

Fresh ginseng of same grade was stored under the 4$\pm$1$^{\circ}C$ and 87~92% RH for 10 weeks. During the storage, an aliquot amount of the ginseng was drawn, freeze dried and chemical constituents and physicochemical parameters were measured. After 10 weeks of storage drying rate and shrinkage of ginseng were 1520% and 9.04%, respectively, mold growth was seen at week 5 and observed for 51.2% of the ginseng week 10. Amylase activity level was elevated at the early stage of storage and decreased to 5% of initial value at week 5. At week 5, the elevated amylase activity was inconcomitant with the appearance of the mold growth. Crude protein contents were increased and decreased, respectively 5 week post storage. No significant changes in crude fat, crude fiber, ash, total sugar, n-butanol extract and ginsenoside were observed. The content of water-extractable substance showed maximum at week 7 to 8. The value of pH was slightly elevated and reducing sugar was increased during the storage. Key words Ginseng storage, physicochemical properties, drying rate, shrinkage, amylase activity.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Applied Pharmacology
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• 1996.04a
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• pp.224-224
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• 1996

홍삼 총 사포닌 투여군은 대조군과 비교시 total free radical 및 malondialdchydc 농도는 유의상 있게 감소되었으며, 단백질의 carbonyl 농도는 다소 감소하는 경향을 나타내었다. 그리고 홍삼 총 사포닌 투여군의 경우 Cu, Zn-SOD, catalasc, GSII reductase 등의 항산화 효소와 nonprotein-SH가 대조군 보다 증가되었다. 홍삼 총 사포닌의 구성성분들인 ginsenoside Rb$_1$, Rb$_2$, Rc, Rd, Re, Rg$_1$, Rh$_1$, Rh$_2$, Rf 중 ginsenoside Rh$_2$는 catalase 활성을 대조군보다 유의성있게 증가시켰으며, ginsenoside Rh$_1$ 및 Rc의 경우 GSII peroxidase 활성이 증가하는 경향을 나타내었다. 그리고 Cu, Zn-SOD의 경우 ginsenoside Rc는 대조군보다 유의성있게 감소시켰으며, GSII reductase의 경우 유의성있는 변화는 관찰되지 않았다.

• Food Science and Preservation
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• v.16 no.3
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• pp.355-361
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• 2009

In this study, raw ginseng produced by different methods was puffed, and physicochemical properties were analyzed and compared. Raw ginseng included white ginseng lateral root (WGL), red ginseng lateral root (RGL), red ginseng main root (RGM), and red ginseng main root with 15% (w/w) moisture (RGMM). All samples were puffed at a pressure of 7 kg/cm2. Crude saponin content was increased after puffing compared with that of control ginseng. RGM and RGMM showed significant increases in crude saponin content, from 1.67% and 1.41% to 2.84% and 3.09% (all w/w), respectively. However, the ginsenoside content of WGL was decreased after puffing. Rg3, Rh1, and Rh2 values of red ginseng were increased by puffing compared with those of control red ginseng. The total sugar content of ginseng decreased after puffing. The mineral components of puffed ginseng were similar to those of raw ginseng. Levels of total phenolic compounds and antioxidant activities of ginseng were increased after puffing, and electron-donating ability was greatly increased. The acidic polysaccharide content of ginseng increased slightly and the amino acid content decreased due to the high temperature used during puffing.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.30 no.2
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• pp.70-77
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• 2006

Ginseng has an anti-cancer effect in several cancer models. As a mechanism study of ginsenoside-induced growth inhibition in cancer cells, we measured change of membrane potential in prostate cancer and glioma cells by ginsenosides, active constituents of ginseng. Membrane potential was estimated by measuring fluorescence change of DiBAC-Ioaded cells. Among 11 ginsenosides tested, ginsenosides $Rb_2$, $Rg_3$, and $Rh_2$ increased significantly and robustly the membrane potential in a concentration-dependent manner in prostate cancer and glioma cells. Ginsenosides Rc, Ro, and $Rb_1$ slightly increased membrane potential. The ginsenoside-induced membrane potential increase was not affected by treatment with pertussis toxin or U73122. The ginsenoside-induced membrane potential increase was not diminished in $Na^+$-free or $HCO_3^-$-free media. Furthermore, the ginsenoside-induced increase of membrane potential was not changed by EIPA (5-(N-ethyl-N-isopropyl)-amiloride), SITS (4-acetoamido-4'-isothiocyanostilbene-2,2'-disulfonic acid), and omeprazole. In summary, ginsenosides $Rb_2$, $Rg_3$, and $Rh_2$ increased membrane potential in prostate cancer and glioma cells in a GPCR-independent and $Na^+$ independent manner.

• Korean Journal of Pharmacognosy
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• v.47 no.1
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• pp.73-78
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• 2016

The purpose of this study is to develop a new preparation process of ginseng (Panax ginseng) flower buds extracts featuring high concentration of ginsenosides Rg2, Rg3, Rg5, F4 and Rh1, red ginseng special components. Chemical transformation from ginseng saponin glycosides to prosapogenin was analyzed by the HPLC. Extracts of ginseng flower buds were processed under several treatment conditions of ultrasonication (at $100^{\circ}C$). The results showed that the quantity of ginsenoside Rg6 increased by over 8.8% at the 16 hours of ultrasonication. Ginseng flower buds ethanol extract compared with other process times. The result of UGF-16 indicates that the ultrasonication processed ginseng flower buds extracts (at $100^{\circ}C$) treated for 16 hours produced the highest amount of ginsenoside F4 (8.833%), Rg3 (2.230%), Rg5 (2.339%) and Rg2 (1.002%).

• Archives of Pharmacal Research
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• v.27 no.11
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• pp.1136-1140
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• 2004

Red ginseng and fermented red ginseng were prepared, and their composition of ginsenosides and antiischemic effect were investigated. When ginseng was steamed at 98-$100{\circ}C$ for 4h and dried for 5h at $60{\circ}C$, and extracted with alcohol, its main components were ginsenoside $Rg_3$ > ginsenoside $Rg_1$> ginsenoside $Rg_2$. When the ginseng was suspended in water and fermented for 5 days by previously cultured Bifidobacterium H-1 and freeze-dried (fermented red ginseng), its main components were compound K > ginsenoside $Rg_3{\geq}$ ginsenoside $Rg_2$. Orally administered red ginseng extract did not protect ischemia-reperfusion brain injury. However, fermented red ginseng significantly protected ischemica-reperfusion brain injury. These results suggest that ginsenoside Rh2 and compound K, which was found to be at a higher content in fermented red ginseng than red ginseng, may improve ischemic brain injury.

• Journal of Dairy Science and Biotechnology
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• v.32 no.1
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• pp.47-53
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• 2014

In this study, our aim was to investigate the changes in ginsenosides and polyphenols in red ginseng extract fermented by Lactobacillus acidophilus and to manufacture fresh cheese using fermented red ginseng extract. Red ginseng extract (3%, w/v) was fermented by L. acidophilus for 24 h. On performing lactic acid bacteria counts, we determined that L. acidophilus reached its maximum growth phase after 16 h; this was followed by decrease in growth. During fermentation, the levels of ginsenosides Rg3 (20S) and Rg3 (20R) as well as protopanaxadiol (20R), F1, and compound K increased, while those of s Rb2, Rd, Rf, and Rg1 decreased. The pH, titratable acidity, and viable cell counts in fresh cheese prepared using fermented red ginseng extract were measured during the storage period. The pH decreased over time, while titratable acidity and viable cell counts increased with increase in the duration of the storage period. Sensory tests showed that the overall sensory properties of fresh cheese prepared using 1% fermented red ginseng extract were similar to those of the control groups. This result suggests that L. acidophilus-fermented red ginseng has potential for development as a new bioactive material.