• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.16 no.4
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• pp.364-369
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• 2008

Anti-hyperlipidemic effect of red ginseng (RG; the steamed root of Panax ginseng C.A. Meyer) and Crataegii fructus (CF, the fruit of Crataegus pinnatifida BGE), which are used frequently in China and Korea as herbal medicines to treat arteriosclerosis, were investigated. Treatments of RG and CF 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. Ginsenoside Rg3 and ursolic acid, the main constituents of RG and CF, respectively, also reduced TG and TC levels in hyperlipidemic mice. RG and CF significantly lowered the high blood TG and TC levels and body and epididymal mass weights induced by long-term feeding of a high-fat diet and increased the high-fat diet-induced decrease in blood HDL cholesterol levels. RG and Rg3 reduced the blood TC levels more than CF and ursolic acid. However, blood TG level were reduced by CF and ursolic acid more than RG and Rg3. RG, CF, and their constituents also inhibited pancreatic lipase and HMG-CoA reductase activities. The most potent inhibitor was Rg3. These findings suggest that RG and CF may be suitable for the therapies of hypercholesterolemia and triglyceridemia, respectively.

• Korean Journal of Plant Resources
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• v.28 no.1
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• pp.9-15
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• 2015

Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) has been emerging worldwide as one of the most important hospital and community pathogens. At the same time, because of the difficulty in developing chemical synthetic drugs and because of their side-effects, scientists are making more efforts to search for new drugs from plant resources to combat clinical multidrug-resistant microbial infections. Cinnamomum camphora (C. camphora) is a plant of family Lauraceae, and grown Jeju island in South Korea that are used as a drug to treat neurasthenia, epilepsy, cystitis, pyelonephritis, digitalis, cancer, and diabetes mellitus in folk remedies. In this study, antibacterial activites of 80% ethanol extract of C. camphora leaves (CCE) were investigated in combination with antibiotics against clinical isolates of MRSA. The results showed that CCE was determined with MIC and MBC values ranging from 156 to 313 and 313 to $625{\mu}g/ml$, oxacillin from 128 to 256 and 128 to $512{\mu}g/ml$, ampicillin from 4 to 64 and 8 to $128{\mu}g/ml$. The combination of CCE with oxacillin or/and ampicillin were synergistic effect against MRSA 1, 6, 7, 8, 10, 11, 12, 13, and 15/ MRSA 1, 2, 6, and 7.

• YAKHAK HOEJI
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• v.50 no.4
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• pp.272-277
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• 2006

This study was undertaken to determine whether the 9 herbal complex induces apoptosis in human breast cancer MCF-7 cells and adriamycin-resistant MCF7/adR cells. Ethanol extracts of Bojungbangamtang (BBTE) and acidic polysaccharide of Red Ginseng (GIN) induced cell death in both MCF-7 and MCF7/adR cells. Ethanol extracts of Bojungbangamtang and acidic polysaccharide of Red Ginseng also induced $G_2/M$ cell cycle arrest and increased TUNEL positive cells in MCF7/adR cells. In addition, flow cytometric analysis revealed the decreased expression of P-glycoprotein (P-gp) in ethanol extracts of Bojungbangamtang and acidic polysaccharide of Red Ginseng treated MCF7/adR cells. Similarly, decreased protein levels of P-glycoprotein and multidrug resistance associated proteins-1 were also determined by immunocytometry in ethanol extracts of Bojungbangamtang treated MCF7/adR cells. Taken together these data indicate that ethanol extracts of Bojungbangamtang and acidic polysaccharide of Red Ginseng inhibit the function of ABC transporters such as multi drug resistance associated proteins (MRPs) and P-glycoprotein as well as induce apoptosis in MCF7/adR cells. Thus, these data suggest that ethanol extracts of Bojungbangamtang and polysaccharide of Red Ginseng can be candidates for the treatment of multidrug-resistant MCF7/adR cells.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.23 no.4
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• pp.247-256
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• 1999

Ginseng has been used in maintaining physical vitality throughout the far-eastern countries and recently its metabolism and actions on neurologic, cardiovascular, and endocrinologic systems are studied. Korean red ginseng (KRG) has been used in various ailments, and to prove its efficacy for erectile dysfunction an international study on Asians other than Korean was performed. Patients with borderline organic and psychogenic erectile dysfunction were included. KRG were given daily, and placebo were given as controls. Treatment lasted a total of 3 months. Surveys including libido, erection, ejaculation, sexual activity, and sexual satisfaction were given. Serum testosterone and erectile function study were taken. Among the 64 patients, 37 patients were followed with KRG. Five had diabetes, 5 hypertension, 5 hypercholesterolemia, 6 low testosterone, 6 psychogenic, and 11 idiopathic. The improvement after KRG administration was $70.2\%$ on objective questionnaire and $75.7\%$ on subjective analysis. When KRG were given, all parameters surveyed have shown improvements compared to the placebo. The effects of KRG in Chinese and Singapores were similar to the Koreans. Serum testosterone levels were nonnalized in 6 patients with KRG, who's serum testosterone levels were reduced from pre-study. Two patient reported constipation, and 2 gastric upsets in the KRG group. In conclusion, KRG has beneficiary action on male erectile capabilities with little side effects. KRG is effective in Koreans and also Asians. The exact action mechanism and the active ingredients in KRG need to be studied.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.37 no.4
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• pp.435-441
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• 2013

This study investigated the effects of Korean Red Ginseng (KRG) on radiation-induced bone loss in C3H/HeN mice. C3H/HeN mice were divided into sham and irradiation (3 Gy, gamma-ray) groups. The irradiated mice were treated for 12 wk with vehicle, KRG (per os, p.o.) or KRG (intraperitoneal). Serum alkaline phosphatase (ALP), tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase, estradiol level, and biomechanical properties were measured. Tibiae were analyzed using micro-computed tomography. Treatment of KRG (p.o., 250 mg/kg of body weight/d) significantly preserved trabecular bone volume, trabecular number, structure model index, and bone mineral density of proximal tibia metaphysic, but did not alter the uterus weight of the mice. Serum ALP level was slightly reduced by KRG treatment. However, grip strength, mechanical property, and cortical bone architecture did not differ among the experimental groups. The results indicate that KRG can prevent radiation-induced bone loss in mice.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.47 no.3
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• pp.479-491
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• 2023

Background: Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) has a high incidence and is one of the highest mortality cancers when advanced stage is proceeded. However, Anti-cancer drugs available for treatment are limited and new anti-cancer drugs and new ways to treat them are minimal. We examined that the effects and possibility of Red Ginseng (RG, Panax ginseng Meyer) as new anti-cancer drug on HCC by combining network pharmacology and molecular biology. Materials and Methods: Network pharmacological analysis was employed to investigate the systems-level mechanism of RG focusing on HCC. Cytotoxicity of RG was determined by MTT analysis, which were also stained by annexin V/PI staining for apoptosis and acridine orange for autophagy. For the analyze mechanism of RG, we extracted protein and subjected to immunoblotting for apoptosis or autophagy related proteins. Results: We constructed compound-target network of RG and identified potential pathways related to HCC. RG inhibited growth of HCC through acceleration of cytotoxicity and reduction of wound healing ability of HCC. RG also increased apoptosis and autophagy through AMPK induction. In addition, its ingredients, 20S-PPD (protopanaxadiol) and 20S-PPT (protopanaxatriol), also induced AMPK mediated apoptosis and autophagy. Conclusion: RG effectively inhibited growth of HCC cells inducing apoptosis and autophagy via ATG/AMPK in HCC cells. Overall, our study suggests possibility as new anti-cancer drug on HCC by proof for the mechanism of the anti-cancer action of RG.

• Korean Journal of Soil Science and Fertilizer
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• v.25 no.2
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• pp.175-180
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• 1992

The occurrence of internal cavity of in red ginseng is one of critical quality criteria. The occurrence of internal cavity mainly due to fresh ginseng character that is determined by growth conditions. Growth conditions and percent occurrence of internal cavity were investigated on various ginseng plantations for 6 years and the relation. ships among them were statistically analysed. In addition, field experiments were carried out seperately for the effect of special factors. 1. Internal cavity in red ginseng mainly occurred on area between central part and cortex part of tap root in red ginseng. It was suppose to be caused by characteristics of fresh ginseng. 2. Soil moisture decreased percent occurrence of internal cavity(PIC) above 27.5 % of PIC and increased below it. 3. The factors of shade structure with high intensity of light condition tend to increase PIC. PIC was decreased below 15.9 % of light transmittance rate and increased above it.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.37 no.4
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• pp.425-434
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• 2013

UV irradiation is the main factor contributing to skin damages that are associated with an excessive production of matrix-degrading metalloproteinase (MMP)-1 and a deficient expression of collagens. To date, red ginseng has been revealed to possess many biomedical effects, such as anti-aging, anti-oxidation, and anti-inflammatory. In this study, we prepared the Korean Red Ginseng extracts treated with enzyme (KRGE) and investigated the effects of dietary KRGE on the formation of wrinkles generated by UVB irradiation in hairless mice. It was found that KRGE inhibited the UVB-induced formation of wrinkles, epidermal thickness, and skin dryness in hairless mice. Further results also showed that KRGE attenuated UVB-induced MMP-${\beta}$1 level, while accelerated procollagen type I, transforming growth factor-${\beta}$1 secretion. Interestingly, the expression of profilaggrin and filaggrin in both the epidermis and dermis were decreased due to UVB exposure and reversed by KRGE. The KRGE 0.06% was prior to KRGE 0.24%. In view of these results, which indicated that KRGE protected skin from UVB-induced photodamages, which may not only mediated by regulating of MMP-1 and procollagen type I, but also by increasing the production of profilaggrin and filaggrin. In conclusion, our results suggest that KRGE may be a promising agent for the treatment of skin photodamages. The challenge of KRGE will be expected as cosmeceuticals and nutraceuticals in order to intervene in aging-related degenerative skin changes.

• Proceedings of the Plant Resources Society of Korea Conference
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• 2000.10b
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• pp.18-19
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• 2000

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.48 no.3
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• pp.333-340
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• 2024

Background: Korean red ginseng (KRG) is a product from ginseng roots, which is enriched with ginsenosides and has been utilized for a long time as an adaptogen to alleviate various physiological or disease conditions. While KRG is generally considered safe, conducting a thorough toxicological assessment of the spray-dried powder G1899 during the juvenile period is essential to establish its safety profile. This study aimed to assess the safety of G1899 during the juvenile period using Sprague-Dawley rats. Methods: Two studies were conducted separately: a juvenile toxicity study and a uterotrophic bioassay. To assess the potential toxicity at systemic, postnatal developmental, and reproductive levels, G1899 was orally gavaged once a day in post-weaning juvenile Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats at 0, 1250, 2500, or 5000 mg/kg/day. Estrogenicity was assessed by orally gavaging G1899 in immature female SD rats at 0, 2500, or 5000 mg/kg/day on postnatal days (PND) 19-21, followed by a uterotrophic bioassay. These studies were conducted in accordance with the Good Laboratory Practice (GLP) regulations and regulatory test guidelines. Results: Regarding juvenile toxicity, no abnormalities related to the G1899 treatment were observed in any group during the experiment. Moreover, no uterotrophic responses were observed in the dosed female group. Based on these results, the no observed adverse effect level (NOAEL) of G1899 was determined to be at least 5000 mg/kg/day for general systemic function, developmental/reproductive function, and estrogenic activity. Conclusion: Our results suggest that G1899 is not toxic to juveniles at doses of up to 5000 mg/kg/day.