• Journal of Life Science
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• v.24 no.9
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• pp.1006-1011
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• 2014

Ginseng has been known to be highly effective for health as a traditional medicinal herb. Ginseng berry, or fruit of ginseng, contains ginsenoside, saponin, polyphenol, polyacetylene, alkaloid, etc. as the main compounds as does ginseng. The aim of this study is to evaluate any effect of ginseng berry water extract (GBE) on diabetic-associated molecules, such as enzymes, which are responsible for the glucose entry of the cells and the insulin receptor signaling molecules using HepG2 cells. Therefore, two enzymes, ${\alpha}$-amylase and ${\alpha}$-glucosidase, were selected and assayed for their activities in the presence of GBE in vitro. These two enzymes are responsible for producing glucose from dietary starch. Protein-tyrosine phosphatase 1B (PTP1B) and Akt1 are key proteins in the insulin receptor signaling pathway. These two intracellular signaling molecules were investigated for their expression levels in HepG2 cells after insulin and GBE treatment. GBE, at concentrations up to $1,000{\mu}g/ml$, did not exert any inhibitory effect on ${\alpha}$-amylase and ${\alpha}$-glucosidase. It was observed that the expression level of PTP1B was increased by insulin and the $25{\mu}g/ml$ GBE treatment enhanced the PTP1B level. However, GBE at a concentration of $200{\mu}g/ml$ reduced the expression level of PTP1B. In the case of Akt1, the Akt1 level by insulin was decreased by GBE treatment. These data suggest that the water extracts of ginseng berry have an influence on intracellular signaling by insulin.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.13 no.2
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• pp.153-157
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• 1989

The characteristics of the areal parts, photosynthetic and respiration rates and stem color were examined in 1- to 5-year-old Green-stem, Violet-stem and Yellow-berry variant ginseng (Panax ginseng C.A. Meyer). The top characteristics, photosynthetic and respiration rates were not significantly different among the three variants. Selfed progency of the Green-stems variant plant produced only green stems, while the others produced green and violet stem in the seedling stage. These results showed that most of the top characteristics of the Green-stem variant were similar those of the Violet-stem and Yellow-berry variants with age.

• Korean Journal of Pharmacognosy
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• v.48 no.1
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• pp.5-9
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• 2017

This study was carried out to obtain the basic information that can be used to index Acanthopanax in eleven species of China and Korea. The phytochemical components from the berry of Acanthopanax species, were measured by the HPLC analysis. Protocatechuic acid, eleutheroside B, eleutheroside E, scopolin, rutin, hyperoside, chiisanoside, oleanolic acid were found in ethanol extracts from the berry of Acanthopanax species. Total phenolic compound of Acanthopanax sessiliflorum f. chungbuensis berry (0.682%) was about seven times higher than those of Acanthopanax divaricatus f. distigmatis berry (0.091%). As a result, the order of the eleutheroside E content was 1) Acanthopanax sessiliflorum f. chungbuensis (0.554%), 2) A. divaricatus var. albeofructus (0.501%), 3) A. divaricatus f. flavi-flos (0.452%). And also, the order of the chiisanoside content was 1) Acanthopanax senticosus var. subinermis (8.434%), 2) A. seoulense (0.94%), 3) A. divaricatus f. flavi-flos (0.798%).

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.4 no.1
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• pp.49-54
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• 1980

This investigation were carrion out to know the frequency, size and distribution of stomata in Korean ginseng, acanthopanax and codonopsis. The results are as follows; 1. Stomatal frequency in ginseng leaf was remarkably less than those of acanthopanax and codonopsis leaf, but size of stomata in ginseng leaf was larger than those of acanthopanax and codonopsis leaf. 2. Stomatal frequency of one year old ginseng plant was higher than those of the older. Two to five years old ginseng plants were not differed in frequency and size of stomata. 3. Frequency and size of stomata were higher and larger in red-berry variant in compare to yellow-berry variant. 4. Stomatal frequency in different leaf Position was not significantly different among those of middle leaf, first side leaf and second side leaf, but in decreasing order of middle Part, upper, lower part and edge in the same ginseng leaf. 5. Stomata was not seen in adaxial surface and petiole of leaf ginseng, acanthopanax and codonopsis. 6. Stomatal frequency was higher in ginseng plant grown under no$.$shading compared to shading, and that of ginseng plant in rear line was less than that of front line under the same shade roof.

• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
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• v.44 no.2
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• pp.227-227
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• 2016

• Korean Journal of Medicinal Crop Science
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• v.22 no.6
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• pp.449-456
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• 2014

Anti-inflammatory activity of the extracts of ginseng berry (GBE) was investigated through the evaluation of its inhibitory effect on the production of inflammatory meditator, nitric oxide(NO), tumor necrocis factor-alpha (TNF-${\alpha}$), interleukin-6 (IL-6) in LPS-induced RAW264.7 macrophage cells. GBE was fractionated using n-hexane, chloroform, ethylacetate, buthanol and $H_2O$, sequentially. RAW264.7 cells were induced $100ng/m{\ell}$ of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and treated with 0, 1.6, 8, 40 and $200{\mu}g/m{\ell}$ of GBE fractions. LPS-induced NO production on all of GBE fractions was inhibited with increasing added concentration of GBE fractions. Chloroform fraction of GBE was the most effective in inhibiting LPS-induced TNF-${\alpha}$ production. Hexane, chloroform and $H_2O$ fractions of GBE exhibit strong inhibition LPS-induced IL-6 production. Especially, $H_2O$ fractions of GBE was the most effective in inhibiting LPD-induced IL-6 production without significant cytotoxicity in RAW264.7 cells, and reduced the activation of mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPK) and IkB phosphorylation. These results indicate that $H_2O$ fractions of GBE exhibits strong anti-inflammatory effects by inhibition of NF-kB by inhibition of p-38 on MAPK and IkB phosphorylation.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.41 no.4
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• pp.602-607
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• 2017

Background: Panax ginseng is a traditional herb used for medicinal purposes in eastern Asia. P. ginseng contains various ginsenosides with pharmacological effects. In this study, floralginsenoside A (FGA), ginsenoside Rd (GRD), and ginsenoside Re (GRE) were purified from P. ginseng berry. Methods: Chemical structures of FGA, GRD, and GRE were determined based on spectroscopic methods, including fast atom bombardment mass spectroscopy, ID-nuclear magnetic resonance, and infrared spectroscopy. Inhibitory activities of these compounds on melanogenesis were studied by measuring the expression of protein and melanin content in the melan-a cell line. This inhibitory activity was confirmed by observing pigmentation and tyrosinase activities of zebrafish. Results: GRD, GRE, and FGA were not cytotoxic at concentrations less than $20{\mu}M$, $80{\mu}M$, and $160{\mu}M$ in melan-a cells, respectively. GRD, GRE, and FGA inhibited melanin biosynthesis in melan-a cells by 15.2%, 22.9%, and 23.9% at $20{\mu}M$, $80{\mu}M$, and $160{\mu}M$, respectively. FGA was observed to display the most potent inhibitory effect. In addition, FGA decreased microphthalmia-associated transcription factor protein expression in a dose-dependent manner. Moreover, FGA induced extracellular signal-regulated kinase phosphorylation level in melan-a cells. In addition, melanin pigment content and tyrosinase activity in zebrafish treated with FGA at $160{\mu}M$ were reduced. Conclusion: FGA showed the most potent inhibition of melanogenesis in both in vitro and in vivo studies. This study suggests that FGA purified from P. ginseng may be an effective melanogenesis inhibitor.

• Korean Journal of Exercise Nutrition
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• v.14 no.2
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• pp.63-68
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• 2010

This study evaluated the effects of high pressured red ginseng(HRG) and ginseng berry(GB) supplementation on lipid profiles and run to exercise time in SD rats. Five weeks-old male rats were randomly assigned into six groups, ie. control group(AC: n = 8), exercise group(AE: n = 7), general extracted red ginseng group(C: n = 8), HRG group(high density D: n = 8, low density E: n = 7), and HRG + GB group(F: n = 7). The AC and AE groups had a supplementation of AIN-93G, and AE group performed 40 min treadmill exercise five times per week for five weeks. E, C, D, and F groups had a supplementation composed of general extracted red ginseng(GRG), HRG(250 mpk and 500 mpk), and HRG(250 mpk) + GB(167 mpk) in the AIN-93G. Main results of the study were as follow 1) the duration of running time to exhaustion was higher in exercise group compared to other groups. HRG had no effect on run to exhaustion time, but, GRG and HRG + GB showed longer run time than control groups. 2) Blood TC, TG, HDL-C and liver TG showed no difference between groups, but, liver TC showed lower level in the HRG groups than other groups. It was concluded that the 5 weeks of supplementation of HRG extract would have positive effects on liver cholesterol, and GRG and HRG + GB have a positive effect on exercise performance tested run to exhaustion time, but, we can not find a positive effect of supplementation of HRG on exercise performance.

• Proceedings of the Ginseng society Conference
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• 2002.10a
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• pp.129-144
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• 2002

We investigated anti-hyperglycemic and anti-obese effects of Panax ginseng berry extract and its major constituent, ginsenoside Re, in obese diabetic C57BL/6J ob/ob mice and their lean littermates. Animals received daily intraperitoneal injections of Panax ginseng berry extract for 12 days. On Day 5, 150 mg/kg extract-treated ob/ob mice had significantly lower fasting blood glucose levels compared to vehicle-treated mice $(156{\pm}9.0\;mg/dl\;vs.\;243{\pm}15.8mg/dl,$ P<0.01). On Day 12, the extract-treated ob/ob mice became normoglycemic $(137{\pm}6.7\;mg/dl)$ and had significantly improved glucose tolerance. The overall glucose excursion during the two-hour intraperitoneal glucose tolerance test (IPGTT), calculated as area under the curve (AUC), decreased by $46\%$ (P<0.01) compared to vehicle-treated ob/ob mice. Glucose levels of lean mice were not significantly affected by the extract. The improvement in blood glucose levels in 150 mg/kg extracttreated ob/ob mice was associated with significant reduction in serum insulin levels of fed and fasting mice. Consistent with an improvement in insulin sensitivity, hyperinsulinemic euglycemic clamp study revealed a more than 2-fold increase in the rate of insulin-stimulated glucose disposal in treated ob/ob mice $(112{\pm}19.1\;vs.\;52{\pm}11.8{\mu}mol/kg/min$ for the vehicle group, P<0.01). In addition, 150 mg/kg extract-treated ob/ob mice, but not the lean mice, lost significant weight (from $51.7{\pm}1.9g\;on\;Day\;0\;to\;45.7{\pm}1.2$ on Day 12, P<0.01 compared to vehicle-treated ob/ob mice), associated with a significant reduction in food intake (P<0.05) and a very significant increase in energy expenditure (P<0.01) and body temperature (P<0.01). A 12-day treatment with 150 mg/kg Panax ginseng berry extract also significantly reduced plasma cholesterol levels in ob/ob mice. Additional studies demonstrated that ginsenoside Re, a major constituent of the ginseng berry, but not from the root, plays a significant role in anti-hyperglycemic action. This anti-diabetic effect of ginsenoside Re was not associated with body weight changes, suggesting that other constituents in the extract have distinct pharmacological mechanisms on energy metabolism. The identification of a significant anti-hyperglycemic activity in ginsenoside Re may provide an opportunity to develop a novel class of anti-diabetic agent.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.33 no.6
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• pp.840-847
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• 2023

Korean ginseng (Panax ginseng C. A. Meyer), a member of the Araliaceae family, is known as a traditional medicinal plant to have a wide range of health properties. Polysaccharides constitute a major component of Korean ginseng, and its berries exhibit immune-modulating properties. The purpose of this study was to investigate the immune effects of crude polysaccharide (GBPC) extracted from Korean ginseng berry on peritoneal macrophages in mice with cyclophosphamide (CY)- induced immunosuppression. BALB/c mice were divided into eight groups: normal control, normal control + CY, levamisole + CY, ginseng + CY, and four concentrations of 50, 100, 250, and 500 mg/kg BW/day of GBPC + CY. Mice were orally administered with samples for 10 days. Immunosuppression was established by treating mice with CY (80 mg/kg BW/day) through intraperitoneal injection on days 4 to 6. The immune function of peritoneal macrophages was then evaluated. Oral administration of 500 mg/kg BW/day GBPC resulted in proliferation, NO production, and phagocytosis at 100%, 88%, and 91%, respectively, close to the levels of the normal group (100%) of peritoneal macrophages. In CY-treated mice, GBPC of 50-500 mg/kg BW/day also dose-dependently stimulated the proliferation, NO production, and phagocytosis at 56-100%, 47-88%, and 53-91%, respectively, with expression levels of immune-associated genes, such as iNOS, COX-2, IL-1β, IL-6, and TNF-α, of about 0.32 to 2.87-fold, compared to those in the CY group. GBPC could be a potential immunomodulatory material to control peritoneal macrophages under an immunosuppressive condition.