• Korean Journal of Plant Resources
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• v.33 no.4
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• pp.227-236
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• 2020

Panax ginseng C.A. Meyer (P. ginseng) is known to exert a wide range of pharmacological effects both in vitro and in vivo. Although studies on ginsenoside, antioxidant activity, and anticancer effect of the cultivated wild Panax ginseng (CWP) have been conducted, there is little research on the effect of CWP extract on bone metabolism. In this study, we investigated the potential anti-osteoporotic properties of CWP on the growth and differentiation of MC3T3-E1 cells. CWP significantly increased the viability and proliferation of MC3T3-E1 cells. CWP activated intracellular alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity in MC3T3-E1 cells. In addition, CWP increased the mineralized nodules in MC3T3-E1 cells. Furthermore, CWP increased the expression of genes such as Runx2, ALP, OPN and OCN associated with osteoblast growth and differentiation in a dose-dependent manner.

• Korean Journal of Plant Resources
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• v.23 no.5
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• pp.415-422
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• 2010

Red ginseng(RG, steamed and dried root of Panax ginseng C. A. Meyer, family Araliaceae) and fermented red ginseng(FRG, fermented red ginseng by yeast and lactic acid bacteria) are known to show different pharmacological effects by changed composition of saponins through fermentation. We examined the effects of RG and FRG on $\beta$-hexosaminidase secretion, ICAM-1 expression, the mitogen-induced proliferation of lymphocyte from mice in ex vivo systems and HaCaT cell(keratinocyte) proliferation to compare the anti-allergic and anti-inflammatory effects between both groups. RG groups showed inhibition of $\beta$-hexosaminidase secretion and ICAM-1 expression at $1{\mu}g/ml$, $10{\mu}g/ml$ and the same effects were observed at all concentrations in FRG groups. In our study, RG increased LPS-induced B cell proliferation at $1{\mu}g/ml$ and ConA-induced B cell proliferation at $100\;{\mu}g/ml$ but FRG decreased LPS- and ConA-induced lymphocytes at $100\;{\mu}g/ml$. We showed that FRG increased the proliferation of HaCaT at 1, $10{\mu}g/ml$ but not by RG. These findings suggest that RG and FRG might have anti-inflammatory and anti-allergic effects, which can be needed to proper clinical concentration to applied to various allergic diseases and inflammation.

• Natural Product Sciences
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• v.14 no.4
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• pp.215-220
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• 2008

Hypolipidemic effect of Insamsansa-eum (ISE, Ren-Shen-Shan-Zah-Yin in Chinese) consisted of Red ginseng (RG; the steamed root of Panax ginseng C.A. Meyer) and Crataegii fructus (CF, the fruit of Crataegus pinnatifida BGE) is used frequently in China and Korea as a herbal medicine to treat arteriosclerosis, was investigated. Treatment of ISE significantly reduced blood triglyceride (TG) and total cholesterol (TC) levels in Triton WR-1339-induced hyperlipidemic mice and serum TG levels in corn oil-induced hypertriglyceridemic mice. ISE significantly lowered the high blood TG and TC levels as well as body and epididymal mass weights in hyperlipidemic mice induced by long-term feeding of a high-fat diet and increased blood HDL cholesterol level. ISE and its ingredients, RG and CF, inhibited pancreatic lipase and HMG-CoA reductase activities. Of its ingredients, RG reduced the blood TC level and HMG-CoA reductase activity more than CF. CF reduced blood TG level and pancreatic lipase activity more than RG. These finding suggest that the antihyperlipidemic effect of ISE may be due to synergistic inhibition of HMG-CoA reductase and pancreatic lipase by RG and CF, and that ISE may be effective hypolipidemic agents.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.40 no.1
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• pp.18-27
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• 2016

Background: It is not clear whether ginseng affects cyclosporine A (CsA)-induced desirable immunosuppressive action. In this study, we evaluated the immunological influence of combined treatment of ginseng with CsA. Methods: Using CD4+ T cells from mouse spleens stimulated with the T cell receptor (TCR) or allogeneic antigen-presenting cells (APCs), we examined the differentiation of naïve T cells into T helper 1 (Th1), Th2, Th17, and regulatory T cells (Tregs), and their cytokine production during treatment by Korean Red Ginseng extract (KRGE) and/or CsA. The influence of KRGE on the allogeneic T cell response was evaluated by mixed lymphocyte reaction (MLR). We also evaluated whether signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) and STAT5 are implicated in this regulation. Results: Under TCR stimulation, KRGE treatment did not affect the population of CD4+interferon gamma ($IFN{\gamma}$)+ and CD4+interleukin (IL)-4+ cells and their cytokine production compared with CsA alone. Under the Th17-polarizing condition, KRGE significantly reduced the number of CD4+IL-17+ cells and CD4+/phosphorylated STAT3 (p-STAT3)+ cells, but increased the number of CD4+CD25+forkhead box P3 (Foxp3)+ cells and CD4+/p-STAT5+ cells compared with CsA alone. In allogeneic APCs-stimulated CD4+ T cells, KRGE significantly decreased total allogeneic T cell proliferation. Consistent with the effects of TCR stimulation, KRGE reduced the number of CD4+IL-17+ cells and increased the number of CD4+CD25+Foxp3+ cells under the Th17-polarizing condition. Conclusion: KRGE has immunological benefits through the reciprocal regulation of Th17 and Treg cells during CsA-induced immunosuppression.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.11 no.1
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• pp.32-38
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• 1987

Composition of free amino acids (FAA) in the central part (xylem plus piths,of tap root in P. ginseng was investigated in velation to stem status at harvest. The sum of FAA tended to be higher with dead stem than with healthy one but both were not significantly different. The sum of FAA (3.6-4.9% dried weight) was much less than total FAA, suggesting that water soluble nonprotein fraction contained large quantity of ninhydrih positive components except FAA. Pattern of amino acid composition between both stem status was not different. Ten of all 17 amino acids showed increasing tendency with dead stem and two, glutamic acid and cysteine, decreasing. Major FAA were arginine (relative content 58%), glycine (8.2), lysine (5.9), serine (5.7), glutamic acid (4.2) and aspartic acid (3.5). Above facts strongly suggest that the inside white of red ginseng did not closely related with FAA and that early defoliation or stem death did not decrease FAA. The content of arginine was heighest in all cases reported indicating the important role of nitrogen metabolism. Pattern of PAA composition except arginine was not different in present samples but greatly different with other cases reported mainly due to alanine, phenylalanine, glycine and proline.

• Proceedings of the Ginseng society Conference
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• 2002.10a
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• pp.35-46
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• 2002

Panax ginseng C. A. Meyer has been one of the most highly recognized medicinal herbs in the Orient. Previous experiments have demonstrated that $Rg_3,\;and\;Rg_5$ statistically significantly decreased the incidence of benzo(a)pyrene-induced mouse lung tumor, $Rh_2$ showed tendency of decrease and $Rh_1$ showed no effect. It was, therefore, concluded that $Rg_3,\;Rg_5\;and\;Rh_2$ are active cancer chemopreventive components in red ginseng and they either singularly or synergistically act in the prevention of cancer. This study was undertaken to compare the cancer chemopreventive effects of $Rg_3,\;Rg_5\;and\;Rh_2$(purity: more than $60\%$) isolated from fermented ginseng extract and BST fermented ginseng with fortified ginsenoside $Rg_3\;and\;Rh_2$. The cancer chemopreventive effects were investigated in experimental groups treated with benzo(a)pyrene(BP) with ginsenoside $Rg_3,\;Rg_5\;Rh_2\;or\;BST$ at three doses of $50^{\circ}C/ml,\;100^{\circ}C/ml\;and\;200^{\circ}C/ml$ When mice given with $50^{\circ}C/ml$ concentration of ginsenoside $Rg_3$ combined with BP for 6 weeks after BP administration, $Rg_3\;showed\;60\%$ of lung tumor incidence, where as $100^{\circ}C/ml\;and\;200^{\circ}C/ml\;of\;Rg_3$ combined with BP groups had significant decrease of incidence $(40.0\%)$ respectively, with the inhibition rate being $35.5\%.$ While the tumor incidence was not decreased in the group treated with BP and 50 of $Rg_5,$ the incidence was $34.0\%\;and\;32.0\%$ in the group treated with BP and 100 and 200 of $Rg_5$, respectively. These incidences were significantly less than the group treated with BP alone, with the inhibition rate being $45.2\%\;and\;48.4\%,$ respectively. On the other hand, in the group treated with BP and 50 of ginsenoside $Rh_2,$ the tumor incidence was not decreased. However, the incidence was $40.0\%\;and\;38.8\%$ in the experimental treated with BP and 100 and 200 of $Rh_2,$ respectively, with the inhibition rate being $45.2\%\;and\;48.4\%,$ respectively. In addition, the incidence showed the tendency to decrease in the experimental group treated with BP and 50 of BST which contained $16.2\%\;of\;Rh_2,\;15.4\%\;of\;Rg_3\;and\;2.5%\;of\;Rg_5.$ The tumor incidence was $54.0\%$ in this group. In the group treated with 100 and 200 of EST, the incidence was $34.0\%\;and\;30.0\%,$ respectively, the incidences significantly being lower than the group treated with BP alone, with the inhibiting rate being $45.2\%\;and\;51.6\%,$ respectively. The results of this study strongly suggested that ginsenoside $Rg_3,\;Rg_5\;and\;Rh_2$ are the active components of red ginseng having a cancer chemopreventive activity and $Rg_5$ is the strongest cancer chempopreventive among them. On the other hand, the results demonstrating that the incidence of lung tumor was more markedly reduced by BST fermented ginseng with fortified ginsenoside $Rh_2\;or\;Rg_3$ compared to the single component alone, suggest that the combination of these components may remarkablely improve the cancer preventive effect

• YAKHAK HOEJI
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• v.51 no.3
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• pp.219-227
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• 2007

Ginsenoside Rgl (Rgl), the pharmacologically active constituent of ginseng (Panax ginseng C.A. Meyer), has a variety of biological activities. The present study was undertaken to evaluate a possibility of Rgl whether it can be used in treatment or prevention of stress disorders. Animals were stressed by immobilization for 2 hours or electroshocks for 20 minutes. The normal group was not exposed to any stress. Rgl was subcutaneously injected as dosages of 5 and 10 mg/kg and red ginseng (RG) was orally administered 200 mg/kg as the positive control. Animals were given supplements for 5 days without stress, and then were given supplements for 5 days with stress. We recorded stress-related behavioral changes of experimental animals using the Etho-vision system. Weight of adrenal gland and levels of corticosterone in plasma were measured and stress related behaviors (smelling, grooming, face washing, rearing) were observed. Rgl didn't make significant behavioral changes in total open field and elevated plus maze test. Rgl did not influence on behavioral changes induced by electroshock stress. Whereas, 10 mg/kg of Rgl alleviated the increment of the freezing and face washing time and the decrement of the smelling and rearing time induced by restraint stress. The administration of Rgl 10 mg/kg has significantly increased the endurance time on rotating rod and swimming pool tests compared to the control group. These results indicate that Rgl can alleviate the damage induced by physical stress. This result suggests that Rgl may bea new candidate for treating stress related disorder.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.47 no.2
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• pp.337-346
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• 2023

Background: Ginsenoside Rb2, a major active component of Panax ginseng, has various physiological activities, including anticancer and anti-inflammatory effects. However, the mechanisms underlying the rejuvenation effect of Rb2 in human skin cells have not been elucidated. Methods: We performed a senescence-associated β-galactosidase staining assay to confirm cellular senescence in human dermal fibroblasts (HDFs). The regulatory effects of Rb2 on autophagy were evaluated by analyzing the expression of autophagy marker proteins, such as microtubule-associated protein 1A/1B-light chain (LC) 3 and p62, using immunoblotting. Autophagosome and autolysosome formation was monitored using transmission electron microscopy. Autophagic flux was analyzed using tandem-labeled GFP-RFP-LC3, and lysosomal function was assessed with Lysotracker. We performed RNA sequencing to identify potential target genes related to HDF rejuvenation mediated by Rb2. To verify the functions of the target genes, we silenced them using shRNAs. Results: Rb2 decreased β-galactosidase activity and altered the expression of cell cycle regulatory proteins in senescent HDFs. Rb2 markedly induced the conversion of LC3-I to LC3-II and LC3 puncta. Moreover, Rb2 increased lysosomal function and red puncta in tandem-labeled GFP-RFP-LC3, which indicate that Rb2 promoted autophagic flux. RNA sequencing data showed that the expression of DNA damage-regulated autophagy modulator 2 (DRAM2) was induced by Rb2. In autophagy signaling, Rb2 activated the AMPK-ULK1 pathway and inactivated mTOR. DRAM2 knockdown inhibited autophagy and Rb2-restored cellular senescence. Conclusion: Rb2 reverses cellular senescence by activating autophagy via the AMPK-mTOR pathway and induction of DRAM2, suggesting that Rb2 might have potential value as an antiaging agent.

• Applied Microscopy
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• v.10 no.1_2
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• pp.77-86
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• 1980

The distribution of the secretory ducts, fine structures of the secretory epithelial cells, and the ingredients of the metaplasmic inclusions were studied at light and electron microscopical levels in seeds, stems, leaves, and roots of ginseng. The secretory ducts occurred in the hypocotyl of the embryo, in the cortex of the roots, and also both inside and outside of each vascular bundle in the stems and leaves. Especially, it is considered that the circular layers of the secretory ducts in roots may represent their ages. The epithelial cell has well developed nucleolus, mitochondria and smooth endoplasmic reticulum. Sudanophyl and osmiophilic inclusions were found in the epithelial cytoplasm and duct lumen. But these inclusions were not observed when extracted with pyridin or alcohol. In contrast to the lumen with red color, the epithelial cells were blue in color as stained with nile blue, suggesting that the former inclusions are neutral lipid while the latter are acidic lipid. The electron density of the cell inclusions was quite high as fixed with osmium tetroxide, indicating that most of these secretory materials seem to be unsaturated lipid. Therefore, since ginseng secretory ducts are closely associated with the lipid metabolism, it should be called lipid canal or lipid duct.

• Korean Journal of Medicinal Crop Science
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• v.12 no.1
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• pp.10-16
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• 2004

This study was carried out to investigate the difference of growth characteristics and the content of root chemical components in four years old ginseng by paddy and upland cultivation at farmers' field in Korea. Proportions of silt, clay, liquid phase and porosity were higher in paddy soil than upland soil. The range of liquid phase was $17.5{\sim}19.5%$ in paddy and $7.0{\sim}12.8%$ in upland during growth period. EC and the other contents of OM, $NO_3^-,\;K_2O$, and Mg in paddy soil were higher than those of upland soil, while the contents of $P_2O_5$ and Ca were less than those of upland soil. The levels of chemical components of tested soil exceeded recommended range in EC, $NO_3^-$ and Ca of paddy soil, and in $P_2O_5$ and Ca of upland soil. Stem length, fresh root weight and total dry weight per plant in paddy were greater than those of upland. Root weight in paddy-ginseng showed a great increase on September, while it was not increased in upland because of early defoliation. Net assimilation rate and crop growth rate by paddy and upland cultivation showed distinct differences on May and September, and those of paddy-ginseng were higher than those of upland-ginseng. Yield and ratio of red-colored root showed no significant difference by paddy and upland cultivation, while significant differences were observed in diameter and length of primary root, contents of crude saponin and 50% ethanol extracts of primary root, and water content of root. Hardness of primary root showed no significant difference by paddy and upland cultivation until August, but it showed distinct difference on September, at which the hardness in upland cultivation was drastically decreased.