• Archives of Pharmacal Research
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• v.26 no.1
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• pp.28-33
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• 2003

Ginsenosides, major active ingredients of Panax ginseng, are known to regulate excitatory ligand-gated ion channel activity such as nicotinic acetylcholine and NMDA receptor channel activity. However, it is not known whether ginsenosides affect inhibitory ligand-gated ion channel activity. We investigated the effect of ginsenosides on human recombinant $GABA_A$ receptor (${\alpha}_1{\beta}_1{\gamma}_{2s}$) channel activity expressed in Xenopus oocytes using a two-electrode voltage-clamp technique. Among the eight individual ginsenosides examined, namely, $Rb_1$, $Rb_2$, Rc, Rd, Re, Rf, $Rg_1$ and $Rg_2$, we found that Rc most potently enhanced the GABA-induced inward peak current ($I_{GABA}$). Ginsenoside Rc alone induced an inward membrane current in certain batches of oocytes expressing the $GABA_A$ receptor. The effect of ginsenoside Rc on $I_{GABA}$ was both dose-dependent and reversible. The half-stimulatory concentration ($EC_{50}$) of ginsenoside Rc was 53.2$\pm$12.3 $\mu$M. Both bicuculline, a $GABA_A$ receptor antagonist, and picrotoxin, a $GABA_A$ channel blocker, blocked the stimulatory effect of ginsenoside Rc on $I_{GABA}$. Niflumic acid (NFA) and 4,4'-diisothiocyanostilbene-2,2'-disulfonic acid (DIDS), both $CI^{-1}$ channel blockers, attenuated the effect of ginsenoside Rc on I$I_{GABA}$. This study suggests that ginsenosides regulated $GABA_A$ receptor expressed in Xenopus oocytes and implies that this regulation might be one of the pharmacological actions of Panax ginseng.

• Preventive Nutrition and Food Science
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• v.13 no.3
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• pp.212-218
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• 2008

We extracted red ginseng with various alcohol concentrations and evaluated total carbohydrate, uronic acid, polyphenols compounds and ginsenoside contents, and yields of alcohol extract. The water extraction (0% alcohol extraction) showed a high level of total carbohydrate content. 10% and 20% alcohol extraction showed the highest uronic acid contents (7,978.8 and $7,872.7\;{\mu}g/mL$ of extract, respectively). The efficiency order of the red ginseng extract (RGE) preparations in liberating polyphenols was: $0{\sim}50%$ alcohol${\geq}\;60%$ alcohol> $70{\sim}90%$ alcohol. Solid contents in RGE were decreased with increased alcohol concentration; the same tendency as with the results of total carbohydrate content. Total ginsenoside contents in $20{\sim}50%$ alcohol extracts showed similar levels ($442,962.9{\sim}47,930.8\;{\mu}g/mL$ of extract). Water extraction showed the lowest ginsenoside content ($14,509.4\;{\mu}g/mL$ of extract). The ginsenoside contents at above 60% alcohol were decreased with increased alcohol concentration. Generally, ginsenoside (Rg2, Rg1, Rf, Re, Rd, Rb2, Rc and Rb1) contents were increased with increased alcohol concentrations. However, Rg3 content was decreased with increases in alcohol concentration.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.44 no.11
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• pp.1708-1714
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• 2015

Fermented red ginseng concentrate is known as a healthy food source, whereas it has off-flavor such as bitterness and sour flavor based on fermentation. ${\beta}$- and ${\gamma}$-cyclodextrin (CD) were used to encapsulate the off-flavor of fermented red ginseng concentrate by using response surface methodology design on ${\beta}$- and ${\gamma}-CD$ combination. The reducing effects were analyzed by sensory evaluation for bitter and sour tastes, ginsenoside Rb1, and total acidity. The optimized mixing ratio of ${\beta}$- and ${\gamma}-CD$ for reducing bitterness was the least expected value of 2.07 at ${\beta}-CD$ 3.74% versus the soluble solid content of fermented red ginseng concentrate and the ${\gamma}-CD$ 20.63% mixture. The encapsulation effects of ginsenoside Rb1 were the most expected value of 96.75% at ${\beta}-CD$ 3.47% and ${\gamma}-CD$ 19.89% mixture. The encapsulation effects of sour taste were the least expected value of 5.63 at ${\beta}-CD$ 9.34% and ${\gamma}-CD$ 9.96% mixture. The encapsulation effects of lactic acid were the most expected value of 67.73% at ${\beta}-CD$ 16.0% and ${\gamma}-CD$ 13.18% mixture. Based on encapsulation and each optimized combination, the most effective entrapping ${\beta}$-and ${\gamma}-CD$ combination ratio was ${\beta}-CD$ 10% and ${\gamma}-CD$ 13%.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.13 no.1
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• pp.57-66
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• 1981

An effective method for isolation of the major components of ginseng saponin such as $ginsenoside-Rb_{1},\;-Rb_2,$ -Rc, -Rd, -Re and $-Rg_1$, and the minor components such as ginsenoside-Rf, $-Rg_2,\;and-Rh_1$, was developed and reported in previous papers (J. Korean Agr. Chem. Soc., 23(4), 199 and 206(1980) The conditions and procedures used for isolation and identification for ginsenosides described in the previous papers were not sufficient enough for clean separation of minor components, $ginsenoside-Rh_1,\;and-Rh_2$. In this work, modifications in extraction method and in mobile phase for HPLC were attempted. It was found that application of ethyl acetate extraction at $60^{\circ}C$ for 3 hr on crude saponin resulted in a removal of diol group saponin from crude saponin which made it possible for using higher portion of acetonitrile in mobile phase. The mixed solvents of acetonitrile : water (92 : 8 and 94 : 6) gave excellent resolution of $ginsenoside-Rh_1\;and\;-Rh_2$.

• Journal of the Society of Cosmetic Scientists of Korea
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• v.22 no.2
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• pp.161-166
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• 1996

Ginseng has been used as miraculous panacea since ancient times in oriental countries. In spite of voluminous work, ginseng still remains mysterious herb, but its value is becoming more recognized in the pharmaceutical and cosmetic fields. In this study, we investigated the effect of Panax ginseng on wound healing using two experimental methods. First, we studied the effect of ginseng on artificial wound of cultured human keratinocyte monolayer. Indivisual components from ginseng (ginsenoside Rb2, Rc, Re, Rg1, and panasenoside) and giseng extrats were examined. Of them, compared with control, ginsenoside Rb2 and Rg1 needed much shorter time to recover original appearance of momolayer. Second, we investigated the effect of ginseng on acute injury on dorsal skin of hairless mice. We here observed that ginseng has prominent effect than Madecasol(asiaticoside), a well known wound healing agent. These results were deduced that ginseng promoted wound healing in the wound region due to its stimulation of biosynthesis of various endogeneous materials that have relation to wound healing. Furthermore, we conformed that ginsenoside Rg1 exhibited anti-inflammatory activity on rat paw edema induced by carageenan. These results suggest that Panax ginseng C.A Meyer can be used in the cosmetics in that its wound healing and anti-inflammatory effects.

• Applied Biological Chemistry
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• v.51 no.3
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• pp.188-193
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• 2008

This study was conducted to investigate the effect of moisture content and pressure on extraction yield, crude saponins and ginsenoside contents of puffed Korean ginseng. Puffed ginsengs showed relatively higher extraction yield ($50.0{\sim}62.1%$) and amounts of crude saponins ($19.6{\sim}48.8$ mg/g ginseng) than no-puffed ginseng ($37.6{\pm}0.8%$ and $11.0{\pm}1.0$ mg/g ginseng), respectively. The highest extraction yield and amounts of crude saponins were obtained in 8.0% moisture content sample puffed at 10 $kg_f/cm^2$. In HPLC analysis, amounts of measured major ginsenosides (Rb1, Rb2, Rc, Rd, Re, and Rg1) decreased with increasing puffing pressure, yet contents of almost all major gin senosides were higher than control (no-puffed). On the other hand, ginsenoside Rg3 were produced after puffing suggesting that chemical structure of some ginsenosides might be altered during the puffing process. These results indicate that puffing can increase the extraction yield and crude saponin contents and it could influence the ginsenoside composition.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.39 no.3
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• pp.313-322
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• 2018

Objectives: Wild ginseng pharmacopuncture is widely used in oriental medicine. However, there is no standard method for efficiently extracting the active ingredient. In this study, in order to determine an efficient extraction method, wild ginseng was extracted by the distillation and 70% ethanol reflux methods, respectively. In comparing each extract, the index compounds were analyzed, and antioxidant activity was measured. Methods: The index compounds, ginsenoside Rg1 and ginsenoside Rb1, were detected using high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Antioxidative activities of total phenolic compounds, DPPH (${\alpha}$, ${\alpha}$-diphenyl-${\beta}$-picrylhydrazyl), ABTS (2,2'-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulphonic acid)) and FRAP (ferric reducing antioxidant power) were measured to compare their bioactivities. Since saponin is known to be hemolytic, the hemolytic activity of each extract was compared. Results: The index compounds were analyzed. Nothing was detected in the wild ginseng distilled extracts (WGDE). In the wild ginseng 70% ethanol reflux extracts (WGEE), ginsenoside Rg1 was 3.66 mg/g, and ginsenoside Rb1 was 16.70 mg/g. WGEE showed higher levels than WGDE in all antioxidative activities. In the hemolytic test, the extracts showed almost no toxicity, but WGEE showed lower toxicity than WGDE. Conclusions: In this study, it was concluded that WGEE is more advantageous than WGDE in the detection of index compounds and bioactivity. However, additional studies of additional extraction methods and other bioactivity tests are needed.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.13 no.12
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• pp.6191-6196
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• 2012

Aims and Background: Traditional chemotherapy strategies for human leukemia commonly use drugs based on cytotoxicity to eradicate cancer cells. One predicament is that substantial damage to normal tissues is likely to occur in the course of standard treatments. Obviously, it is urgent to explore therapies that can effectively eliminate malignant cells without affecting normal cells. Our previous studies indicated that ginsenoside $Rg_1$ ($Rg_1$), a major active pharmacological ingredient of ginseng, could delay normal hematopoietic stem cell senescence. However, whether $Rg_1$ can induce cancer cell senescence is still unclear. Methods: In the current study, human leukemia K562 cells were subjected to $Rg_1$ exposure. The optimal drug concentration and duration with K562 cells was obtained by MTT colorimetric test. Effects of $Rg_1$ on cell cycle were analyzed using flow cytometry and by SA-${\beta}$-Gal staining. Colony-forming ability was measured by colony-assay. Telomere lengths were assessed by Southern blotting and expression of senescence-associated proteins P21, P16 and RB by Western blotting. Ultrastructural morphology changes were observed by transmission electron microscopy. Results: K562 cells demonstrated a maximum proliferation inhibition rate with an $Rg_1$ concentration of $20{\mu}\;mol{\cdot}L^{-1}$ for 48h, the cells exhibiting dramatic morphological alterations including an enlarged and flat cellular morphology, larger mitochondria and increased number of lysosomes. Senescence associated-${\beta}$-galactosidase (SA-${\beta}$-Gal) activity was increased. K562 cells also had decreased ability for colony formation, and shortened telomere length as well as reduction of proliferating potential and arrestin $G_2$/M phase after $Rg_1$ interaction. The senescence associated proteins P21, P16 and RB were significantly up-regulated. Conclusion: Ginsenoside $Rg_1$ can induce a state of senescence in human leukemia K562 cells, which is associated with p21-Rb and p16-Rb pathways.

• Journal of agriculture & life science
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• v.44 no.3
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• pp.61-67
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• 2010

This study was conducted to investigate the antioxidant activities and ginsenoside compositions of 4-year-old cultured ginseng roots (4CGR), 4-year-old mountain ginseng roots (4MGR) and leaves (4MGL), and 8-year-old mountain ginseng roots (MGR) and leaves (8MGL). Ginseng root and leaves were extracted with water and 80% ethanol. Crude saponin content of 4CGR was 3.85% (d.b.) and the contents of 4MGR, 4MGL, 8MGR and 8MGL were 6.75, 8.57, 6.53 and 7.54% (d.b.), respectively. 4CGR showed the highest content of ginsenoside-$Rh_1$ (6.07 mg/g), 4MGR showed the highest content of ginsenoside-$Rb_1$ (11.63 mg/g), 4MGL showed the highest content of ginsenoside-Re (24.35 mg/g), 8MGR showed the highest content of ginsenoside-$Rh_1$ (19.77 mg/g), and 8MGL showed the highest content of ginsenoside-Re (20.43 mg/g). Total antioxidant activity (AEAC) was ranged from 5.56 at 4MGR to 20.67 mg AA eq/g at 8MGL.

• Archives of Pharmacal Research
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• v.5 no.1
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• pp.7-12
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• 1982

Ginsenosides Rb1, Rb2, Rc, Rd, Re, Rf and Rg1 were effectively isolated from ginseng root by preparative liquid chromatography (LC) on two PrepPAK-500/c18 cartridges in series and semipreparative LC on a .mu. Bondapak cabohydrate analysis column, a .mu.Bondapak C18 column or a .mu. Porasil column. The identities of the isolated ginsenosides were confirmed by analytical high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and infrared spectrophotometry. By this method large scale isolation of pure ginsenosides was efficiently accomplished.