• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.46 no.1
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• pp.138-146
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• 2022

Background: Red Ginseng has been used for many years to treat diseases. Ginsenoside Rg3 has documented therapeutic effects, including anticancer and anti-inflammatory activities. However, the anticancer effect of Rg3-enriched red ginseng extract (Rg3-RGE) and its underlying mechanisms have not been fully explored. We investigated whether Rg3-RGE plays an anti-tumor role in lung cancer cells. Methods: To examine the effect of Rg3-RGE on lung cancer cells, we performed cell viability assays, flow cytometry, western blotting analysis, and immunofluorescence to monitor specific markers. Results: Rg3-RGE significantly inhibited cell proliferation and induced mitochondria-dependent apoptosis. Furthermore, Rg3-RGE also increased expression of mitophagy-related proteins such as PINK1 and Parkin. In addition, treatment with Rg3-RGE and mitophagy inhibitors stimulated cell death by inducing mitochondria dysfunction. Conclusions: Rg3-RGE could be used as a therapeutic agent against lung cancer.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.20 no.1
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• pp.7-14
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• 1996

This study was performed to examine the effect of red ginseng total saponin and extract on memory in mice using one trial step-down type passive avoidance method. Red ginseng total saponins (No. 1: PD/PT ratio=1.24, No. 2: PD/PT ratio=1.47) were prepared with the different mixing ratio by using the parts of red ginseng. In single administration of total saponin No. 1 (100 mg/ kg, bw) or No. 2 (50 mg/kg, bw) increased the latency time as compared with control group but was not statistically significant. Treatment of total saponin No. 1 (50 mg/kg, bw) for 10 days produced an increase of latency time but was not statistically significant. In scopolamine-induced memory deficient mice total saponin No. 1 (50 mg/kg, bw) and No. 2 (100 mg/kg, bw) significantly improved the latency time. These results show that red ginseng total saponin may improve the memory of sco-polamine-induced memory deficient mice and have nootropic activity.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.38 no.4
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• pp.264-269
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• 2014

Background: In this study, we examined the effects of various enzymes on chemical conversions of ginsenosides in ginseng extract prepared by amylases. Methods: Rapidase, Econase CE, Viscozyme, Ultraflo L, and Cytolase PCL5 were used for secondary enzymatic hydrolysis after amylase treatment of ginseng extract, and ginsenoside contents, skin permeability, and chemical compositions including total sugar, acidic polysaccharide, and polyphenols were determined on the hydrolyzed ginseng extract. Results: Rapidase treatment significantly elevated total ginsenoside contents compared with the control (p < 0.05). In particular, deglycosylated ginsenosides including Rg3, which are known as bioactive compounds, were significantly increased after Rapidase treatment (p < 0.05). The Rapidase-treated group also increased the skin permeability of polyphenols compared with the control, showing the highest level of total sugar content among the enzyme treatment groups. Conclusion: This result showed that Rapidase induced the conversion of ginsenoside glycosides to aglycones. Meanwhile, Cytolase PCL5 and Econase treatments led to a significant increase of uronic acid (acidic polysaccharide) level. Taken together, our data showed that the treatments of enzymes including Rapidase are useful for the conversion and increase of ginsenosides in ginseng extracts or products.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.16 no.1
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• pp.7-12
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• 1992

This study was carried out to investigate the effect of water extracts from 4-, 5- and 6-year old red white ginseng roots on the inhibition of lipolysis in fat cells induced by toxohormone-L which has been known as lipolytic and anorexigenic factors. Toxohormone-L was obtained by partial purification of the ascites fluid from mice which had been inoculated with sarcoma-180. Each water extract of ginseng was effective in vitro against the inhibition of lipolysis induced by the toxohormone-L at the concentrations over 10~100 $\mu\textrm{g}$/ml. At the concentration of 1,000 $\mu\textrm{g}$/ml, the inhibition ratio of lipolysis by the water extracts of 4-, 5- and 6-year old white ginseng roots were 56.3, 59.7 and 59.4%, and those of red ginseng roots were 78.6, 79.1 and 82.5%, respectively, indicating that the 6-year old red ginseng was the most effective in the inhibition of the lipolysis. The total inhibitory activity per gram of ginseng sample was higher in the 4-year and 5-year old white ginseng roots at the concentrations of 100 $\mu\textrm{g}$/ml and 1,000 $\mu\textrm{g}$/ml, respectively, while for the red ginseng it was higher in the 6-year old ginseng than other ages regardless of the reaction concentration. Only once injection of the ginseng extracts(300 mg/ml in saline solution) with 10 ${mu}ell$/g of weight to the mice bearing sarcoma-180 was not effective against the extension of their life spans. On the contrary, the life spans of the mice were rather shortened by the injection of 5-year old white ginseng and 6-year old red ginseng, as compared to that of control.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.34 no.4
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• pp.327-335
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• 2010

We reported previously that the administration of Korean red ginseng water extract (KRG-WE) protected the guinea pig testis against damage induced by 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (a potent endocrine disruptor). We also found that crude saponin from ginseng was the active ingredient responsible for this protection. Here, we examined the biological role of KRG-WE in an animal model of age-induced dysfunction of spermatogenesis. Twenty-four male Sprague-Dawley (six 2-month-old and eighteen 12-month-old) rats were used. The young and old control groups received only vehicle. The ginseng saponin (GS)- and KRG-WE-treated groups received GS (40 mg/kg body weight/day) and KRG-WE (200 mg/kg body weight/day), respectively, for 4 months. The number of cells, Sertoli cell index, Johnsen's score, and sex hormone levels decreased significantly with age. However, the administration of KRG-WE and GS markedly improved the number of germ cells, seminiferous tubular size, and Johnsen's score in the old rats. Ginseng produced a distinct testicular histological improvement in old rats. KRG-WE and GS elevated testosterone levels, while attenuating the aberrant increase in follicle stimulating hormone and luteinizing hormone levels. Sperm kinematics evaluated by a computer-assisted sperm analyzer demonstrated improvement in the percentage of motile sperm, progressive sperm motility, and curvilinear velocity associated with sperm quality, supporting the beneficial role of red ginseng in senile spermatogenesis. Overall, the total water extract had a more potent effect than the corresponding saponin fraction. In conclusion, Korean red ginseng rejuvenated age-induced testicular dysfunction. Additionally, the total water extract was more potent than the corresponding saponin fraction.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.36 no.2
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• pp.153-160
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• 2012

Panax ginseng has long been used as a traditional herbal medicine. More recently, it has received attention for its anti-diabetic and anti-obesity effects in humans and in animal models of type 2 diabetes. In the present study, we tested the hypoglycemic effects of ginseng berry extract in beta-cell-deficient mice and investigated the mechanisms involved. Red (ripe) and green (unripe) berry extracts were prepared and administered orally (100 or 200 mg/kg body weight) to streptozotocin-induced diabetic mice daily for 10 wk. The body weight was measured daily, and the nonfasting blood glucose levels were measured after 5 and 10 wk after administration. Glucose tolerance tests were performed, and the serum insulin levels were measured. The proliferation of beta-cells was measured in vitro. The administration of red or green ginseng berry extract significantly reduced the blood glucose levels and improved the glucose tolerance in beta-cell deficient mice, with the higher doses resulting in better effects. Glucose-stimulated insulin secretion was significantly increased in berry extract-treated mice compared with streptozotocin-induced diabetic control mice. Treatment with ginseng berry extract increased beta-cell proliferation in vitro. Both red berry and green berry extracts improved glycemic control in streptozotocin-induced diabetic mice and increased insulin secretion, possibly due to increased beta-cell proliferation. These results suggest that ginseng berry extracts might have beneficial effects on beta-cell regeneration.

• Proceedings of the Ginseng society Conference
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• 1990.06a
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• pp.132-136
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• 1990

The metabolic disturbance and nephrotoxicity induced by sodium dichromate (20 mg/kg, SC) have been diminished by the administration of Korean red ginseng extract (100 mg/kg, PO). Red ginseng has a powerful potency on the blood urea nitrogen (BUN) increment shown in the early 2h after dichromate intoxication. It normalized the dichromate induced hepatic glycogenolysis. The effect of red ginseng on dichromate induced nephrotoxicity was investigated by hematological analysis, and urinalysis. Ginseng treatment significantly reduced the increases in the urinary excretion of protein and glucose. These effects were dose dependent. Ginseng protected the accumulation of BUN and cretonne in the blood, caused by dichromate intoxication. Unlike CaEDTA, ginseng did not change the urinary excretion chromium. And it could not convert htxavalent chromium to trivalent chromium. These results suggest that ginseng treatment is effective in decreasing the metabolic disturbance, one of the earliest signs of dichromate toxicity, resulting in the protective effect of dichromate induced renal damage.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.14 no.2
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• pp.274-278
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• 1990

The metabolic disturbance and nephrotoxicity induced by sodium dichromate (20 mg/kg, SC) have been diminished by the administration of Korean red ginseng extract (100 mg/kg, PO). Red ginseng has a powerful potency on the blood urea nitrogen (BUN) increment shown in the early 2h after dichromate intoxication. It normalized the dichromate induced hepatic glycogenolysis. The effect of red ginseng on dichroamte induced nephrotoxicity was investigated by hematological analysis, and urinalysis. Ginseng treatment significantly reduced the increases in the urinary excretion of protein and glucose. These effects were dose dependent. Ginseng protected the accumulation of BUN and creatinine in the blood, caused by dichromate intoxication. Unlike CaEDTA, ginseng did not change the urinary excretion of chromiilm and it could not convert hexavalent chronlium to trialvalent chromium. These results suggest that ginseng treatment is effective in decreasing the metabolic disturbance, one of the earliest signs of dichromate toxicity, resulting in the protective effect of dichromate induced renal damage.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.37 no.2
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• pp.194-200
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• 2013

Korean red ginseng (KRG) is prepared by the process of steaming the roots of Panax ginseng. In this study, the feeding effects of KRG-water extract (KRGE) on ethanol-induced liver damage were elucidated by measuring serum biomarkers in rats. Serum ${\gamma}$-glutamyltranspeptidase (g-GT) activity and the concentration of malondialdehyde (MDA) were significantly increased by short-term and long-term ethanol treatment in rats, whereas the activities of serum glutamate pyruvate transaminase (GPT) and glutamate oxaloacetate transaminase (GOT) did not respond. Pretreatment with KRGE maintained the activity of serum GPT, and the MDA concentration induced by short-term ethanol ingestion remained within the normal range. However, co-feeding of KRGE to rats decreased the concentration of MDA but failed to modulate the serum ${\gamma}$-GT activity induced by long-term ethanol treatment. Our studies suggest that in rats, it appears that KRGE does not sufficiently reverse the physiological response evoked by long-term ethanol ingestion to maintain normal conditions, in view of the serum biomarker ${\gamma}$-GT, regardless of KRGE's favorable antioxidant activity.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.36 no.4
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• pp.396-402
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• 2012

Vaccination is the main strategy for preventing influenza infection. However, vaccine efficacy is influenced by several factors, including age and health status. The efficacy of the influenza vaccine is much lower (17% to 53%) in individuals over 65 yr of age compared with young adults (70% to 90%). Therefore, increasing vaccine efficacy remains a challenge for the influenza vaccine field. In this study, we investigated the impact of supplementing vaccination with the dietary intake of Korean red ginseng (RG) extract and RG saponin. Mice were immunized two times intranasally with inactivated influenza A (H1N1) virus. Mice received RG extract or RG saponin orally for 14 d prior to the primary immunization. After the primary immunization, mice continued to receive RG extract or RG saponin until the secondary immunization. Mice vaccinated in combination with dietary intake of RG extract and RG saponin showed elevated serum anti-influenza A virus IgG titers and improved survival rates in lethal influenza A virus infection: 56% and 63% of mice receiving RG extract or RG saponin survived, respectively, while 38% of mice that only received the vaccine survived. Moreover, mice receiving RG extract supplementation recovered their body weight more quickly than those not receiving RG extract supplementation. We propose that the dietary intake of RG extract and RG saponin enhances the vaccine-induced immune response and aids in providing protection against influenza virus infection.