• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.40 no.3
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• pp.211-219
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• 2016

Background: Panax ginseng root is used in traditional oriental medicine for human health. Its main active components such as saponins and polysaccharides have been widely evaluated for treating diseases, but secondary active components such as oligosaccharides have been rarely studied. This study aimed to assess the impact of water-soluble ginseng oligosaccharides (WGOS), which were isolated from the warm-water extract of Panax ginseng root, on scopolamine-induced cognitive impairment in mice and its antineuroinflammatory mechanisms. Methods: We investigated the impact of WGOS on scopolamine-induced cognitive impairment in mice by using Morris water maze and novel object recognition task. We also analyzed the impact of WGOS on scopolamine-induced inflammatory response (e.g., the hyperexpression of proinflammatory cytokines IL-$1{\beta}$ and IL-6 and astrocyte activation) by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction and glial fibrillary acid protein (GFAP) immunohistochemical staining. Results: WGOS pretreatment protected against scopolamine-induced learning and memory deficits in the Morris water maze and in the novel object recognition task. Furthermore, WGOS pretreatment downregulated scopolamine-induced hyperexpression of proinflammatory cytokines interleukin (IL)-$1{\beta}$ and IL-6 mRNA and astrocyte activation in the hippocampus. These results indicate that WGOS can protect against scopolamine-induced alterations in learning and memory and inflammatory response. Conclusion: Our data suggest that WGOS may be beneficial as a medicine or functional food supplement to treat disorders with cognitive deficits and increased inflammation.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.44 no.4
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• pp.570-579
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• 2020

Background: Many researchers reported that the various immune activities of red ginseng are due to acid polysaccharides. But, the exact structural characteristics of the acidic polysaccharide in red ginseng have not been fully elucidated. Therefore, we isolated the acidic polysaccharide from red ginseng and characterized the structural property of the active moiety of this polysaccharide, which contributes to the immunostimulatory activity of red ginseng. Methods: A polysaccharide (RGP-AP-I) was purified from red ginseng via size-exclusion chromatography using Sephadex G-100. Immunostimulatary activity of RGP-AP-I was investigated via anti-complementory and macrophage stimulatory activity. The structure of RGP-AP-I was characterized by HPLC, sugar composition, β-glucosyl Yariv reagent and methylation analysis. Results: Peritoneal macrophages stimulated using RGP-AP-I significantly augmented the production of various cytokines such as interleukin (IL)-6, IL-12, and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α. The primary structure of RGP-AP-I was elucidated by assessing its sugar composition and methylation analysis. RGP-AP-I is a 96 kDa acidic polysaccharide, and comprises nine different monosaccharides, which mainly include sugars such as rhamnose (Rha, 9.5%), galacturonic acid (GalA, 18.4%), galactose (Gal, 30.4%), and arabinose (Ara, 35.0%). RGP-AP-I exhibited an considerable reaction with the β-glucosyl Yariv reagent, revealing the presence of arabino-β-3,6-galactan. Methylation analysis indicated that RGP-AP-I comprises 21 different glycosyl linkages, such as 3-, 4-, 6- and 3,6-linked Galp; 5-linked Araf; 2,4-linked Rhap; and 4-linked GalAp, which are characteristics of rhamnogalacturonan I (RG-I). Conclusion: we assumed that the immunostimulatory activity of RGP-AP-I may be due to the RG-I structure, which comprises a main chain with a repeating linkage unit, [→2)-Rhap-(1→4)-GalAp-(1→] and three groups of side chains such as (1→5)-linked arabinan, (1→4)-linked galactan, and arabino-β-3,6-galactan, which branch at the C(O)4 positions of Rha residues in the main chain of RGP-AP-I.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.20 no.3
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• pp.248-255
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• 1996

This study was devised to observe in vitro, the inhibitory effects of acidic polysaccharide fractions from Korean red ginseng (KRG) and white ginseng (KWG) on the lipolytic action of loxohormone-L and on angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE, peptidyldipeptidase hydrolase, EC 3.4.15.1) . The crude acidic polysaccharides (CAP) extracted from main and lateral roots of KRG and KWG were separately purified through several procedures. The total inhibitory activities on the lipolytic action of toxohormone-L of CAP from main roots of KRG and KWG was higher than those of CAP from lateral roots of KRG and KWG, respectively, and that of CAP from main root of KRG was 3.1 times higher than that of CAP from main root of KWG. The specific activity of CAP from main root of KRG was measured as 5.40 units/mg, when one unit was defined as the amount giving 50% inhibition on toxohormone-L induced lipolysls. A subfraction named PG4 3 obtained by replanted chromatography on DEAE-TOYOPEARL 650M gave the specific activity of 24.4 units/mg. On the other hand, it was found that the total inhibitory activity on ACE of CAP from lateral root of KRG was the highest among the 4 kinds of CAP, but the specific activity of CAP from lateral root of KWG was the highest.

• Journal of Ginseng Culture
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• v.2
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• pp.39-70
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• 2020

In this paper, through the mutual interpretation and verification of the ancient Korean history books with different origin that have been suspected as false documents, it proves that they could be logically real records and reveal that the substance of the legendary 'medicine for anti-aging and longevity', which also had been mentioned in Chinese old books, is Korean ginseng. Furthermore, with reference to the modern Y chromosomal map of the migratory routes of mankind corresponding to these routes recorded in 「Budoji」, the core history book, the formation of the four ethnic constitution groups (Sasang Constitution) based on the life style of each human group has been estimated. And the cause of Korean ginseng with fever problem for Southeast Asians is their pharmacogenomic constitution problem by protopanaxatriol (PPT) type ginsenosides in ginseng. It was resolved with over production of protopanaxdiol (PPD) type ginsenosides against PPT type in Korean red ginseng as historical or scientific point of view. In addition, by explaining that the processing method to Korean red ginseng could increase red ginseng acidic polysaccharides (RGAP), the RGAP, PPD type ginsenosides, and arginine which is originally abundant in Korean ginseng could increase the expression of the 'heat shock proteins' as a kind of chaperone in the body, this paper presents the theory allowing the scientific interpretation of the efficacy of Korean red ginseng as an 'adaptogen' or 'medicine for anti-aging and longevity'. Lastly, through the consideration of the growing environment of American ginseng and Korean ginseng, the differences are presented.

• Food Science and Preservation
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• v.23 no.3
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• pp.319-325
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• 2016

This study was designed to develop a manufacturing process for ginseng concentrate with reduced unpleasant aroma and bitter taste. Two types of ginseng, white and red, were extracted under six different conditions (the 1st to the 6th step) of temperature ($65{\sim}95^{\circ}C$) and ethanol concentration (0~70%). Six extracts of each ginseng were evaluated by a sensory test, and assayed for crude saponin, ginsenosides, and acidic polysaccharides. The content of crude saponin in the extracts decreased with extraction time. There was no significant difference in the crude saponin content between white and red ginseng extracts. The yield of red ginseng extract was higher (45%) than that of white ginseng. No significant difference was observed in the acidic polysaccharide content between red and white ginseng extracts. $Rg_3$, a specific ginsenoside in red ginseng, was detected in the 1st to 6th extracts of red ginseng. Bitterness, astringency, and sourness of ginseng extracts decreased as the extraction steps proceeded. The composite of the 1st, 2nd, and 6th step extracts decreased bitterness and astringency, and the highest overall acceptance. Compared with commercial beverages, the composition of the three extracts is the desirable method to decrease the bitter and astringent tastes, and the overall unpleasant flavor of ginseng.

• Journal of the Korean Applied Science and Technology
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• v.34 no.4
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• pp.915-923
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• 2017

The by-products of red ginseng marc showing the improvement of health has been strongly studied because of the expectation of possibility to be used as the functional foods. This research was to investigate the extraction, separation, isolation, and evaluation of crude acidic polysaccharides related to antioxidant activity, sequently chemical structure of those products was evaluated by FT-IR and NMR. Compared with other solvents such as ethanol, methanol, propanol, acetone, and butanol, ethanol was selected. The concentration of red ginseng solution for extraction was selected as 10%(w/v) related to extraction yield(11.95%) and amount(11.8 mg/ml). In the ion exchange chromatography, aidic polysaccharides showing the highest antioxidant activity was obtained when eluted by distilled water. As results of structural analysis by FT-IR and NMR, peaks corresponding to C-O, C-O-O-, C-H, anomeric C-6, and repeated C-1 and C-6 linkages was to be presumed to be ($1{\rightarrow}6$) glycosidic linkage with the typical acidic polysaccharide.

• Journal of the East Asian Society of Dietary Life
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• v.17 no.3
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• pp.402-408
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• 2007

This study was conducted in order to evaluate the antioxidant activity of extruded ginseng in different extracted fractions. Each of the fractions obtained from extruded ginseng and ginseng (control) were extracted with 80% ethanol, and then the lipophilic components were removed with ether while the hydrophilic components were separated with water-saturated butanol. Each of the 80% ethanol/butanol/water layers were collected and evaporated to acquire samples for tests of saponin content and antioxidant activity. The antioxidant activity of extruded ginseng fractions and ginseng fractions were determined via the oxygen radical absorbance capacity (ORAC) assay. Overall, the extruded ginseng samples harbored saponin contents of 2.2 (Rg1), 2.3 (Re), 1.2 (Rc), 1.3 (Rb2), and 2.2 (Rd) times that measured in the ginseng prior to extrusion. Antioxidant capacity was also higher, not only in the 80% ethanol/butanol which harbor a significant quantity of saponin, but also in the water fractions, which harbor relatively low quantities of saponin as compared to the control samples. All three of the fractions extracted from extruded ginseng evidence significantly higher antioxidant capacity than the controls (0.05

• Food Science and Preservation
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• v.25 no.1
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• pp.155-163
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• 2018

The present study was carried out to investigate the physicochemical properties of hot water extracts of red ginseng powder prepared by two-stage hot air drying method using steamed ginseng and steaming liquid for 2.5 h under high-temperature and high-pressure autoclave condition. The total polyphenols, total flavonoids, total sugar, acid polysaccharides and crude saponin in hot water extracts from red ginseng powder were analyzed and determined, and the flavor components of ginseng were measured using color difference meter and an electronic tongue. The total polyphenol, total flavonoid, total polysaccharide, and acid polysaccharide of the red ginseng hot water extract obtained by autoclaving (ARG) were 9.06 mg GAE/g, 3.38 mg NE/g, 35.22 g/100 g, and 10.90 g/100 g, respectively. The final contents of the total polyphenols, total flavonoids, crude saponin were higher than those determined using other red ginseng methods; the time required for steamed red ginseng production reduced. The total ginsenoside content of ginseng including Rb1 was 10.69 mg/g, which is the lowest ARG. The processing conditions affected the conversion to ginsenosides unique to red ginseng. Red ginseng and steaming liquid obtained from the autoclave are expected to be in need for non-food materials and products as well as foods by improving the flavor components through conversion of red ginseng components into low molecular weight.

• Journal of the East Asian Society of Dietary Life
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• v.17 no.3
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• pp.393-401
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• 2007

This study was performed to investigate the antioxidant activity of Korean ginseng using an ORAC(Oxygen Radical Absorbance Capacity) assay. Four fractions each (80% ethanol, ethyl acetate, water saturated 1-butanol, and water) were obtained from different ginseng samples (White Ginseng: ; 6 yrs-., 5 yrs-., ; Cork Ginseng: ; 5 yrs-., 4 yrs-.). The saponin content of each fraction was quantified by LC/MS, and the antioxidant capacity of the ginseng was measured by the ORAC assay. The ORAC method, which was recently validated using automatic liquid handling systems, has been adapted for manual handling with the use of a conventional fluorescence microplate reader. Furthermore, the ORAC assay provides a direct measure of hydrophilic chain-breaking antioxidant capacity against peroxy radical, which is the exiting and emission of 2,2'-Azobis (2-methylpropionamidine)-dihychloride (AAPH). As a result of our experiments, ginsenosides Rg1 and Rb1 were the two major saponins found in the ginseng samples, and Rc, Rb2, Re, Rd, Rg3, and Rh1 were detected in a small quantities. For the antioxidant capacities of the fractions (80% ethanol, ethyl acetate, butanol, and water), we found that the organic solvent fraction had similar antioxidant capacities, and were higher than the capacity of the water fraction. When determining the similarities in each fraction, only the ethyl acetate fraction showed similarity compared to other fractions (p>0.05). The antioxidant capacity of ginseng may come from phenolic compounds and some nonpolar saponins. However, based on the results of this study, we hypothesize that some acidic polysaccharides and other biological components may contribute to its antioxidant capacity. Additional research is required to determine other possible biological response modifiers that contribute to the antioxidant capacity of ginseng.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.37 no.3
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• pp.349-354
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• 2013

Dried ginseng (DG) is in fact the representing ginseng product in the worldwide market. Although it is made in various packages depending on the processing method, size and age of DG, basic scientific data reporting the chemical components are limited. In this study, 4-year-old curved ginseng (CG), one of the domestic DG products, was selected for further investigation. Eighty-six samples of 30 and 50 piece-grade CG, which are the most widely distributed in the market, were collected for 5 yr. Their major components, such as moisture, total sugar, acidic polysaccharides, total phenolic compounds, and saponins, were analyzed to figure out the standard quality characteristics. The moisture content of all CG samples was less than 15%. The total water-soluble sugar contents were 22.9% to 47.8% and 23.2% to 49.5% in the 30 and 50 piece-grade CG, respectively. The acidic polysaccharide contents were 3.6% to 6.7% and 2.9% to 6.9% in the 30 and 50 piece-grade CG, respectively. The total phenolic compound content was 0.4% to 0.5% in CG, regardless of the piece-grade. The crude saponin content, which represents the active component of ginseng, was over 2% in all samples. In 30 piece-grade CG samples, the contents of major ginsenosides, Rb1, Rf, and Rg1, were 2.2 to 4.7 mg/g, 0.4 to 1.3 mg/g, and 1.6 to 4.0 mg/g, respectively. The ginsenoside contents in 50 piece-grade CG samples were 2.1 to 3.9 mg/g (Rb1), 0.5 to 1.2 mg/g (Rf), and 1.3 to 3.4 mg/g (Rg1). Overall, since there were relatively high standard deviation and coefficient of variation in all the chemical component contents that were assessed, we found some difficulties in showing the CG standard chemical component characteristics by average, standard deviation, and other statistical analysis factors.