• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.22 no.3
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• pp.173-180
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• 1998

Thrombogenesis and atherosclerosis are mainly caused by platelet aggregation, blood coagulation, and hyperlipidemia. Platelet aggrelation, activated platelet thromboplastin time (APTT) were measured as indexes of blood coagulation and lipid contents in the subjects who have taken red ginseng products (e.g. water extract, tea, drink etc.) for 4 to 5 years. The platelet aggregation in the red ginseng-taking group was significantly decreased, as compared with the non-red ginseng-intaking group, when platelets were stimulated by 100 $\mu\textrm{g}$/ml of collagen (P<0.01). The atherogenic index and the ratio of triglyceride to HDL-cholesterol in blood, the risk factors of atherosclerosis, were decreased in the subjects of ginseng group, compared with that in control group. APTT was also prolonged to greater extent in ginseng group than in control group. These results suggest that long-term intake of ginseng products may help to prevent the risks of thrombogenesis and atherosclerosis.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.18 no.3
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• pp.204-211
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• 1994

Three unknown ninhydrin positive substances (UK-I, UK-II and UK-III) were detected with an amino acid analyzer in a water extract of Korean red ginseng. One of them (UK-II) was isolated and determined to be maltulosyl arginine (Arg-Fru-Glc) on the basis of chemical and spectroscopic evidence. Another one (VK-III) was identified as Arg-Fru. Maltulosyl arginine, but not Arg-Fru, is a newly identified amino acid derivative. The Korean red ginseng was shown to contain more amount of maltulosyl arginine than the white ginseng. Maltulosyl arginine was found to be produced by the Mallard reaction of maltose with arginine during the heating process involved in preparation of the red ginseng. Maltulosyl arginine was found to inhibit maltase activity. Based on these results, the physiological significance of this new compound is discussed.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.12 no.4
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• pp.242-249
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• 2004

The main aim of this study was to investigate stress related activities of Sun-ginseng extract as a candidate for anti-stress-related functional supplement by comparing its effect to those of red ginseng, which is also known to alleviate stress. Normal group was not exposed to stress while the control group was exposed to stress. Rats were orally administered once a day with 200 mg red ginseng (RG) extract, 100 or 200 mg Sun-ginseng (SG) extract/kg body weight. Mice were given water containing 400 mg red ginseng extract, 200 or 400 mg SG/100 mL potable water. Rats were given supplements for 5 days without stress, and 5 days with restraint and electroshock stress. After final stress, stress-related behavioral changes of experimental animals were recorded and levels of blood corticosterone were measured. Mice were given supplements for 5 days through drinking water, and then fatigue related motor activity were recorded. SG-supplementation partially blocked stress effect on locomotion and elevated plus maze test in rats, and also partially blocked stress-induced behavioral changes such as freezing, burrowing, smelling, facewashing, grooming and rearing behavior in rats. SG-supplementation decreased blood corticosterone level which is increased by stress in rats. Effects of SG may not be modulated by GABAnergic nervous system. SG-supplementation prolonged swimming time and staying time on the wire and rotarod wheel in mice. These results suggest that SG partially protects living organisms from stress attack in some cases and thus has the potential to be used as a functional food to alleviate stress response.

• 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.32 no.4
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• pp.341-346
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• 2008

In the present study, we assessed the effects of white ginseng and red ginseng extract on the learning and memory impairments induced by scopolamine. The cognition-enhancing effect of ginseng extracts was investigated using the Morris water maze and Y-maze test. Drug-induced amnesia was induced by treating animals with scopolamine (2 mg/kg, i.p.), an antagonist of muscarinic acetylcholine (ACh) receptor. Tacrine was used a positive control. Ginseng extract (200 mg/kg, p.o.), tacrine (10 mg/kg, p.o.) administration significantly reduced the escape latency during training in the Morris water maze (p<0.05). At the probe trial session, scopolamine significantly increased the escape latency on day 5 in comparison with control (p<0.01). The effect of ginseng extracts on spontaneous alternation in Y-maze was similar to that of scopolamine treated group. In addition, numbers of arm entries were similar in all experimental groups. Moreover, red ginseng extract significantly inhibited acetylcholinesterase activity in the cortex and serum (p<0.05). Brain ACh contents of ginseng extract treated groups increased more than that of scopolamine group, which did not show statistically significant. These results suggest that ginseng extract may be useful for the treatment of cognitive impairment.

• The Korean Journal of Food And Nutrition
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• v.6 no.2
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• pp.109-114
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• 1993

This study was divised to observe an Inhibitory effect toward a lipolytic action of toxohormone-L from large root and small root Nepal pseudo ginseng (NPG ; Nepal products) components by water extract and ethanol precipitate in vitro. Toxohormone-L is known to be a lipolytic factor that was partially purified from the ascites fluid of Sarcoma 180-bearing mice and of patients with hepatoma. The inhibitory effect that inhibited the lipolytic action of toxohormone-L by ethanol Precipitate component of large root NPG (mean 55.5%) was higher (mean 1.37 times) than that of water extract component in final reaction concentration of 500 and 1, 000ug/ml, on the other side inhibitory effect of water extract component in small root NPG (mean 55.5%) was higer (mean 1.14 times) than that of ethanol precipitate component. In a way inhibitory effect of precipitate component In large root NPG(47.6%), when final reaction concentration of sample were 1, 000ug/ml, was about 40% lower than that of Korean red ginseng.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.47 no.4
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• pp.552-560
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• 2023

Background: Ginseng Radix (Panax ginseng Meyer, Araliaceae) has been used medicinally to treat the brain and nervous system problems worldwide. Recent studies have revealed physiological effects that could potentially benefit cognitive performance or mood. The present study aimed to investigate the antidepressant effects of Korean red ginseng water extract (KGE) and its active component in an unpredictable chronic mild stress (UCMS)-induced animal model and elucidate the underlying mechanisms. Methods: The antidepressant potential of the UCMS model was evaluated using the sucrose preference test and open field tests. The behavioral findings were further corroborated by the assessment of neurotransmitters and their metabolites from the prefrontal cortex and hippocampus of rats. Three doses of KGE (50, 100, and 200 mg/kg) were orally administered during the experiment. Furthermore, the mechanism underlying the antidepressant-like action of KGE was examined by measuring the levels of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF)/CREB, nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2), and Kelch-like ECH-associated protein 1 (Keap1) proteins in the prefrontal cortex of UCMS-exposed rats. Results: KGE treatment normalized UCMS-induced depression-related behaviors. Neurotransmitter studies conducted after completing behavioral experiments demonstrated that KGE caused a reduction in the ratio of serotonin and dopamine, indicating a decrease in serotonin and dopamine turnover. Moreover, the expression of BDNF, Nrf2, Keap1 and AKT were markedly increased by KGE in the prefrontal cortex of depressed rats. Conclusion: Our results provide evidence that KGE and its constituents exert antidepressant effects that mediate the dopaminergic and serotonergic systems and expression of BDNF protein in an animal model.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.5 no.1
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• pp.8-23
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• 1981

Color is one of the most important quality factors of red ginseng (Hong-sam) which is processed from fresh ginseng (Panax ginseng C. A. Meyer). Therefore, a study of characteristics of browning mixtures of aqueous fresh ginseng extracts, factors which accelerate the browning of the aqueous extracts, and the antioxidant activity of the browning mixtures may contribute to the improvement of the color and other quality of red ginseng and other ginseng products such as ginseng extracts. In the present study, factors which affect the Maillard-type browning reaction of aqueous extracts of fresh ginseng roots were investigated firstly by adding various concentrations (0.001-0.5M) of arginine or glucose solutions, by varying the browning reaction temperatures and durations. Secondly, some characteristics such as brown color intensity, amounts of water-soluble and ether-soluble extracts, amounts of non-dialyzable materials, pH, viscosity, and reactivity with 2,2'- diphenyl -1 - picrylhydrazyl and antioxidant activity of the browning mixtures of the aqueous fresh ginseng extracts with small amounts of 0.1 M arginine, 0.1 M glucose, and distilled water at various browning temperatures and reaction time were studied. The results of the present study are as follows. 1. Color intensity (absorbance at 470 nm) of the browning mixtures was increased by adding various concentrations of arginine solution to the fresh ginseng extract, but the addition of the same amount of glucose solution did not increase the color intensity. 2 The amounts of water- or ether-soluble extracts, amounts of non-dialyzable materials were slightly greater in case of the browning mixtures of the fresh ginseng extract with 0.1M arginine solution than in case of the browning mixtures of the fresh ginseng extract with the same amount of 0.1 M glucose solution. In the process of the browning reaction, the pH of the browning mixtures of the fresh ginseng extract with 0.1 M arginine solution decreased slightly, while that of the browning mixtures with 0. 1 M glucose solution was almost constant. 3. The color intensity (absorbance at 470 nm) of the browning mixtures of the fresh ginseng extract with 0.1 M arginine or 0.1 M glucose solutions did not correlate well with the reducing power or the antioxidant power of the browning mixtures. The antioxidant activity of 90% ethanol extracts from the earlier stages of the browning mixtures of the fresh ginseng extract with the arginine solution was almost comparable to that of the 90% ethanol extracts from the later stages of the corresponding browning mixtures. The browning mixtures of only the fresh ginseng extract or of the fresh ginseng extract with the glucose solution showed considerable antioxidant activity, although both showed less brown color intensity than the fresh ginseng extract with he arginine solution.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.4 no.2
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• pp.165-174
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• 1980

The concentrated red ginseng extract (RGE) which was prepared from water extract of red ginseng tails was investigated for its changes in color intensity, sugar contents and during storage at various temperatures. In order to evaluate the color of RCE, a spectrophotometric measurement in ultraviolet and visible range was applied. The concentrated RGE was divided into three fractions of aqueous, butanol and benzene layers. It was found that : (1) Increase in RCE color during heat treatment was considered to be due to nonezymatic browning reaction. Water soluble layer showed approximately 100 times higher color intensity than those of organic solvent layers (2) The RCE stored at 8$0^{\circ}C$ showed an increase in fructose and glucose content while a rapid decrease was resulted at 10$0^{\circ}C$. (3) A rapid increase in absorbances at 400 and 460nm was shown at 90 and 10$0^{\circ}C$ after an initial induction period and slowed down after 50 hours . (4) A significant relationship was found between decrease in sugar content and increase in color intensity. (5) Absorbance ratio of 400nm/460nm indicated that benzene layer has about two times higher value in violet color than those of butanol and aqueous layers.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.23 no.3 s.55
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• pp.172-175
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• 1999

The effect of Korean red ginseng extract on the pharmacokinetics of ethanol was examined in 14 male rats and 10 healthy male volunteers. Aqueous red ginseng extract (200 mg/kg), or an equivalent volume of water was administered orally to the rats and followed immediately by treatment with $50\%$ (v/v) ethanol orally (3.2 g/kg). The area under the curve (AVC) and elimination rate constant (Ke) of ethanol were $29.2{\pm}6.2\;g{\cdot}min{\cdot}dl^{-},\;0.51{\pm}0.06\;mg{\cdot}dl^{-}{\cdot}min.^{-}$ in ginseng-treated group and $28.0{\pm}5.6\;g{\cdot}min.{\cdot}dl^{-},0.5{\pm}0.1\;mg{\cdot}dl^{-}{\cdot}min.^{-}$ in control group. These differences were not significant. The volunteers were given orally with 3g of aqueous ginseng, or an equivalent volume of water, followed immediately by Korean alcoholic beverage, Soju (2.4 ml/kg). The AUC and Ke of ethanol for volunteers were $10.6{\pm}2.0\;g{\cdot}min.{\cdot}dl^{-}$ and $0.21{\pm}0.05\;mg{\cdot}dl^{-}{\cdot}min.^{-}$ in ginseng-treated group and $11.0{\pm}2.2\;g{\cdot}min.{\cdot}dl^{-}$ and $0.22{\pm}0.04\;mg{\cdot}dl^{-}{\cdot}min.^{-}$ in control group. These differences were not also significant. These results suggest that an application of red ginseng extract does not have any clinically significant effect on the pharmacokinetics of ethanol.