• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.41 no.2
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• pp.222-226
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• 2017

Background: Long-term ginseng intake can increase longevity in healthy individuals. Here, we examined if long-term treatment with Panax ginseng Meyer (Korean Red Ginseng, KRG) can also enhance survival duration (SD) in patients with human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) infection. Methods: We retrospectively analyzed 252 HIV-1 patients diagnosed from 1986 to 2013 prior to the initiation of antiretroviral therapy. Overall, 162 patients were treated with KRG ($3,947{\pm}4,943g$) for $86{\pm}63$ mo. The effects of KRG on SD were analyzed according to the KRG intake level and the length of the follow-up period. Results: There were significant correlations between the total amount of KRG and SD in the KRG intake group (r = 0.64, p < 0.0001) as well as between total amount of KRG and mean annual decrease in $CD4^+$ T-cell count in all 252 patients (r = -0.17, p < 0.01). The annual decrease in $CD4^+$ T-cell count (change in $cells/{\mu}L$) was significantly slower in KRG-treated patients than in patients receiving no KRG ($48{\pm}40$ vs. $106{\pm}162$; p < 0.001). The SD (in months) was also significantly longer in the KRG group than in the no-KRG group ($101{\pm}64$ vs. $59{\pm}40$, p < 0.01). Conclusion: KRG prolongs survival in HIV-1 patients, possibly by slowing the decrease in $CD4^+$ T-cell count.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.35 no.4
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• pp.429-435
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• 2011

Korean red ginseng has been studied various biological activities such as immune, anti-oxidative, anti-microbial, and anticancer activities but antiviral mechanism needs further studies. In this study, we aimed to examine the antiviral effects of Korea red ginseng extract and ginsenosides on norovirus surrogate, including murine norovirus (MNV) and feline calicivirus (FCV). We evaluated the pre-, co-, and post-treatment effects of Korean red ginseng (KRG), ginsenosides $Rb_1$ and $Rg_1$. To measure the antiviral effect and cytotoxicity of KRG extract, and ginsenosides $Rb_1$ and $Rg_1$, we treated Crandell-Reese Feline Kidney for FCV or RAW264.7 cells for MNV with concentrations of 0, 5, 6.7, 10, 20 ug/mL total saponin. There was cytotoxic effect in the highest concentration 20 ug/mL of KRG extract so this concentration was excluded in this study. The FCV titer was significantly reduced to 0.23-0.83 $log_{10}$ 50% tissue culture infectious dose ($TCID_{50}$)/mL in groups pre-treated with red ginseng extract or ginsenosides. The titer of MNV was significantly reduced to 0.37-1.48 $log_{10}$ $TCID_{50}$/mL in groups pre-treated with red ginseng extract or ginsenosides. However, there was no observed antiviral effect in groups co-treated or post-treated with KRG and its constituents. Our data suggest that KRG extract has an antiviral effect against norovirus surrogates. The antiviral mechanisms of KRG and ginsenosides should be addressed in future studies.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.35 no.3
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• pp.339-343
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• 2011

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are well known environmental carcinogens. PAH metabolites, especially BaP-7,8- dihydrodiol, 9,10 epoxide, initiate carcinogenesis via high specificity binding to DNA to form DNA adducts. The Korean red ginseng (KRG) from Panax ginseng has been suggested to protect against damages due to PAH exposure but the mechanism is unknown. Therefore, we investigated effects of KRG on PAH exposure using toxicokinetic methods and changes of PAH-induced oxidative damage during a 2 week-clinical trial (n=21 healthy young female, $23.71{\pm}2.43$ years). To analyze antioxidative effects of KRG, we measured changes in the levels of urinary malondialdehyde (MDA) before and after KRG treatment. We observed a significant positive association between levels of urinary MDA and 1-hydroxypyrene, a biomarker of PAH exposures (slope=1.47, p=0.03) and confirmed oxidative stress induced by PAH exposures. A reverse significant correlation between KRG treatment and level of urinary MDA was observed (p=0.03). In summary, results of our clinical trial study suggest that KRG plays a significant role in antioxidative as well as toxicokinetic pathways against PAHs exposure.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.40 no.4
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• pp.431-436
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• 2016

Background: Although numerous studies of the anticancer activities of Korean Red Ginseng (KRG) have been performed, the therapeutic effect of KRG on leukemia has not been fully elucidated. In this study, we investigated the antileukemia activities of KRG and its cellular and molecular mechanisms. Methods: An established leukemia tumor model induced by xenografted T cell lymphoma (RMA cells) was used to test the therapeutic activity of KRG water extract (KRG-WE). Direct cytotoxic activity of KRG-WE was confirmed by 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide assay. The immunomodulatory activities of KRG-WE were verified by immunohistochemistry, nitric oxide production assay. The inhibitory effect of KRG-WE on cell survival signaling was also examined. Results: Orally administered KRG-WE reduced the sizes of tumor masses. Levels of apoptosis regulatory enzymes and cleaved forms of caspases-3 and -8 were increased by this extract. In addition, expression of matrix metalloproteinase-9, a metastasis regulatory enzyme, was decreased by KRG-WE treatment. The proportion of CD11c+ cells was remarkably increased in the KRG-treated group compared to the control group. However, KRG-WE did not show significant direct cytotoxicity against RMA cells. Conclusion: Our results strongly suggest that the KRG might have antileukemia activity through CD11c+ cell-mediated antitumor immunity.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.35 no.3
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• pp.294-300
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• 2011

Zearalenone (ZEA) is a phenolic resorcylic acid lactone compound produced by several species of Fusarium. ZEA has toxic effects in the testes of domestic and laboratory animals. Korean red ginseng (KRG), the steamed root of Panax ginseng Meyer, has multiple pharmacological effects such as vasorelaxation, anti-thrombosis, anti-hypertension, etc. In this study, we investigated the effects of KRG extract on testicular toxicity induced by ZEA. Rats were treated with 300 mg/kg oral doses of KRG for 4 weeks every other day. The rats were then treated with a single dose of 5 mg/kg ZEA delivered intraperitoneally, whereas control rats received only doses of the vehicle. As a result, germ cell apoptosis induced by ZEA was decreased by KRG pre-treatment. In addition, Fas and Fas-L expression was reduced in rats that received KRG pre-treatment compared to ones treated with ZEA alone. In conclusion, impaired spermatogenesis resulting from ZEA treatment was prevented by KRG through Fas-Fas L modulating.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.42 no.3
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• pp.370-378
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• 2018

Background: Ginseng has been the subject of many experimental and clinical studies to uncover the diverse biological activities of its constituent compounds. It is a traditional medicine that has been used for its immunostimulatory, antithrombotic, antioxidative, anti-inflammatory, and anticancer effects. Ginseng may interact with concomitant medications and alter metabolism and/or drug transport, which may alter the known efficacy and safety of a drug; thus, the role of ginseng may be controversial when taken with other medications. Methods: We extensively assessed the effects of Korean Red Ginseng (KRG) in rats on the expression of enzymes responsible for drug metabolism [cytochrome p450 (CYP)] and transporters [multiple drug resistance (MDR) and organic anion transporter (OAT)] in vitro and on the pharmacokinetics of two probe drugs, midazolam and fexofenadine, after a 2-wk repeated administration of KRG at different doses. Results: The results showed that 30 mg/kg KRG significantly increased the expression level of CYP3A11 protein in the liver and 100 mg/kg KRG increased both the mRNA and protein expression of OAT1 in the kidney. Additionally, KRG significantly increased the mRNA and protein expression of OAT1, OAT3, and MDR1 in the liver. Although there were no significant changes in the metabolism of midazolam to its major metabolite, 1'-hydroxymidazolam, KRG significantly decreased the systemic exposure of fexofenadine in a dose-dependent manner. Conclusion: Because KRG is used as a health supplement, there is a risk of KRG overdose; thus, a clinical trial of high doses would be useful. The use of KRG in combination with P-glycoprotein substrate drugs should also be carefully monitored.

• Integrative Medicine Research
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• v.5 no.3
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• pp.223-223
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• 2016

Background: Korean Red Ginseng (Panax ginseng) has been shown to exert antihypertensive effects. In particular, ginsenoside Rg3 is thought to be a potent modulator of vascular function. The present study was performed to examine the antihypertensive efficacy of Korean Red Ginseng (KRG) extract and Rg3-enriched KRG (REKRG) extract. Methods: Spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHRs) andWistar-Kyoto rats (WKYs) were divided into six groups (WKY control, WKY-KRG, WKY-REKRG, SHR control, SHR-KRG, and SHRREKRG), and systolic blood pressure (SBP) and diastolic blood pressure (DBP) were measured at the carotid artery, followed by injection of 3mg/kg KRG or 3mg/kg REKRG. Results: REKRG treatment significantly decreased SBP and DBP 3hours post-treatment in the SHR group compared with SHR control group. However, SBP and DBP were not significantly different in KRG-treated SHRs compared with control SHRs. REKRG treatment did not significantly alter SBP or DBP 3hours post-treatment in the WKY group compared with WKY control group. Similarly, there were no differences in SBP or DBP with KRG treatment in the WKY group and WKY control group. Both KRG and REKRG increased endothelial nitric oxide synthase phosphorylation levels in the aorta, and the increases in endothelial nitric oxide synthase phosphorylation levels by REKRG treatment were higher than those with KRG treatment. Similarly, nitric oxide production in plasma from WKYs and SHRs was also increased by both KRG and REKRG. Conclusion: These results suggest that REKRG has a more beneficial effect on blood pressure control than KRG in SHRs.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.34 no.4
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• pp.336-341
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• 2010

One mechanism of inner ear damage by noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL) is the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS). Because Korean red ginseng (KRG) has an anti-ROS effect in various tissues, KRG may have a role in preventing NIHL. A window period exists in which ROS formations continue after noise exposure, and further damage can be prevented by antioxidants. In this study, we aimed to investigate the effects of KRG after exposure to noise. KRG (200 mg/kg) was fed to mice for 3 days after noise exposure. The change in hearing level was analyzed by measuring the auditory brainstem response. To induce a temporary threshold shift (TTS) of hearing, mice were exposed to 110 dB white noise for 3 hours. Fast recovery of hearing was observed in mice fed KRG 1 hour and 1 day after noise exposure for 3 days. The expression of 8-oxoguanine was not observed in the inner ears of mice fed KRG 1 hour after noise exposure, but was evident in the stria vascularis of mice in the control group (noise exposure only). From this study, we conclude that KRG acted as an effective inhibitor of NIHL in TTS cases.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.35 no.4
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• pp.457-461
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• 2011

A 24-week randomized open-label study with Korean red ginseng (KRG) showed cognitive benefits in patients with Alzheimer's disease. To further determine long-term effect of KRG, the subjects were recruited to be followed up to 2 yr. Cognitive function was evaluated every 12 wk using the Alzheimer's Disease Assessment Scale (ADAS) and the Korean version of the Mini Mental Status Examination (K-MMSE) with the maintaining dose of 4.5 g or 9.0 g KRG per d. At 24 wk, there had been a significant improvement in KRG-treated groups. In the long-term evaluation of the efficacy of KRG after 24 wk, the improved MMSE score remained without significant decline at the 48th and 96th wk. ADAS-cog showed similar findings. Maximum improvement was found around week 24. In conclusion, the effect of KRG on cognitive functions was sustained for 2 yr follow-up, indicating feasible efficacies of long-term follow-up for Alzheimer's disease.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.29 no.2
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• pp.80-85
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• 2005

Antiallergic and antipsoriatic effects of korean Red Ginseng (KRG, steamed root of panax ginseng C.A. Meyer, Family Araliaceae) were measured. Orally administered KRG water extract potently inhibited passive cutaneous anaphylaxis (PCA). KRG water extract also showed the potent inhibition in oxazolone-induced mouse dermatitis, and suppressed mouse ear swelling by $39\%$ at 16 days at a dose of $0.1\%$. KRG water extract reduced the levels of mRNA of cyclooxygenase (COX)-2, $IL-1\beta$, $TNF-\alpha$ and $INF-\gamma$ increased in oxazolone-applied mouse ears, however, did not inhibit that of IL-4. KRG water extract also inhibited iNOS and COX-2 mRNA expression level of RAW264.7 cell induced by lipopolysaccharide. Based on these findings, we suggest that KRG can improve atopic and contact dermatitis by the regulation of $ IL-1\beta$ and $TNF-\alpha$ produced by macrophage cells and $interferon-\gamma$ produced by Th1 cells.