• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.33 no.4
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• pp.260-267
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• 2009

Recent studies have shown that Panax ginseng has a variety of beneficial effects on the cardiovascular system. Homocysteine (Hcy), which is derived from methionine, has been closely associated with the increased risk of cardiovascular diseases. In the present study, whether the in-vivo long-term co-administration of ginseng total saponins (GTS), active ingredients of Panax ginseng, with L-methionine (Met) inhibits methionine-induced hyperhomocysteine (HHcy) and H-Hcy-induced cardiovascular dysfunctions was investigated, and it was found that the plasma Hcy level, which was measured after 30 and 60 days, in the GTS+Met co-administration group was more significantly reduced than in the Metalone-treatment group. The left-ventricle (LV) wall thickness of the heart was likewise examined in each treatment group, and it was found that the co-administration of GTS with Met significantly reduced the Met-induced LV wall thickness. The results of the study indicate that the in-vivo long-term co-administration of GTS with Met not only inhibited H-Hcy induced by long-term Met-alone administration but also attenuated the H-Hcy-induced cardiovascular dysfunctions in rats.

• Journal of Veterinary Clinics
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• v.15 no.1
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• pp.104-109
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• 1998

고양이 말초혈액 다형핵백혈구(PMNC)의 유주성에 있어서 인삼 saponins(ginseng total ssponin(GTS), ginseng PT saponin(GfT) 및 ginseng PD saponin(GPD))의 면역증강 효과를 검토하였다. PMNC에 대한 유주성을 hoyden chamber 변법으로 측정한 결과, GTS, GPT, GPD는 PMNC에 대해 직접적인 유주활성을 나타내지 않았다. 또한 인삼 saponins을 첨가하여 배양한 PMNC 배양상충액의 경우게는 미약한 유주활성을 나타내었다. 그러나 GPf및 GPD를 첨가하여 배양한 말초혈액 단핵구세포(MNC)배양상충액에서는 PMNC의 유주활성이 현저하게 증가하였다. PMNC에 대해 유주활성이 인정된 GPI)로 배양한 MNC 배양상충액을 이용하여 checkerboard assay를 실시한 결과 배양상충액의 농도차에 의존하는 진의 유주활성임을 알 수 있었다. 이상의 결과로부터 인삼 saponine 중 GPT 및 GPD가 고양 이 말초혈액 다형핵백혈구의 유주성을 중강시키는 효과가 있으며, 이것은 이들 saponins에 의해 활성화된 단핵구세포에서 분비되는 유주성인자에 의해 다형핵백혈구의 유주활성이 증 강되는 것으로 사료되었다.

• The Korean Journal of Nuclear Medicine
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• v.36 no.5
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• pp.277-287
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• 2002

Purpose and Methods: We investigated the effect of ginseng total saponin (GTS) on nicotine-induced dopamine (DA) release in the striatum and nucleus accumbens of freely moving rats using in vivo microdialysis technique. Results: Systemic pretreatment with GTS decreased striatal DA release induced by local infusion of nicotine into the striatum. However, GTS had no effect on the resting levels of extracellular DA in the striatum. GTS also blocked nicotine-induced DA release in the nucleus accumbens. Conclusion: The results of the present study suggest that GTS acts on the DA terminals to prevent DA release induced by nicotine. This may reflect the blocking effect of GTS on behavioral hyperactivity induced by psychostimulants.

• Archives of Pharmacal Research
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• v.28 no.9
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• pp.995-1001
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• 2005

Morphine-induced analgesia has been shown to be antagonized by ginseng total saponins (GTS), which also inhibit the development of analgesic tolerance to and physical dependence on morphine. GTS is involved in both of these processes by inhibiting morphine-6-dehydrogenase, which catalyzes the synthesis of morphinone from morphine, and by increasing the level of hepatic glutathione, which participates in the toxicity response. Thus, the dual actions of ginseng are associated with the detoxification of morphine. In addition, the inhibitory or facilitated effects of GTS on electrically evoked contractions in guinea pig ileum (I-L-receptors) and mouse vas deferens $(\delta-receptors)$ are not mediated through opioid receptors, suggesting the involvement of non-opioid mechanisms. GTS also attenuates hyperactivity, reverse tolerance (behavioral sensitization), and conditioned place preference induced by psychotropic agents, such as methamphetamine, cocaine, and morphine. These effects of GTS may be attributed to complex pharmacological actions between dopamine receptors and a serotonergic/adenosine $A_{2A}1\delta-opioid$ receptor complex. Ginsenosides also attenuate the morphine-induced cAMP signaling pathway. Together, the results suggest that GTS may be useful in the prevention and therapy of the behavioral side effects induced by psychotropic agents.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.29 no.2
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• pp.94-99
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• 2005

In the previous study, we reported that the in viかo inhibitory effect of ginsenosides, active ingredient of Panax ginseng, on $5-HT_{3A}$ receptor channel activity is coupled to in vivo anti-vomiting and anti-nausea effect. In the present study, we further investigated that the inhibitory effect of ginsenosides, active ingredient of Panax ginseng, on 5-HT3A receptor channel activity is also coupled to attenuation of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), which is induced by colorectal distention (CRD) and $0.6\%$ acetic acid treatment. The CRD-induced visceral pains induced by CRD and acetic acid treatment are measured by frequency of contractions of the external oblique muscle in conscious rats. Treatment of GTS significantly inhibited CRD-induced visceral pain with dose-dependent manner. The $EC_{50}$ was $5.5{\pm}4.7$ mg/kg ($95\%$ confidence intervals: 1.2-15.7) and the antinociceptive effect of GTS on visceral pain was persistent for 4 h. We also compared the effects of protopanaxadiol (PD) ginsenosides and protopanaxatriol (PT) ginsenosides with saline on acetic acid-and CRD-induced visceral pain, and found that protopanaxatriol (PT) ginsenosides was much more potent than PD ginsenosides in attenuating CRD-induced visceral pain. These results indicate that U ginsenosides of Panax ginseng are components far attenuation of experimentally CRD-induced visceral pains.

• Proceedings of the Ginseng society Conference
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• 2005.11a
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• pp.41-63
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• 2005

Ginseng has been useful for the treatment of diverse disease in oriental countries for thousands of years. In addition, a folk medicine prescribed by seven herbal drugs including Panax ginseng has been antinarcotics in the treatment of morphine-dependent patients. Many articles have been reported on these works. Therefore, we review the protective effects of Panax ginseng on the neurotoxicity induced by abuse drugs. Ginseng total saponins (GTS) extracted and isolated by Panax ginseng antagonized morphine-induced analgesia, and inhibited the development of analgesic tolerance to and physical dependence on morphine. CTS inhibited morphine-6 dehydrogenase, which catalyzes production of mophinone from morphine, and increased hepatic glutathione level responsible to toxicity. Therefore, wehypothesized that these dual actions of ginseng can be associated with the detoxication of morphine. In addition, the inhibitory or facilitated effects of GTS on electrically evoked contraction in guinea pig ileum (${\mu}$-receptors) and mouse vas deferens(${\delta}$-receptors) were not mediated through opioid receptors, suggesting non-opioid mechanisms. On the hand, antagonism of U-50,488H (${\kappa}$-agonist)-induced antinociception is mediated by serotonergic mechanisms. GTS also inhibited hyperactivity, reverse tolerance (sensitization) and conditioned place preference-induced by psychostimulants such as methamphetamine, cocaine and morphine. On the other hand, GTS reduced the dopamine levels induced by methamphetamine. Moreover, GTS blocked the development of dopamine receptor activation, showing antidopaminergic effect. We suggest that GTS prevent the methamphetamine-induced striatal dopaminergic neurotoxicity. In addition, Ginsenoside also attenuates morphine-induced CAMP signaling pathway. These results suggested that GTS might be useful for the therapy of the adverse actions of drugs with abuse liability.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Applied Pharmacology
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• 2005.11a
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• pp.49-66
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• 2005

Panax ginseng has been useful for the treatment of diverse disease in oriental countries for thousands of years. In addition, a folk medicine prescribed by seven herbal drugs including Panax ginseng has been antinarcotics in the treatment of morphine-dependent patients. Many articles have been reported on these works. Therefore, we review the protective effects of Panax ginseng on the neurotoxicity induced by abuse drugs. Ginseng total saponins (GTS) extracted and isolated by Panax ginseng antagonized Morphine-induced analgesia, and inhibited the development of analgesic tolerance to and physical dependence on morphine. GTS inhibited morphine-6 dehydrogenase, which catalyzes production of mophinone from morphine, and increased hepatic glutathione level responsible to toxicity. Therefore, we hypothesized that these dual actions of ginseng can be associated with the detoxication of morphine. In addition, the inhibitory or facilitated effects of GTS on electrically evoked contraction in guinea pig ileum ($\mu$-receptors) and mouse vas deferens($\delta$-receptors) were not mediated through opioid receptors, suggesting non-opioid mechanisms. On the hand, antagonism of U-50,488H ($\kappa$-agonist)-induced antinociception is mediated by serotonergic mechanisms. GTS also inhibited hyperactivity, reverse tolerance (sensitization) and conditioned place preference-induced by psychostimulants such as methamphetamine, cocaine and morphine. On the other hand, GTS reduced the dopamine levels induced by methamphetamine. Moreover, GTS blocked the development of dopamine receptor activation, showing antidopaminergic effect. We suggest that GTS Prevent the methamphetamine-induced striatal dopaminergic neurotoxicity. In addition, Ginsenoside also attenuates morphine-induced cAMP signaling pathway. These results suggested that GTS might be useful for the therapy of the adverse actions of drugs with abuse liability.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.24 no.2
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• pp.79-82
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• 2000

Saponins, the major component of ginseng root, mediate the pharmacological action of the ginseng. It has been reported that ginseng roots have protective effect against various toxins. In this study, the effects of ginseng total saponin (GTS) on tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-$\alpha$) production induced by bacterial toxin was investigated. TNF-$\alpha$ level in lipopolysaccharides (LPS)-activated serum was remarkably reduced by intraperitoneal administration (50 mg/kg)of ginseng total saponin (GTS) into mice. The inhibitory effect against TNF-$\alpha$ production was not significant when GTS was given after the LPS injection, and by oral administration. These results suggested that ginseng root may have protective activity against liver damage accompanying the overproduction of TNF-$\alpha$ and GTS is the active component of ginseng.

• Journal of Veterinary Clinics
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• v.15 no.1
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• pp.116-123
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• 1998

고양이 말초혈액 탐식세포(단핵구세포(MNC) 및 다형핵백혈구(PMNC))의 탐식능 에 있어서 인삼 saponin(ginseng total saponin(G75), ginseng PT saponin(GPT) 및 ginseng PD saponin(GPD))의 면역증강 효과를 flow cytometry를 이용하여 분석하였다. 인삼 ssponins을 직접 첨가하여 배양한 MNC 및 PMNC에서는 탐식중강 효과가 나타나지 않았다. 각각의 인삼 saponin을 첨가하여 배양한 PMNC 및 MNC 배양상충액의 존재하에 PMNC 및 MNC의 탐식능을 겅토한 결과, MNC의 탐식능은 Gff 첨가 PMNC 배양상충액과 GTS 및 GPT 첨가 MNC 배양상충액의 존재하에서 약간의 탐식증강 효과를 보였다. PMNC 탐식능의 경우에는 GPD 첨가 PMNC 배양상충액에서 미약한 탐식증강 효과가 나타났으나, 각각의 인 삼 saponin 첨가 MNC 배양상충액 존재하에서는 모두 현저한 탐식중강 효과를 나타내었다. 이상의 결과로부터 고양이 말초혈액 탐식세포의 탐식증강 효과는 인삼 saponin의 직접적인 작용보다는 인삼 saponin에 의해 활성화된 단핵구세포에서 분비되는 가용성물질에 의해 단 핵구세포보다는 다형핵백혈구에서 현저하게 탐식효과가 증강되는 것으로 판단되었다.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.31 no.4
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• pp.210-216
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• 2007

The backbone structure of ginsenosides, active ingredients of Panax ginseng, is similar with that of sterol, especially cholesterol. Caenorhabditis elegans (c. elegans) is one of free living nematodes and is well-established animal model for biochemical and genetic studies. C. elegans cannot synthesize de novo cholesterol, although cholesterol is essential requirement for its growth and development. In the present study, we investigated the effects of Korean red ginseng total extract (KRGE), ginseng total saponins (GTS) on life span of C. elegans in cholesterol-deprived and -fed medium. Cholesterol deprivation caused damages on life span of worms throughout F1 to F3 generations. KRGE or GTS supplement to cholesterol-deprived medium restored the life span of worms as much as cholesterol alone-fed medium. In study to identify which ginsenosides are responsible for life span restoring effects of KRGE, we found that ginsenoside Rc supplement not only restored life span of worms grown in cholesterol-deprived medium but also prolonged life span of worms grown in cholesterol-fed medium. These results show a possibility that ginsenosides could be utilized by C. elegans as a sterol substitute and further indicate that ginsenoside Rc is the effective component of Korean red ginseng that prolongs the life span of C. elegans.