• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.21 no.3
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• pp.147-152
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• 1997

Ginsenosides $Rh_1$ and $Rh_2$ Induced the differentiation of F9 teratocarcinoma stem cells. These agents are structurally similar to the steroid hormones, therefore, we speculated that the steroid receptor (s) or novel nuclear receptor (s) could be involved in the differentiation process induces by them. Based on this speculation, we tried to alone new nuclear receptors with reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) method by isolating RNA from F9 teratocarcinoma cells induced by ginsenosides. By using RT-PCR with degenerated primers from highly conserved DNA binding domain of nuclear receptors, we identified several nuclear receptors. In northern blot analysis we found that these clones are transcriptionally regulated by ginsenoside Rhl or Rh2 treatment. Further characterizations of these clones are needed to identify the mechanism of gene expression, which has an important role in the differentiation of F9 cells induced by ginsenosides.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.47 no.2
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• pp.255-264
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• 2023

Background: Red ginseng (RG) alleviates psychiatric disorders. Fermented red ginseng (fRG) alleviates stress-induced gut inflammation. Gut dysbiosis causes psychiatric disorders with gut inflammation. To understand the gut microbiota-mediated action mechanism of RG and fRG against anxiety/depression (AD), we investigated the effects of RG, fRG, ginsenoside Rd, and 20(S)-β-D-glucopyranosyl protopanaxadiol (CK) on gut microbiota dysbiosis-induced AD and colitis in mice. Methods: Mice with AD and colitis were prepared by exposing to immobilization stress (IS) or transplanting the feces of patients with ulcerative colitis and depression (UCDF). AD-like behaviors were measured in the elevated plus maze, light/dark transition, forced swimming, and tail suspension tests. Results: Oral gavage of UCDF increased AD-like behaviors and induced neuroinflammation, gastrointestinal inflammation, and gut microbiota fluctuation in mice. Oral administration of fRG or RG treatment reduced UCDF-induced AD-like behaviors, hippocampal and hypothalamic IL-6 expression, and blood corticosterone level, whereas UCDF-suppressed hippocampal BDNF⁺NeuN⁺ cell population and dopamine and hypothalamic serotonin levels increased. Furthermore, their treatments suppressed UCDF-induced colonic inflammation and partially restored UCDF-induced gut microbiota fluctuation. Oral administration of fRG, RG, Rd, or CK also decreased IS-induced AD-like behaviors, blood IL-6 and corticosterone and colonic IL-6 and TNF-α levels, and gut dysbiosis, while IS-suppressed hypothalamic dopamine and serotonin levels increased. Conclusion: Oral gavage of UCDF caused AD, neuroinflammation, and gastrointestinal inflammation in mice. fRG mitigated AD and colitis in UCDF-exposed mice by the regulation of the microbiota-gut-brain axis and IS-exposed mice by the regulation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.42 no.4
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• pp.504-511
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• 2018

Background: The biological activities of ginseng saponins (ginsenosides) are associated with type, number, and position of sugar moieties linked to aglycone skeletons. Deglycosylated minor ginsenosides are known to be more biologically active than major ginsenosides. Accordingly, the deglycosylation of major ginsenosides can provide the multibioactive effects of ginsenosides. The purpose of this study was to transform ginsenoside Rb2, one of the protopanaxadiol-type major ginsenosides, into minor ginsenosides using ${\beta}$-glycosidase (BG-1) purified from Armillaria mellea mycelium. Methods: Ginsenoside Rb2 was hydrolyzed by using BG-1; the hydrolytic properties of Rb2 by BG-1 were also characterized. In addition, the influence of reaction conditions such as reaction time, pH, and temperature, and transformation pathways of Rb2, Rd, F2, compound O (C-O), and C-Y by treatment with BG-1 were investigated. Results: BG-1 first hydrolyzes 3-O-outer ${\beta}$-$\text\tiny{D}$-glucoside of Rb2, then 3-O-${\beta}$-$\text\tiny{D}$-glucoside of C-O into C-Y. C-Y was gradually converted into C-K with a prolonged reaction time, but the pathway of Rb2 ${\rightarrow}$ Rd ${\rightarrow}$ F2 ${\rightarrow}$ C-K was not observed. The optimum reaction conditions for C-Y and C-K formation from Rb2 by BG-1 were pH 4.0-4.5, temperature $45-60^{\circ}C$, and reaction time 72-96 h. Conclusion: ${\beta}$-Glycosidase purified from A. mellea mycelium can be efficiently used to transform Rb2 into C-Y and C-K. To our best knowledge, this is the first result of transformation from Rb2 into C-Y and C-K by basidiomycete mushroom enzyme.

• KOREAN JOURNAL OF CROP SCIENCE
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• v.29 no.4
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• pp.342-349
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• 1984

In order to obtain the basic information for the development of ginseng varieties with high saponin contents. saponin contents and ginsenosides of Panax ginseng (Korean ginseng) and Panax quinquefolium (American ginseng) grown under the same environmental conditions were analysed. Crude saponin contents of root and aerial parts were more in Panax quinquefolium than in Panax ginseng, and aerial parts had more saponin contents in comparison with a root. Protopanaxatriol saponin was greatly more in the aerial parts of ginseng while more amount of protopanaxadiol saponins were detected in the root. As for the ginsenosides, the patterns of ginsenosides detected in total saponin of the aerial parts were not different between two species, Panax ginseng and Panax quinquefolium, but the root ginsenoside patterns were quite different. Ginsenosides such as Rg$_2$, R$_{f}$. R$_{a}$ and R$_{o}$ were not detected in the root of Panax quinquefolium (American ginseng).).).).

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.37 no.4
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• pp.457-467
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• 2013

A quick and simple method for simultaneous determination of the 30 ginsenosides (ginsenoside Ro, Rb1, Rb2, Rc, Rd, Re, Rf, Rg1, 20(S)-Rg2, 20(R)-Rg2, 20(S)-Rg3, 20(R)-Rg3, 20(S)-Rh1, 20(S)-Rh2, 20(R)-Rh2, F1, F2, F4, Ra1, Rg6, Rh4, Rk3, Rg5, Rk1, Rb3, Rk2, Rh3, compound Y, compound K, and notoginsenoside R1) in Panax ginseng preparations was developed and validated by an ultra performance liquid chromatography photo diode array detector. The separation of the 30 ginsenosides was efficiently undertaken on the Acquity BEH C-18 column with gradient elution with phosphoric acids. Especially the chromatogram of the ginsenoside Ro was dramatically enhanced by adding phosphoric acid. Under optimized conditions, the detection limits were 0.4 to 1.7 mg/L and the calibration curves of the peak areas for the 30 ginsenosides were linear over three orders of magnitude with a correlation coefficients greater than 0.999. The accuracy of the method was tested by a recovery measurement of the spiked samples which yielded good results of 89% to 118%. From these overall results, the proposed method may be helpful in the development and quality of P. ginseng preparations because of its wide range of applications due to the simultaneous analysis of many kinds of ginsenosides.

• Proceedings of the PSK Conference
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• 2002.10a
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• pp.334.3-334.3
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• 2002

Ginseng(the root of Panax ginseng C.A. Meyer, Araliaceae) has been used for thousands of years as a traditional medicine in Asian countries. The main components of Ginseng are ginsenoside Rb1, Rb2 and Rc. These compounds are transformed by intestinal microflora. The main metabolite of ginsenosides was compoud K (IH-901). The transformed compound K shows an antimetastic or anticarcinogenic effect by blocking tumor invasion or preventing chromosomal aberration and tumorigenesis. Therefore. we isolated and characterzed ginseng saponin-metabolizing bacteria from human intestinal microffora. Among 200 tested intestinal bacteria. we found 78 bacteris to transform glnseng senseng saponins to compound K. These bacteria were seperated into three group: the first group highy produced ginsenside Rd (29) the second grop produced potently ginsenoside F2 (21) and the third produced compound K(28)

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.27 no.3
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• pp.135-140
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• 2003

North American ginseng (Panax quinquefolius L.) was analysed for total ginsenosides and ten major ginsenosides (R$_{0}$ , Rb$_1$, Rb$_2$, Rc, Rd, Re, Rf, Rg$_1$, pseudoginsenoside F$_{11}$ and gypenoside XVII), and variations in ginsenoside content with age of plant (over a four-year-period) and geographic location (Ontario versus British Columbia) were investigated. In the roots the total ginsenoside content increased with age up to 58-100 mgㆍg$^{-1}$ dry weights in the fourth year, but in leaves it remained constant over time. Roots and leaves, moreover, had different proportions of individual ginsenosides. The most abundant ginsenosides were Rb$_1$ (56mgㆍg$^{-1}$ for Ontario; 37mgㆍg$^{-1}$ for British Columbia) and Re (21mgㆍg$^{-1}$ for Ontario; 15 mgㆍg$^{-1}$ for British Columbia) in roots, and Rd (28-38 mgㆍg$^{-1}$ ), Re (20-25 mgㆍg$^{-1}$ ), and Rb$_2$ (13-19 mgㆍg$^{-1}$ ) in leaves. Measurable quantities of Rf were found in leaves (0.4-1.8 mgㆍg$^{-1}$ ) but not in roots or stems. Our results show that ginsenoside profiles in general, and Rf in particular, could be used for chemical fingerprinting to distinguish the different parts of the ginseng plant, and that ginseng leaves could be valuable sources of the ginsenosides Rd, Re, and Rb$_2$.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.29 no.2
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• pp.222-229
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• 2019

Korean ginseng (Panax ginseng Meyer) was processed by drying, steaming, or puffing, and the effects of these processes on the ginsenoside profile were investigated. The main root of 4-year-old raw Korean ginseng was dried to produce white ginseng. Steaming, followed by drying, was employed to produce red or black ginseng. In addition, these three varieties of processed ginseng were puffed using a rotational puffing gun. Puffed ginseng showed significantly higher extraction yields of ginsenosides (49.87-58.60 g solid extract/100 g of sample) and crude saponin content (59.40-63.87 mg saponin/g of dried ginseng) than non-puffed ginseng, respectively. Moreover, puffing effectively transformed the major ginsenosides (Rb1, Rb2, Rc, Rd, Re, and Rg1) of ginseng into minor ones (F2, Rg3, Rk1, and Rg5), comparable to the steaming process effect on the levels of the transformed ginsenosides. However, steaming takes much longer (4 to 36 days) than puffing (less than 30 min) for ginsenoside transformation. Consequently, puffing may be an effective and economical technique for enhancing the extraction yield and levels of minor ginsenosides responsible for the major biological activities of ginseng.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.47 no.1
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• pp.106-116
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• 2023

Background: Pirarubicin (THP) is an anthracycline antibiotic used to treat various malignancies in humans. The clinical usefulness of THP is unfortunately limited by its dose-related cardiotoxicity. Ginsenoside F1 (GF1) is a metabolite formed when the ginsenosides Re and Rg1 are hydrolyzed. However, the protective effects and underlying mechanisms of GF1 on THP-induced cardiotoxicity remain unclear. Methods: We investigated the anti-apoptotic and anti-oxidative stress effects of GF1 on an in vitro model, using H9c2 cells stimulated by THP, plus trigonelline or AKT inhibitor imidazoquinoxaline (IMQ), as well as an in vivo model using THP-induced cardiotoxicity in rats. Using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent test, the levels of malondialdehyde (MDA), brain natriuretic peptide (BNP), creatine kinase (CK-MB), cardiac troponin (c-TnT), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione (GSH) were determined. Nuclear factor (erythroid-derived2)-like 2 (Nrf2) and the expression of Nrf2 target genes, including heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1), glutathione-S-transferase (Gst), glutamate-cysteine ligase modifier subunit (GCLM), and expression levels of AKT/Bcl-2 signaling pathway proteins were detected using Western blot analysis. Results: THP-induced myocardial histopathological damage, electrocardiogram (ECG) abnormalities, and cardiac dysfunction were reduced in vivo by GF1. GF1 also decreased MDA, BNP, CK-MB, c-TnT, and LDH levels in the serum, while raising SOD and GSH levels. GF1 boosted Nrf2 nuclear translocation and Nrf2 target gene expression, including HO-1, Gst, and GCLM. Furthermore, GF1 regulated apoptosis by activating AKT/Bcl-2 signaling pathways. Employing Nrf2 inhibitor trigonelline and AKT inhibitor IMQ revealed that GF1 lacked antioxidant and anti-apoptotic effects. Conclusion: In conclusion, GF1 was found to alleviate THP-induced cardiotoxicity via modulating Nrf2 and AKT/Bcl-2 signaling pathways, ultimately alleviating myocardial oxidative stress and apoptosis.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.45 no.4
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• pp.490-497
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• 2021

Background and objective: Synthetic ginsenoside compounds G-Rp (1,3, and 4) and natural ginsenosides in Panax ginseng 20(S)-Rg3, Rg6, F4 and Ro have inhibitory actions on human platelets. However, the inhibitory mechanism of ginsenoside Rk1 (G-Rk1) is still unclear thus, we initiated investigation of the anti-platelet mechanism by G-Rk1 from Panax ginseng. Methodology: Our study focused to investigate the action of G-Rk1 on agonist-stimulated human platelet aggregation, inhibition of platelet signaling molecules such as fibrinogen binding with integrin α_IIbβ₃ using flow cytometry, intracellular calcium mobilization, fibronectin adhesion, dense granule secretion, and thromboxane B2 secretion. Thrombin-induced clot retraction was also observed in human platelets. Key Results: Collagen, thrombin, and U46619-stimulated human platelet aggregation were dose-dependently inhibited by G-Rk1, while it demonstrated a more effective suppression on collagen-stimulated platelet aggregation using human platelets. Moreover, G-Rk1 suppressed collagen-induced elevation of Ca²⁺ release from endoplasmic reticulum, granule release, and α_IIbβ₃ activity without any cytotoxicity. Conclusions and implications: These results indicate that G-Rk1 possess strong anti-platelet effect, proposing a new drug candidate for treatment and prevention of platelet-mediated thrombosis in cardiovascular disease.