• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.46 no.4
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• pp.536-542
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• 2022

Background: In aged skin, reactive oxygen species (ROS) induces degradation of the extracellular matrix (ECM), leading to visible aging signs. Collagens in the ECM are cleaved by matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs). Syringaresinol (SYR), isolated from Panax ginseng berry, has various physiological activities, including anti-inflammatory action. However, the anti-aging effects of SYR via antioxidant and autophagy regulation have not been elucidated. Methods: The preventive effect of SYR on skin aging was investigated in human HaCaT keratinocytes in the presence of H₂O₂, and the keratinocyte cells were treated with SYR (0-200 ㎍/mL). mRNA and protein levels of MMP-2 and -9 were determined by real-time PCR and Western blotting, respectively. Radical scavenging activity was researched by 2,2 diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and 2,2'-azino-bis-3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid (ABTS) assays. LC3B level was assessed by Western blotting and confocal microscopy. Results: SYR significantly reduced gene expression and protein levels of MMP-9 and -2 in both H₂O₂-treated and untreated HaCaT cells. SYR did not show cytotoxicity to HaCaT cells. SYR exhibited DPPH and ABTS radical scavenging activities with an EC₅₀ value of 10.77 and 10.35 ㎍/mL, respectively. SYR elevated total levels of endogenous and exogenous LC3B in H₂O₂-stimulated HaCaT cells. 3-Methyladenine (3-MA), an autophagy inhibitor, counteracted the inhibitory effect of SYR on MMP-2 expression. Conclusion: SYR showed antioxidant activity and up-regulated autophagy activity in H₂O₂-stimulated HaCaT cells, lowering the expression of MMP-2 and MMP-9 associated with skin aging. Our results suggest that SYR has potential value as a cosmetic additive for prevention of skin aging.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.47 no.1
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• pp.65-73
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• 2023

Background: Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is a significant visual disease that induces impaired vision and irreversible blindness in the elderly. However, the effects of ginseng berry extract (GBE) on the retina have not been studied. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the protective effects of GBE on blue light (BL)-induced retinal damage and elucidate its underlying mechanisms in human retinal pigment epithelial cells (ARPE-19 cells) and Balb/c retina. Methods: To investigate the effects and underlying mechanisms of GBE on retinal damage in vitro, we performed cell viability assay, pre-and post-treatment of sample, reactive oxygen species (ROS) assay, quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR), and western immunoblotting using A2E-laden ARPE-19 cells with BL exposure. In addition, Balb/c mice were irradiated with BL to induce retinal degeneration and orally administrated with GBE (50, 100, 200 mg/kg). Using the harvested retina, we performed histological analysis (thickness of retinal layers), qRT-PCR, and western immunoblotting to elucidate the effects and mechanisms of GBE against retinal damage in vivo. Results: GBE significantly inhibited BL-induced cell damage in ARPE-19 cells by activating the SIRT1/PGC-1α pathway, regulating NF-kB translocation, caspase 3 activation, PARP cleavage, expressions of apoptosis-related factors (BAX/BCL-2, LC3-II, and p62), and ROS production. Furthermore, GBE prevented BL-induced retinal degeneration by restoring the thickness of retinal layers and suppressed inflammation and apoptosis via regulation of NF-kB and SIRT1/PGC-1α pathway, cleavage of caspase 3 and PARP, and expressions of apoptosis-related factors in vivo. Conclusions: GBE could be a potential agent to prevent dry AMD and progression to wet AMD.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.39-44
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• 1993

In Korean ginseng, Panax ginseng C.A Meyer, it was difficult to isolate chloroplast DNA with classical methods, because of the high polysaccharide content of ginseng chloroplast The simple and efficient method of chloroplast DNA isolation from ginseng leaves has been developed by motificalion of recently advanced methods. Also, it can be successfully applied to ctDNA isolation of Chinese cabbage, radish, petunia tobacco as well as ginseng. Isolated chloroplast DNA from ginseng was digested with various restriction endonucleases. It was estimated that the molecular weight of Korean ginseng chloroplast DNA was about 142 kb. There was no difference in restriction endonuclease digestion patterns between two variants of Korean ginseng, which are Jakyung-Jong (violet-stem variant) and Hwang- sook-Jong (yellow-berry variant).

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.8 no.1
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• pp.45-56
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• 1984

This study was carried out to obtain the basic information on the development of flower bud and to clarify the characteristics of flower organ and flowering in Korean ginseng (Panax ginseng) and American ginseng (Panax quinquefolium). The formation of flower bud in the dormancy bud of Korean ginseng was initiated about the middle of June and completed late in September. The ovary, style and anther of Panax ginseng, violet-stem and yellow-berry variants, were formed earlier than those of Panax quinquefolium. Panax ginseng, therefore, flowered earlier by one month in comparison with Panax quinquefolium. As for the effect of temperature on the flowering of ginseng, both species, Panax ginseng and Panax quinquefolium, grown at 20 $^{\circ}C$ flowered earlier than those at 15 $^{\circ}C$ and field conditions, but did not flower at 30 $^{\circ}C$. Seed characters were better in Panax ginseng than in Panax quinquefolium and the amount of seeds showed the highly significant positive correlation coefficient with peduncle length in both Panax ginseng and Panax quinquefolium.

• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
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• v.43 no.2
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• pp.158-163
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• 2015

In this study, we investigated the effects of 40% ethanol extract of Red Ginseng (RGE) on the productions of inflammatory proteins in Antigen I/II (Ag I/II)-N, a recombinant protein isolated from Streptococcus mutans -stimulated in RAW 264.7 cells. RGE inhibited the expression of Ag I/II-N-induced pro-inflammatory mediators, both mRNA and protein synthesis levels, without any cytotoxic effects. Moreover, RGE significantly inhibited Ag I/II-N induced NF-κB translocation into the nucleus by preventing the degradation of inhibitor κB-α. In conclusion, RGE down regulates the expression of pro-inflammatory genes involved in the synthesis of NO and iNOS in Ag I/II-N-stimulated RAW 264.7 cells by suppressing NF-κB activity.

• Proceedings of the Ginseng society Conference
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• 2002.10a
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• pp.467-476
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• 2002

A large number of individual ginseng plants have been selected in the farmer's fields to develop new ginseng varieties with desirable traits since 1970s. Among them, Hwangsukjong with green stem and yellow berry was selected as a ginseng germplasm. The phenotype of Hwangsukjong is quite different from Jakyungjong that has violet stem and red berry and has been cultivated in most of ginseng fields. Therefore, Hwangsukjong was crossed with Jakyungjong to clarify the inheritance of stem color and then the characteristics of $F_1\;and\;F_2$ hybrids were investigated. $F_1$ hybrid plants were similar to Jakyungjong in most of aerial part characters and showed hybrid vigor in fresh weight of root and weight of 100 seeds. In $F_2$ generation, the stem color was segregated in a ratio of 3 violet to 1 green. From this result, it was elucidated that violet color was controlled by single dominant gene. In another experiment, DNA was extracted from parents (Jakyungjong and Hwangsukjong) and $F_1$ hybrid. For each primer evaluated, multiple band profile was produced comprising from one to five major bands plus a varying number of minor bands and amplified bands were detected among most primers. In case of UBC primer number 13, 17, 30, 31, and 43, band patterns of parents and $F_1$ hybrid were very similar, but the others were not. Especially, in {\sharp}1$, {\sharp}4$, and {\sharp}33$, specific band was produced in Hwangsukjong and $F_1$ hybrid while in {\sharp}6$, another specific band was produced in Jakyungjong and $F_1$ hybrid. Therefore, $F_1$ hybrid had all specific bands at these primers. So, these selective markers could be used for identification of characteristics of $F_2$ hybrids

• Journal of Dairy Science and Biotechnology
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• v.33 no.2
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• pp.159-166
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• 2015

We investigated the anti-obesity effects of Lactobacillus acidophilus C isolated from kimchi and red ginseng and black raspberry mixture fermented by this strain. Experimental samples were prepared with 10% skim milk, 1% red ginseng extract and 1% immature black raspberry powder and without red ginseng extract and black raspberry fermented by this strain at $37^{\circ}C$ for 24 hour. Male C57BL/6J mice were randomly divided into 4 groups (a normal diet group (N), a high-fat diet group (HF), a high fat diet with L. acidophilus C (C), and a high fat diet with fermented mixture (CEx)) and were orally administered daily for 6 weeks at concentration of 2,000 mg/kg body weight. The results showed that weight gain, weight of periepididymal fat and perirenal fat, adipocyte size, lipid accumulation in liver, serum glucose concentration, serum GOT and GPT concentration and serum leptin were decreased and concentration of HDL-cholesterol and serum adiponectin were increased compared to HF group. These results suggest that fermented mixture (CEx) might be helpful in improvement of high-fat diet-induced obesity than only L. acidophilus C intake.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.45 no.6
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• pp.631-641
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• 2021

Background: Main bioactive constituents and pharmacological functions of ripened red ginseng berry (Panax ginseng Meyer) have been frequently reported. Yet, the research gap targeting the beneficial activities of transformed green ginseng berries has not reported elsewhere. Methods: Ginsenosides of new green berry cultivar K-1 (GK-1) were identified by HPLC-QTOF/MS. Ginsenosides bioconversion in GK-1 by bgp1 enzyme was confirmed with HPLC and TLC. Then, mechanisms of GK-1 and β-glucosidase (bgp1) biotransformed GK-1 (BGK-1) were determined by Quantitative Reverse Transcription-Polymerase Chain Reaction and Western blot. Results: GK-1 possesses highest ginsenosides especially ginsenoside-Re amongst seven ginseng cultivars including (Chunpoong, Huangsuk, Kumpoong, K-1, Honkaejong, Gopoong, and Yunpoong). Ginseng root's biomass is not affected with the harvest of GK-1 at 3 weeks after flowering period. Then, Re is bioconverted into a promising pharmaceutical effect of Rg2 via bgp1. According to the results of cell assays, BGK-1 shows decrease of tyrosinase and melanin content in α-melanocyte-stimulating hormone challenged-murine melanoma B16 cells. BGK-1 which is comparatively more effective than GK-1 extract shows significant suppression of the nuclear factor (NF)-κB activation and inflammatory target genes, in LPS-stimulated RAW 264.7 cells. Conclusion: These results reported effective whitening and anti-inflammatory of BGK-1 as compared to GK-1.

• KOREAN JOURNAL OF CROP SCIENCE
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• v.30 no.2
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• pp.154-157
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• 1985

This study was conducted to know the respiration rate in different organ of 4 years old ginseng plant on June 14 and in different root conditions of 6 years old on October 1. Respiration rate of each organ was the increasing order of young berry, leaf, peduncle, stem and root at all temperature(15$^{\circ}C$ to 30$^{\circ}C$). Temperature coefficients of respiration rate from 15$^{\circ}C$ to 30$^{\circ}C$ of each organ were 2.39 in young berry, 1.75 in leaf, 1.57 in root, 1.17 in stem and 1.16 in peduncle. There was no difference between respiration rate of large size root (117${\pm}$8.8g) and that of small size (54${\pm}$4.0g) in 6 years old ginseng. Respiration rate was decreased with the decrease in the water content in root, especially in small size root. And respiration rate of red skin root was higher than that of healthy root.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Crop Science Conference
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• 2007.11a
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• pp.256.2-256.2
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• 2007