• Journal of Ginseng Research
• /
• v.46 no.1
• /
• pp.104-114
• /
• 2022

Background: Abnormalities of myelin, which increases the efficiency of action potential conduction, are found in neurological disorders. Korean Red Ginseng (KRG) demonstrates therapeutic efficacy against some of these conditions, however effects on oligodendrocyte (OL)s are not well known. Here, we examined the effects of KRG-derived components on development and protection of OL-lineage cells. Methods: Primary OL precursor cell (OPC) cultures were prepared from neonatal mouse cortex. The protective efficacies of the KRG components were examined against inhibitors of mitochondrial respiratory chain activity. For in vivo function of Rb1 on myelination, after 10 days of oral gavage into adult male mice, forebrains were collected. OPC proliferation were assessed by BrdU incorporation, and differentiation and myelination were examined by qPCR, western blot and immunocytochemistry. Results: The non-saponin promoted OPC proliferation, while the saponin promoted differentiation. Both processes were mediated by AKT and extracellular regulated kinase (ERK) signaling. KRG extract, the saponin and non-saponin protected OPCs against oxidative stress, and both KRG extract and the saponin significantly increased the expression of the antioxidant enzyme. Among 11 major ginsenosides tested, Rb1 significantly increased OL membrane size in vitro. Moreover, Rb1 significantly increased myelin formation in adult mouse brain. Conclusion: All KRG components prevented OPC deaths under oxidative stress. While non-saponin promoted proliferation, saponin fraction increased differentiation and OL membrane size. Furthermore, among all the tested ginsenosides, Rb1 showed the biggest increase in the membrane size and significantly enhanced myelination in vivo. These results imply therapeutic potentials of KRG and Rb1 for myelin-related disorders.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
• /
• v.48 no.5
• /
• pp.481-493
• /
• 2024

Background: Post-weaning social isolation (SI) reduces sociability, gene expressions including myelin genes in the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC), and alters microbiome compositions in rodent models. Korean Red Ginseng (KRG) and its major ginsenoside Rb1 have been reported to affect myelin formation and gut metabolites. However, their effects under post-weaning SI have not been investigated. This study investigated the effects of KRG and Rb1 on sociability, gene expressions in the mPFC, and gut metabolites under post-weaning SI. Methods: C57BL/6J mice were administered with water or KRG (150, 400 mg/kg) or Rb1 (0.1 mg/kg) under SI or regular environment (RE) for 2 weeks during the post-weaning period (P21-P35). After this period, mice underwent a sociability test, and then brains and ceca were collected for qPCR/immunohistochemistry and nontargeted metabolomics, respectively. Results: SI reduced sociability compared to RE; however, KRG (400 mg/kg) and Rb1 significantly restored sociability under SI. In the mPFC, expressions of genes related to myelin, neurotransmitter, and oxidative stress were significantly reduced in mice under SI compared to RE conditions. Under SI, KRG and Rb1 recovered the altered expressions of several genes in the mPFC. In gut metabolomics, 313 metabolites were identified as significant among 3027 detected metabolites. Among the significantly changed metabolites in SI, some were recovered by KRG or Rb1, including metabolites related to stress axis, inflammation, and DNA damage. Conclusion: Altered sociability, gene expression levels in the mPFC, and gut metabolites induced by two weeks of post-weaning SI were at least partially recovered by KRG and Rb1.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
• /
• v.41 no.3
• /
• pp.428-433
• /
• 2017

Background: In this study, the fermentation of ginseng seeds was hypothesized to produce useful physiologically-active substances, similar to that observed for fermented ginseng root. Ginseng seed was fermented using Bacillus, Pediococcus, and Lactobacillus strains to extract ginseng seed oil, and the extraction yield, color, and quantity of phenolic compounds, fatty acids, and phytosterol were then analyzed. Methods: The ginseng seed was fermented inoculating 1% of each strain on sterilized ginseng seeds and incubating the seeds at $30^{\circ}C$ for 24 h. Oil was extracted from the fermented ginseng seeds using compression extraction, solvent extraction, and supercritical fluid extraction. Results and Conclusion: The color of the fermented ginseng seed oil did not differ greatly according to the fermentation or extraction method. The highest phenolic compound content recovered with the use of supercritical fluid extraction combined with fermentation using the Bacillus subtilis Korea Food Research Institute (KFRI) 1127 strain. The fatty acid composition did not differ greatly according to fermentation strain and extraction method. The phytosterol content of ginseng seed oil fermented with Bacillus subtilis KFRI 1127 and extracted using the supercritical fluid method was highest at 983.58 mg/100 g. Therefore, our results suggested that the ginseng seed oil fermented with Bacillus subtilis KFRI 1127 and extracted using the supercritical fluid method can yield a higher content of bioactive ingredients, such as phenolics, and phytosterols, without impacting the color or fatty acid composition of the product.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
• /
• v.23 no.3 s.55
• /
• pp.176-181
• /
• 1999

The purpose of this study was to investigate the antioxidant activities of water soluble browning reaction products (WS-BRPs) isolated from korea red ginseng. Antioxidant activities of WS-BRPs were examined with the various systems. All three WS-BRPs (L, S-1 and S-2) were found to have an ability to donate hydrogen to DPPH. Especially, L was more effective than S-1, S-2. and, L as well as S-1 and S-2 was the strongest than BHT, BHA $(5{\times}10^{-4}M),\;{\alpha}-tocopherol\;(1.0{\times}10^{-4})$ and ascorbic acid $(5.7{\times}10^{-3}M)$ previously known as antioxidants. These WS-BRPs (L, S-1 and S-2) also showed a synergistic effect against antioxidative activities of these antioxidants. Moreover S-2 had the strongest activity of these three WS-BRPs to scavenge free radicals such as hydrogen peroxide $(H_2O_2)$.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
• /
• v.26 no.1
• /
• pp.1-5
• /
• 2002

It has been well known that Korea red ginseng has an antihypertensive effect. The antihypertensive effect may be due to its ability to change the peripheral resistance. Change of vascular tone in the resistance-sized artery contribute to the peripheral resistance, thereby regulate the blood pressure. Therefore, we investigated to clarify the vasorelaxing mechanism induced by crude saponin of Korea red ginseng in the resistance-sized mesenteric artery of rats. The resistance-sized mesenteric artery was isolated and cut into a ring. The ring segment was immersed in HEPES-buffered solution and its isometric tension was measured using myograph force-displacement transducer. Crude saponin of ginseng relaxed the mesenmetric arterial rings precontracted with norepinephrine (3$\mu$M) in dose-dependent manner (0.01 mg/㎖ -1 mg/㎖. The relaxation by crude saponin was smaller in endothelium-intact preparation than that in endothelium-denuded preparation. The contraction induced by A23187 or phorbol 12,13-dibutyrate was not affected by crude saponin of ginseng. The vasorelaxing effect of crude saponin of ginseng was significantly attenuated by the increase of the extracellular K$\^$+/ concentration. Crude saponin-induced vasorelaxation was not affected by tetraethylammonium (1 mM), glybenclamide (10$\mu$M), and 4-aminopyridine (0.1 mM) in these preparations. Ba$\^$2+/(10$\mu$M ∼100$\mu$M) markedly reduced the crude saponin-induced vasorelakation dose-dependently. From the above results, we suggest that crude saponin of ginseng may stimulate K$\^$+/ efflux and hyperpolarize the membrane, thereby cause the vasorelaxation in the resistance-sized mesenteric artery of rats.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
• /
• v.28 no.1
• /
• pp.45-51
• /
• 2004

This study was conducted to investigate the effect of crude saponin of red ginseng and aqueous extracts from several medicinal herbs on the activity of alcohol dehydrogenase(ADH) and aldehyde dehydrogenase(ALDH) in alcohol metabolism. In order to develop a liquid phase product a model product was prepared using functional plants. In case of red ginseng crude saponin, and some medicinal herbs(Puerariae radix, the flower of Puerariae lobata, the fruits of Hovenia dulcis Thunb., Morus alba L.) the relative activity of ADH was significantly increased, which was from 104～114%. The relative activity of ALDH was also significantly increased in the cases of the fruits of Hovenia duicis Thunb., Morus alba L. which was from 102∼106%. To improve of soju flavours by addition of liquid phase product, it is prepared three samples added a given content (0.28%) of chik, ssanghwa and kyungokgo flavour. The total acceptability test showed significant differences among three samples, and it is observed that the sample added ssanghwa flavour get the best grade. As the second acceptability test, the preference of ssanghwa flavoured sample, sample without flavour and a similar product in market was compared. There was no significant difference among three samples.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
• /
• v.17 no.2
• /
• pp.131-134
• /
• 1993

Panaxadiol (PD) from Korean red ginseng C.A. Meyer did not control the concentration of cytosolic free $Ca^{2+}$ influxes by thrombin (5 $\mu$/ml). However, PD strongly inhibited the synthesis of thromboxane. $A_2$ (TX$A_2$) in the aggregation of human platelets induced by thrombin (5 $\mu$/ml). These rexults suggest that PD blocks the any Pathway transforming to TX$A_2$ from arachidonic acid (AA) which release out of plasma membrane phospholipids by $Ca^{2+}$-dependent phospholipase C or phospholipase $A_2$. It may be also concluded that PD has the antiplatelet function by inhibiting the synthesis of TX$A_2$, which known to be the potent stimulator of the aggregation of human platelet.

• Proceedings of the Ginseng society Conference
• /
• 1993.09a
• /
• pp.94-101
• /
• 1993

Lipophilic fraction(LF) from Panax ginseng C.A. Meyer inhibited the aggregation of human platelets induced by th rombin(0.1u/$m{\ell}$). LF and Molsidomine(vasodilator) induced the stimulation of cGMP - elevation and 50KD - Phosphorylation. and then the inhibition of 20KD - Phosphorylation in human platelets activated by thrombin. LF also inhibited the $Ca^{2-}-influx$ into platelets. When rat(SD : male) was fed with LF, the level of cGMP was increased in rat platelets stimulated by collagen and thrombin. On the other hand. verapamil, $Ca^{2-}-antagonist$ increased cAMP level ;n platelet stimulated by thrombin. but LF does not affected. However LF potently inhibited the thromboxane $A_2(TXA_2)$ production. The results suggest that the inhibitory effects of LF are mediated by regulation the phosphorylatior. of 50KD via cGMP-elevation and depend upon the decrease of $TXA_2$ level.

• Korean Journal of Oriental Medicine
• /
• v.14 no.2
• /
• pp.147-150
• /
• 2008

After the opening of the korean port, the influx of koreans to Shanghai was expanded and lead to form their society. Among these koreans many dealt in Ginseng peddling, which proportion was big enough to influence Shanghai ginseng market. There were also koreans dealing in pharmaceutics. Korea Red Cross contributed greatly in the propagation of medical knowledge and health care in Shanghai korean society. Korean doctors opened their own clinics in the area of korean habitants. But overall size of clinics and the medical apparatus were minimal. By this reasons many koreans utilized general hospitals founded by foreigners and chinese.

• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
• /
• v.14 no.4
• /
• pp.279-283
• /
• 1986

The ginseng residue, a by-product of ginseng tea manufacture, was used as growth promoting substance in the submerged cultivation of Basidiomycetes for its effective utilization. Ginseng residue contained about 46％ of total sugar, 14％ of crude protein, 12％ of ash, and 0.16％ of crude saponin. Among inorganic substances in ginseng residue, amount of Mg, Na, K and Ca were much more than other inorganic substances. All ginsenosides existed in red ginseng residue. Ganoderma lucidum and Pleurotus ostreatus could be excellently cultured in potato dextrose broth. Most effective additional concentration of residue extract for growth of these fungi was shown to be 0.2％, and the contents of crude protein and amino acid in mycelium were increased when 0.5％ of residue extract were added to the medium.