• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.18 no.4
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• pp.1021-1027
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• 2004

Panax ginseng has been used as a typical tonic medicine in Asian countries, such as Korea, China, and Japan. It has been reported that ginsenoside Rg1 in Panax ginseng increases the proportion of T helper cells in the whole T cells and promotes IL-2 gene expression in murine splenocytes. These studies imply that ginsenoside Rg1 increases the immune activity of CD4+ T cell, however the exact mechanism of ginsenoside Rg1 on helper T cell remains to be verified. The present study tried to elucidate the direct effect of Rg1 on helper T cell s activities and its Th1/Th2 lineage development. The results demonstrated that ginsenoside Rg1 had not mitogenic effects on the unstimulated CD4+ T cell, but augmented CD4+ T cell proliferation upon activating with anti-CD3/anti-CD28 antibodies in a dose dependent manner. Rg1 also enhanced the expression of cell surface protein CD69 on CD4+ T cell. In Th0 condition, ginsenoside Rg1 increases the expression of IL-2 mRNA, and enhances the expression of IL-4 mRNA on CD4+ T cells, suggesting Rg1 prefer to induce Th2 lineage development. In addition, ginsenoside Rg1 increases IL-4 secreting CD4+ T cell under Th2 skewed condition, while decreases IFN-γ secreting cell in Th1 polarizing condition. Thus, Rg1 enhances Th2 lineage development from naive CD4+ T cell both by increasing Th2 specific cytokine secretion and by repressing Th1 specific cytokine production. Therefore, these results suggest that ginsenoside Rg1 might be desirable agent for enhancing CD4+ T cell's activity, as well as the correction of Th1 dominant pathological disorders.

• Molecular & Cellular Toxicology
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• v.5 no.2
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• pp.126-132
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• 2009

The usage and types of chemicals are advancing, specializing, large-scaled increasing, and new chemical exposed workers are concerning to occupational disease. The generation of reactive oxygen in the body from carcinogen, mutation and DNA damage in cancer is protected by natural antioxidants (phytochemicals) with antimutagenic effect. There were many reports of ginsenoside Rb$_1$, Rg$_1$ grievances of the genetic mutation to suppress the effect confirm the genetic toxicity test with chromosomal aberration test and the Comet (SCGE) assay confirmed the suppression effect occurring chromosomal DNA damage. We had wanted to evaluate the compatibility and sensitivity between the chromosomal aberration (CA) test and the Comet assay. We used the CA test and Comet assay to evaluate the anti-genotoxicity of ginsenoside Rb$_1$ and Rg$_1$, in CHO-K1 (Chinese hamster ovary fibroblast) cell in vitro, composed negative control (solvent), positive control (benzo[a]pyrene), test group (carcinogen+variety concentration of ginsenoside) group. The positive control was benzo[a]pyrene (50 $\mu$M), well-known carcinogen, and the negative control was the 1 % DMSO solvent. The test group was a variety concentration of ginsenoside Rb$_1$, Rg$_1$ with 10$^{-8}$%, 10$^{-6}$%, 10$^{-4}$%, 10$^{-2}$%, 1%, 10%. In chromo-somal aberration test, we measured the number of cells with abnormally structured chromosome. In Comet assay, the Olive tail moment (OTM) and Tail length (TL) values were measured. The ratio of cell proliferation was increased 8.3% in 10$^{-8}$%, 10$^{-6}$%, 10$^{-4}$%, 10$^{-2}$%, 1%, 10% Rb$_1$ treated groups, and increased 10.4% in 10$^{-10}$%, 10$^{-8}$%, 10$^{-6}$%, 10$^{-4}$%, 10$^{-2}$%, 1% Rg$_1$ treated groups. In the CA test, the number of chromosomal aberration was decreased all the Rb$_1$ and Rg$_1$ treated groups. In the Comet assay, the OTM values were decreased in all the Rb$_1$ and Rg$_1$ treated groups. To evaluate the compatibility between CA and Comet assay, we compared the reducing ratio of chromosomal abnormalities with its OTM values, it was identified the antimutagenicity of ginsenoside, but it was more sensitive the CA test than the Comet assay. Ginsenoside Rb$_1$ and Rg$_1$ significantly decrease the number of cells with chromosomal aberration, and decrease the extent of DNA migration. Therefore, ginsenoside Rb$_1$, Rg$_1$ are thought as an antioxidant phytochemicals to protect mutagenicity. The in vitro Comet assay seems to be less sensitive than the in vitro chromosomal aberration test.

• Korean Journal of Medicinal Crop Science
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• v.13 no.5
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• pp.254-261
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• 2005

To evaluate the effects of cultivar, environment, age and cultivation times on ginsenoside content among 8 wild populations of American ginseng (Panax quinquefolium), the concentrations of 6 ginsenosides in root were determined at the time of collection (T0) of plants from the wild and 1 year after (T1) transplanting the roots to each of two different forest garden locations. Both location and population had significant effects on root and shoot growth. Overall, ginsenoside Rb1 was most abundant. The second most abundant ginsenoside were Re and Rg1, however the contents of them were not significantly different from each other. Concentrations of Rg1 and Re were inversely related. Ginsenoside Re was influenced by population and location. Ginsenoside Rg1, Rb1, Rc, Rb2 and Rd were influenced by population, location and age. Ginsenoside levels were consistently lower but growth was consistently higher at the more intensively managed garden location.

• Analytical Science and Technology
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• v.11 no.5
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• pp.404-408
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• 1998

Using a reversed-phase high performance liquid chromatography, the separation of 20(S)-, 20(R)-prosapogenin stereo-isomers of ginsenoside-$Rg_2$ and of ginsenoside-$Rg_3$ in ginseng saponins has been carried out with binary solvent system. The optimum conditions for the isomer separation are as following: Nova-$Pak^{(R)}C_{18}$ (Waters, $3.9{\times}150mm$) column, $CH_3CN/CH_3CN$ (100:8, v/v) binary solvent system and the flow rate was 1.7 mL/min. The stereoisomers were separated with change of the mixture ratio of the solvent system, the solvent elution by gradient program, and then detected at 203 nm of UV detector. The simultaneous separation of mixture that were the $Rg_2$, $Rg_3$ isomers was easily performed in nonpolar solvent for $Rg_2$, polar solvent for $Rg_3$ at the same optimum conditions.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.50 no.3
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• pp.349-355
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• 2018

Ginsenoside Rg5, one of the protopanaxadiol ginsenosides of wood-cultivated ginseng, has been implicated in various diseases, such as diabetes, cancer, and hypertension; however, its angiogenic activity and molecular mechanisms have not yet been elucidated. Here, we found that wood-cultivated ginseng extract and ginsenoside Rg5 increase in vitro proliferation, migration, and tube-like structure formation, which are typical phenomena associated with angiogenesis, in cultured human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs). Moreover, Ginsenoside Rg5 stimulated the phosphorylation of Akt, endothelial nitric oxide (NO) synthase (eNOS), and extracellular-regulated kinase (ERK)1/2, which are well-known signal mediators of the angiogenic pathway. Furthermore, Ginsenoside Rg5 did not accelerate the activation of ICAM-1 and VCAM-1 which are inflammatory response mediators. These results suggest that wood-cultivated ginseng extract and ginsenoside Rg5 stimulated in vitro angiogenesis by activating the Akt/eNOS- and ERK1/2-dependent signal pathways without inducing vascular inflammation.

• Food Science and Biotechnology
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.262-266
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• 2009

To evaluate the anticolitic effect of red ginseng (RG, the steamed root of Panax ginseng CA. Meyer, Araliaceae), RG and its representative constituents, ginsenosides Rg3 and Rh2, were orally administered to dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)-induced colitic mice and inflammatory markers investigated. RG and its constituents, ginsenosides Rg3 and Rh2, inhibited colon shortening and myeloperoxidase activity induced by DSS. The ginsenosides Rg3 and Rh2 inhibited mRNA expression of interleukin (IL)-$1{\beta}$ as well as protein levels of IL-$1{\beta}$ and IL-6. These ginsenosides also inhibited the activation of a transcription nuclear factor (NF)-${\kappa}B$. Ginsenoside Rh2 was a more potent inhibitor than ginsenoside Rg3. The anticolitic effects of these ginsenosides were comparable with sulfasalazine.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.48 no.1
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• pp.40-51
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• 2024

Background: Ginsenoside 20(S)-Rg3 shows promising tumor-suppressive effects in ovarian cancer via inhibiting NF-kB signaling. This study aimed to explore the downstream tumor suppressive mechanisms of ginsenoside Rg3 via this signaling pathway. Materials and methods: A systematical screening was applied to examine the expression profile of 41 kinesin family member genes in ovarian cancer. The regulatory effect of ginsenoside Rg3 on KIF20A expression was studied. In addition, we explored interacting proteins of KIF20A and their molecular regulations in ovarian cancer. RNA-seq data from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) was used for bioinformatic analysis. Epithelial ovarian cancer cell lines SKOV3 and A2780 were used as in vitro and in vivo cell models. Commercial human ovarian cancer tissue arrays were used for immunohistochemistry staining. Results: KIF20A is a biomarker of poor prognosis among the kinesin genes. It promotes ovarian cancer cell growth in vitro and in vivo. Ginsenoside Rg3 can suppress the transcription of KIF20A. GST pull-down and co-immunoprecipitation (IP) assays confirmed that KIF20A physically interacts with BTRC (β-TrCP1), a substrate recognition subunit for SCF^β-TrCP E3 ubiquitin ligase. In vitro ubiquitination and cycloheximide (CHX) chase assays showed that via interacting with BTRC, KIF20A reduces BTRC-mediated CDC25A poly-ubiquitination and enhances its stability. Ginsenoside Rg3 treatment partly abrogates KIF20A overexpression-induced CDC25A upregulation. Conclusion: This study revealed a novel anti-tumor mechanism of ginsenoside Rg3. It can inhibit KIF20A transcription and promote CDC25A proteasomal degradation in epithelial ovarian cancer.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.46 no.3
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• pp.481-488
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• 2022

Background: Although the tumor-suppressive effects of ginsenosides in cell cycle have been well established, their pharmacological properties in mitosis have not been clarified yet. The chromosomal instability resulting from dysregulated mitotic processes is usually increased in cancer. In this study, we aimed to investigate the anticancer effects of ginsenoside Rg1 on mitotic progression in cancer. Materials and methods: Cancer cells were treated with ginsenoside Rg1 and their morphology and intensity of different protein were analyzed using immunofluorescence microscopy. The level of proteins in chromosomes was compared through chromosomal fractionation and Western blot analyses. The location and intensity of proteins in the chromosome were confirmed through immunostaining of mitotic chromosome after spreading. The colony formation assays were conducted using various cancer cell lines. Results: Ginsenoside Rg1 reduced cancer cell proliferation in some cancers through inducing mitotic arrest. Mechanistically, it inhibits the phosphorylation of histone H3 Thr3 (H3T3ph) mediated by Haspin kinase and concomitant recruitment of chromosomal passenger complex (CPC) to the centromere. Depletion of Aurora B at the centromere led to abnormal centromere integrity and spindle dynamics, thereby causing mitotic defects, such as increase in the width of the metaphase plate and spindle instability, resulting in delayed mitotic progression and cancer cell proliferation. Conclusion: Ginsenoside Rg1 reduces the level of Aurora B at the centromere via perturbing Haspin kinase activity and concurrent H3T3ph. Therefore, ginsenoside Rg1 suppresses cancer cell proliferation through impeding mitotic processes, such as chromosome alignment and spindle dynamics, upon depletion of Aurora B from the centromere.

• Journal of Applied Biological Chemistry
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• v.62 no.4
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• pp.315-322
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• 2019

Seasonal ginsenoside flux in the leaves of 5-year-old Panax ginseng was analyzed from the field-grown ginseng, for the first time, to study possible biosynthesis and translocation of ginsenosides. The concentrations of nine major ginsenosides, Rg1, Re, Rh1, Rg2, R-Rh1, Rb1, Rc, Rb2, and Rd, were determined by UHPLC during the growth in between April and November. It was confirmed total ginsenoside content in the dried ginseng leaves was much higher than the roots by several folds whereas the composition of ginsenosides was different from the roots. The ginsenoside flux was affected by ginseng growth. It quickly increased to 10.99±0.15 (dry wt%) in April and dropped to 6.41±0.14% in May. Then, it slowly increased to 9.71±0.14% in August and maintained until October. Ginsenoside Re was most abundant in the leaf of P. ginseng, followed by Rd and Rg1. Ginsenosides Rf and Ro were not detected from the leaf. When compared to the previously reported root data, ginsenosides in the leaf appeared to be translocated to the root, especially in the early vegetative stage even though the metabolite translocated cannot be specified. The flux of ginsenoside R-Rh1 was similar to the other (20S)-PPT ginsenosides. When the compositional changes of each ginsenoside in the leaf was analyzed, complementary relationship was observed from ginsenoside Rg1 and Re, as well as from ginsenoside Rd and Rb1+Rc. Accordingly, ginsenoside Re in the leaf was proposed to be synthesized from ginsenoside Rg1. Similarly, ginsenosides Rb1 and Rc were proposed to be synthesized from Rd.

• Journal of Food Hygiene and Safety
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• v.28 no.1
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• pp.24-30
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• 2013

Red ginseng is a widely used dietary supplement and medicinal herb, and there are so many forms of ginseng products including tea, extract, capsule and jelly. The purpose of the present study was to propose some amendments on ginsenoside content of red ginseng products in Korea. For this purpose, we analyzed red ginseng products for simultaneous determination of 26 ginsenosides by ultra performance liquid chromatography with diode array detector. Some developmental aspects of Korea's ginsenoside content standard regulations for red ginseng products are needed to be examined as follows : Firstly, we proposed that four ginsenosides ($Rb_1$, $Rg_1$, Rf and $Rg_3$) would be detected in red ginseng products. Secondly, in case of red ginseng extracts, the sum of $Rb_1$, $Rg_1$ and $Rg_3$ would be 4.0 mg/g. The two proposals are helpful to comprehensive evaluation of quality of red ginseng products. In conclusion, the scientific studies on amendment scheme of ginsenoside content standard regulation of red ginseng product are very important to fortify quality control.