• Korean Journal of Medicinal Crop Science
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• v.13 no.1
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• pp.52-56
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• 2005

This study was compared the quality of red ginseng and characteristic changes of physicochemical properties according to the storage period (non storage, two days, six days, eight days, ten days) and store temperature $20^{\circ}C, \;34^{\circ}C,\;-10^{\circ}C)$. The water content of the fresh ginseng has a tendency to decrease as storage time increases. When we store the fresh ginseng for 10 days, the ideal storage temperature is considered to be $34^{\circ}C$ degrees. The amount of total nitrogen has a tendency to increase more than that of no storage as storage period approaches to 10 days. In the storage temperature, the amount of total nitrogen has a tendency to increase in the order of 1) room temperature, 2) freezing storage, 3) cold storage more than no storage. Cold storage has larger contents of total phenolic compounds than room temperature and freezing storage according to storage temperature. When we analyze the changes of a relative density of eight elements, ginsenoside $Rb_1,Rb_2,Rc,Rd,Re,Rg_3,Rg_1\;and\;Rg_2$ in red ginseng's saponin Rf according to storage condition, the relative density of $Rb_1\;and\;Rg_1$ against Rf diminishes in each storage condition as storage time increases. And it is also thought that density change of ginsenoside appears because of the materials, and change tendency according to storage condition is not clear. From functional nature on the evaluation of the quality, taste and fragrance of red ginseng according to storage district, it is evaluated that it is most recommendable for red ginseng to be transported and stored in $3{\sim}4$ degrees to keep its best condition.

• Journal of the Society of Cosmetic Scientists of Korea
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• v.40 no.3
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• pp.297-305
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• 2014

Red ginseng (RG) contains specific ginsenosides (Rg2, Rg3) which show various pharmacological effects and absorption rate in the body better than panax ginseng. Therefore many people have been used it for health for a long time. Furthermore, many researchers have been studying its biological activities for a long times because fermentation generates lots of beneficial small molecules good for health. In this study, we fermented red ginseng with mycelium of Leatiporus sulphures var. miniatus for 7 days. As a result, we found that three ginsenosides Rg1, Re and Rb2 were decreased from 0.24, 0.25, 0.16 mg/g to 0.12, 0.1, 0.03 mg/g respectively HPLC analysis. In addition, we studied biological activities of fermented red ginseng (FRG) about skin ageing such as anti-inflammation, cell migration, anti-oxidation, collagen type 1 synthesis, and MMP-1 inhibition activities. As a result, FRG were shown higher anti-inflammatory and cell migration promoting activities than RG. FRG inhibited production of nitric oxide (NO) and mRNA expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and decreased interleukin (IL)-6 induced by LPS stimulation in RAW 264.7 cells. In conclusion, this study suggest that FRG could be a potential source as a new natural anti-inflammatory agent.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.23 no.4
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• pp.230-234
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• 1999

Potassium channels play an important role in regulating vascular smooth muscle tone. Four types of $K^+$ channels areknown to be expressed in vascular smooth muscle cells, and maxi $Ca^{2+}-activated\;K^+$ channel $(BK_{Ca})$ is a dominant type of $K^+$ channels in these cells. Because total ginseng saponins and ginsenoside $Rg_3$ cause vasodilation with unclear mechanisms, we hypothesized that total ginseng saponins and ginsenoside $Rg_3$ induce vasodilation via activation of maxi $Ca^{2+}-activated\;K+$ channels. Whole-cell BKe. currents were voltage-dependent with half maximum activation at -14 mV, and the currents were sensitive to nanomolar ChTX and millimolar TEA. External application of total ginseng saponins increased the anlplitude of the whole-cell BKe. current in a concentration-dependent manner. Single-channel analysis indicates that total ginseng saponins caused the channel opening for a longer period of time. Ginsenoside $Rg_3$ increased the amplitude of whole-cell $K_{Ca}$ currents without affecting voltage dependence of the currents and increased single-channel open time. Hence, the results suggest that ginseng saponin-induced vasodilation may be due to activation of $K_{Ca}$.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.32 no.2
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• pp.120-126
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• 2008

This study was carried out to investigate the some physicochemical properties of Korean red ginseng (Panax ginseng C.A. Meyer) water extract (RGWE) after heated with high temperatures above $100^{\circ}C$ for 2 hours. RGWEs were heated at 100, 110 and $120^{\circ}C$ for 2 hours by using autoclave. After RGWEs were heated at high temperature for 2 hours without not adjustment of pH, the changes of saponin, free sugars, mineral and color in the RGWEs were investigated. Total ginsenoside content in control was 1.99%, while those of RGWE were 1.65, 1.49 and 1.29% when treated at 100, 110 and $120^{\circ}C$, respectively. The contents of total ginsenoside showed decreased tendency as heating temperatures were increased. The ginsenoside-$Rh_{2}$ and $-Rg_{3}$, which have been reported as very stable red ginseng ginsenosides, showed relatively strong spots on TLC when RGWEs were heated at 110 and $120^{\circ}C$. In case of free sugars in RGWEs, fructose, glucose and maltose showed high contents when compared with control, while Fe, Ca and Mg ions showed very low contents. Value of L in RGWE treated with high temperature was almost the same with control, while values of a and b were increased. Values of a were increased from -0.86 of control to +0.04, +0.05 and +1.14 when treated with 100, 110 and $120^{\circ}C$, respectively. Values of b also were increased from 27.68 of control to 33.61, 33.61 and 37.42 when treated with 100, 110 and $120^{\circ}C$, respectively. Values of total color in RGWEs treated with high temperatures, E, were finally increased by values of a and b.

• Proceedings of the Ginseng society Conference
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• 2002.10a
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• pp.55-65
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• 2002

Ginseng has been used as a key constituent in traditional medicine prescriptions for centuries. Other than its well-known anti-stress and adaptogenic properties, ginseng has also been shown to be very effective in treating age-related deterioration in metabolic and memory functions. Although it is generally believed that the saponin (GS) fraction of the ginseng root accounts for the bioactivity of ginseng, a direct demonstration on which ginsenoside does what is still generally lacking. In the past decade, our laboratory has endeavored to identify the active GS components involved in energy metabolism, memory, and anti-neurotoxicity. To examine the ergogenic effects of GS in enhancing aerobic capacity, rats were subjected to either severe cold ($40^{\circ}C$ under helium-oxygen, two hours) or exercise workload $(70\%\;VO_{2}max,$ to exhaustion). Acute systemic injection (i.p.) of ginseng GS (5-20 mg/kg) significantly elevated both the total and maximum heat production in rats and improved their cold tolerance. However, pretreating the animal with the optimal dose (10 mg/kg) of GS devoid of $Rg_1\;and\;Rb_1$ failed to elicit any beneficial effects in improving cold tolerance. This indicates that either $Rb_1\;and/or\;Rg_1$ may be essential in exemplifying the thermogenic effect of GS. Further studies showed that only pretreating the animals with $Rb_1(2.5-5\;mg/kg),\;but\;not\;Rg_l,$ resulted in an increase in thermogenesis and cold tolerance. In contrast to the acute effect of GS on cold tolerance, enhancement of exercise performance in rats was only observed after chronic treatment (4 days). Further, we were able to demonstrate that both $Rb_1\;and\;Rg_1$ are effective in enhancing aerobic endurance by exercise. To illustrate the beneficial effects of GS in learning and memory, a passive avoidance paradigm (shock prod) was used. Our results indicated that the scopolamineinduced amnesia can be significantly reversed by chronically treating (4 days) the rats with either $Rb_1\;or\;Rg_1$ (1.25 - 2.5 mg/kg). To further examine its underlying mechanisms, the effects of various GS on ${\beta}-amyloid-modulated$ acetylcholine (ACh) release from the hippocampal slices were examined. It was found that inclusion of $Rb_1$ (0.1 ${\mu}M$), but not $Rg_1$, can attenuate ${\beta}-amyloid-suppressed$ ACh release from the hippocampal slices. Our results demonstrated that $Rb_1\;and\;Rg_1$ are the key components involved in various beneficial effects of GS but they may elicit their effects through different mechanisms.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.46 no.1
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• pp.156-166
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• 2022

Background: Panax ginseng Meyer (P. ginseng), a herb distributed in Korea, China and Japan, exerts benefits on diverse inflammatory conditions. However, the underlying mechanism and active ingredients remains largely unclear. Herein, we aimed to explore the active ingredients of P. ginseng against inflammation and elucidate underlying mechanisms. Methods: Inflammation model was constructed by lipopolysaccharide (LPS) in C57BL/6 mice and RAW264.7 macrophages. Molecular docking, molecular dynamics, surface plasmon resonance imaging (SPRi) and immunofluorescence were utilized to predict active component. Results: P. ginseng significantly inhibited LPS-induced lung injury and the expression of proinflammatory factors, including TNF-α, IL-6 and IL-1β. Additionally, P. ginseng blocked fluorescencelabeled LPS (LPS488) binding to the membranes of RAW264.7 macrophages, the phosphorylation of nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) and mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs). Furthermore, molecular docking demonstrated that ginsenoside Ro (GRo) docked into the LPS binding site of toll like receptor 4 (TLR4)/myeloid differentiation factor 2 (MD2) complex. Molecular dynamic simulations showed that the MD2-GRo binding conformation was stable. SPRi demonstrated an excellent interaction between TLR4/ MD2 complex and GRo (K_D value of 1.16 × 10^-9 M). GRo significantly inhibited LPS488 binding to cell membranes. Further studies showed that GRo markedly suppressed LPS-triggered lung injury, the transcription and secretion levels of TNF-α, IL-6 and IL-1β. Moreover, the phosphorylation of NF-κB and MAPKs as well as the p65 subunit nuclear translocation were inhibited by GRo dose-dependently. Conclusion: Our results suggest that GRo exerts anti-inflammation actions by direct inhibition of TLR4 signaling pathway.

• Food Science and Preservation
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• v.12 no.4
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• pp.402-410
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• 2005

In order to manufacture the alcoholic drinks using cultured wild ginseng roots(CWGR) of 5 and $10\%$ (w/v), sugar content of fermentation media was adjusted to 24-25 $^{\circ}$Brix with white sugar and glucose. And 3 kinds of yeast (S. cerevisiae(KCCM 50757), S. cerevisiae (KCCM 50583) and S. bayanus(ATCC 10601) were used and then the quality of alcoholic drinks was analyzed by physical, chemical and sensory evaluation. Alcohol content was highest value of $15.8\%$ in $10\%$ of CWGR, white sugar, and S. bayanus(ATCC 10601). Major alcohols were ethanol and 1-propanol. Number of yeast cells increased to 5 days fermentation and slightly decreased afterwards. The pH was decreased abruptly from 5.0 in initial fermentation to 3.1-4.1 in 5 days fermentation. Total sugar contents were decreased continuously with fermentation periods and showed 7.0-10.5 $^{\circ}$Brix in 20 days fermentation. Saponin patterns and contents were various and higher in wine treated with S. bayanus(ATCC 10601). From the sensory evaluation, the highest score of overall quality was observed in the alcoholic beverage of $10\%$(w/v) of CWGR, glucose, and S. cerevisiae(KCCM 50583).

• Journal of the Society of Cosmetic Scientists of Korea
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• v.46 no.4
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• pp.349-360
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• 2020

Bio-conversion manufacturing technology has been developed to produce ginsenoside Rd which is increasingly in demand as a cosmetic material due to various possibilities related to improving skin function. In order to convert ginsenoside Rb1 which is contained in red ginseng saponin (RGS) into Rd, several commercial enzymes were tested. Viscoflow MG was found to be the most efficient. In order to optimize the conversion of RGS to ginsenoside Rd by enzymatic transition was carried out using response surface methodology (RSM) based on Box-Behnken design (BBD). The main independent variables were RGS concentration, enzyme concentration, and reaction time. Conversion of ginsenoside Rd was performed under 17 conditions selected according to BBD model and optimization conditions were analyzed. The concentration of the converted ginsenoside Rd ranged from 0.3113 g/L to 0.5277 g/L, and the highest production volume was obtained under condition of reacting 2% RGS and 1.25% enzyme for 13.5 hours. Consequently, RGS concentration, enzyme concentration which is 0.05 less than p-value and among the interactions between the independent variables, the interaction between enzyme concentration and reaction time was confirmed to be the most influential.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.23 no.1 s.53
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• pp.50-54
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• 1999

In this paper, the saponin enzymatic hydrolysis of ginsenoside Rg3 was studied. The $ginsenoside-{\beta}-glucosidase$ from FFCDL-48 strain mainly hydrolyzed the ginsenoside Rg3 to Rh2, the enzyme from FFCDL-00 strain hydrolyzed Rg3 to the mixture of Rh2 and protopanaxadiol (aglycon). The $ginsenoside-{\beta}-glucosidase$ from FFCDL-48 strain was purified with a column of DEAE-Cellulose to one spot in the SDS polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. During the purification, the enzyme specific acitvity was increased about 10 times. The purified $ginsenoside-{\beta}-glucosidase$ can hydrolyze the Rg3 to Rh2, but do not hydrolyze the $p-nitrophenyl-{\beta}-glucoside$ which is a substrate of original exocellulase such as ${\beta}-glucosidase$ of cellulose. The molecular weight of $ginsenoside-{\beta}-glucosidase$ was 34,000, the optimal temperature of enzyme reaction was $50^{\circ}C,$ and the optimal pH was 5.0.

• Proceedings of the Plant Resources Society of Korea Conference
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• 2012.05a
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• pp.20-20
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• 2012

Isoprenoids represent the most diverse group of metabolites, which are functionally and structurally identified in plant organism to date. Ginsenosides, glycosylated triterpenes, are considered to be the major pharmaceutically active ingredient of ginseng. Its backbones, categorized as protopanaxadiol (PPD), protopanaxatriol (PPT), and oleanane saponin, are synthesized via the isoprenoid pathway by cyclization of 2,3-oxidosqualene mediated with dammarenediol synthase or beta-amyrin synthase. The rate-limiting 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A reductase (HMGR), which is the first committed step enzyme catalyzes the cytoplasmic mevalonate (MVA) pathway for isoprenoid biosynthesis. DXP reductoisomerese (DXR), yields 2-C-methyl-D-erythritol 4-phosphate (MEP), is partly involved in isoprenoid biosynthesis via plastid. Squalene synthase and squalene epoxidase are involved right before the cyclization step. The triterpene backbone then undergoes various modifications, such as oxidation, substitution, and glycosylation. Here we will discuss general biosynthesis pathway for the production of ginsenoside and its modification based on their subcellular biological functions.