• Archives of Pharmacal Research
• /
• v.28 no.3
• /
• pp.335-342
• /
• 2005

The effects of ginsenosides Rg$_3$(R) , Rg$_3$(S) and Rg$_5$/Rk$_1$ (a mixture of Rg$_5$ and Rk$_1$ 1:1, w/w), which are components isolated from processed Panax ginseng C.A. Meyer (Araliaceae), on memory dysfunction were examined in mice using a passive avoidance test. The ginsenosides Rg3(R), Rg3(S) or Rg$_5$/Rk$_1$, when orally administered for 4 days, significantly ameliorated the memory impairment induced by the single oral administration of ethanol. The memory impairment induced by the intraperitoneal injection of scopolamine was also significantly recovered by ginsenosides Rg3(S) and Rg$_5$/Rk$_1$. Among the three ginsenosides tested in this study, Rg$_5$/Rk$_1$ enhanced the memory function of mice most effectively in both the ethanol­and scopolamine-induced amnesia models. Moreover, the latency period of the Rg$_5$/Rk$_1$­treated mice was 1.2 times longer than that of the control (no amnesia) group in both models, implying that Rg$_5$/Rk$_1$ may also exert beneficial effects in the normal brain. We also evaluated the effects of these ginsenosides on the excitotoxic and oxidative stress-induced neuronal cell damage in primary cultured rat cortical cells. The excitotoxicity induced by glutamate or N­methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) was dramatically inhibited by the three ginsenosides. Rg$_3$(S) and Rg$_5$/Rk$_1$ exhibited a more potent inhibition of excitotoxicity than did Rg$_3$(R). In contrast, these ginsenosides were all ineffective against the H$_2$O$_2$- or xanthine/xanthine oxidase-induced oxidative neuronal damage. Taken together, these results indicate that ginsenosides Rg$_3$(S) and Rg$_5$/Rk$_1$ significantly reversed the memory dysfunction induced by ethanol or scopolamine, and their neuroprotective actions against excitotoxicity may be attributed to their memory enhancing effects.

• Journal of Life Science
• /
• v.18 no.1
• /
• pp.23-29
• /
• 2008

Panax ginseng C. A. MEYER is one of the most widely used herbal medicines in the Asian countries and has diverse functions including anti-diabetic action. The dysfunctions of mesangial cells in hyperglycemic conditions are implicated in the development of diabetic nephropathy. Insulin-like growth factors (IGFs) are also associated with the onset of diabetic nephropathy. Thus, we examined the effect of ginsenosides against high glucose-induced dysfunction of primary cultured rat mesangial cells. In the present study, high glucose increased IGF-I and IGF-II secretion in mesangial cells. Ginsenoside total saponin (GTS) prevented high glucose-induced increase of IGF-I and IGF-II secretion in mesangial cells. In addition, GTS prevented high glucose-induced increase of lipid peroxide formation and decrease of GSH contents. GTS also ameliorates high glucose-induced increase of arachidonic acid release and decrease of prostaglandin $E_2$. In conclusion, GTS prevented high glucose-induced dysfunction of mesangial cells via inhibition of oxidative stress and arachidonic acid pathways.

• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
• /
• v.42 no.4
• /
• pp.347-353
• /
• 2014

${\beta}$-Glucosidase from Aspergillus usamii KCTC 6954 was used to convert ginsenoside Rb1 to compound K, which has a high bio-functional activity. The enzymatic activities during culturing for 15 days were determined using ${\rho}$-nitrophenyl-${\beta}$-glucopyranoside. The growth rate of the strain and the enzymatic activity were maximized after 6 days (IU; $175.93{\mu}M\;ml^{-1}\;min^{-1}$). The activities were maximized at $60^{\circ}C$ in pH 6.0. During culturing, Rb1 was converted to Rd after 9 d and then finally converted to compound K at 15 d. In the enzymatic reaction, Rb1 was converted to the ginsenoside Rd within 1 h of reaction time and compound K could be detected after 8 h. As a result, this study demonstrates that $Rb1{\rightarrow}Rd{\rightarrow}F2{\rightarrow}$compound K is the main metabolic pathway catalyzed by ${\beta}$-glucosidase and that ${\beta}$-glucosidase is a feasible option for the development of specific bioconversion processes to obtain minor ginsenosides such as Rd and compound K.

• Journal of Korean Medicine Rehabilitation
• /
• v.25 no.1
• /
• pp.45-52
• /
• 2015

Objectives To check marker content for appropriate quality control of Woohwangchungsimwon sterilized to ensure microbiological safety and to observe antioxidant activity for any changes in efficacy. Methods To measure any effects of sterilization on the effective compounds, 8 ingredients of Woohwangchungsimwon were screened for any changes in marker content using HPLC-DAD. Using the colorimetric method on the microplate reader any changes in total phenolic compound and flavonoid levels were observed. Antioxidant activity was measured using the DPPH, ABTS, and FRAP. Results Of the ingredients of Woohwangchungsimwon, 8 were subject to quantitative analysis before and after sterilization. 21.6 mg and 1.93 mg of Glycyrrhizin was found in Glycyrrhiza uralensis Fischer pre and post sterilization, respectively. Decursin found in Angelica gigas Nakai increased from 0.16 mg to 0.29 mg after sterilization. Bilirubin found in Gallstone of Bostaurusvar. domesticus increased from 0.24 mg to 0.33 mg. Cinnamic acid found in Cinnamomum cassia Blume increased from 0.02 mg to 0.05 mg. Ginsenoside Rb1 found in Panax ginseng C. A. Meyer decreased from 0.02 mg to 0.14 mg. Paeoniflorin found in Paeonia lactiflora Pallas increased from 1.05 mg to 1.13 mg. Amygdalin found in Armeniacae Amarum Semen increased from 2.68 mg to 2.83 mg. L-muscone found in Musk increased from 0.63 mg to 0.76 mg. As for total phenolic compound and total flavonoid content, there was a 1.22 and 4.15-fold increase. DPPH and ABTS increased by 20.45% and 20.69%, respectively. FRAP activity was 2.78 times more active post stabilization. Conclusions This study confirmed that high temperature high pressure steam sterilization, a method used to ensure microbiological safety of Woohwangchungsimwon, does not affect marker content; in other words, does not affect quality of the Woohwangchungsimwon. It could also be seen that total phenolic compound and flavonoid content increased after sterilization. An antioxidant activity test showed that there was significantly increased activity of antioxidants.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
• /
• v.26 no.1
• /
• pp.10-18
• /
• 2012

In this paper, to find out how different the treatment of special individuals named 'old people' is with that of ordinary cases, Dongeuibogam(東醫寶鑑) was chosen as the study material and some parts in it where the symptoms of old people in the same disease category were treated in different ways were excerpted to analyze the tendency of pathological symptoms and prescriptions in the physiological perspective. As the result of analysis on the parts in Dongeuibogam(東醫寶鑑) where the old people were treated in different ways, it turned out that 65 prescriptions were used in 24 pathological symptoms. The 24 symptoms are included mainly in chapters of 'inner view(內景)' and 'outer form(外形)'. They are including the pathological symptoms which had been presented as general geriatric symptoms and also seems to have added other symptoms which should be clinically reflected in the specialty of treatment for geriatric diseases. The 65 prescriptions are also recorded mainly in chapters of 'inner view(內景)' and 'outer form(外形)'. The herbs used for them were sweet and warm herbs such as Rehmannia glutinosa (Gaertner) Libosch(熟地黃), Angelica gigas Nakai(當歸), Panax ginseng C. A. Mey(人蔘) and Atractylodes macrocephala Koidz(白朮) that can support the essence blood of liver and kidney and the energy of spleen, lung and stomach. Those herbs could be added or subtracted according to the symptom. It seems to have resulted from the treatment method that old people was applied to old people in consideration of their physiological features. When the 24 symptoms and 65 prescriptions for geriatric diseases different from ordinary ones in Dongeuibogam(東醫寶鑑) were considered in the physiological view point, it could be seen that each pathological symptom was manifested as a exhaustion of kidney qi(腎氣枯渴) which was a characteristic physiologic state of old people. Through this, it could be seen that the use of prescriptions was also made to mitigate the body fluid deficiency(津液不足), the kidney yin inner heat(腎陰內熱), the heart spirit void and loss(心神虛損), the kidney yang deficiency(腎陽不足), the spleen failing in transportation(脾失健運), the spleen yang deficiency(脾陽不足), the liver fire inner movement(肝火內動) and the lung energy void and loss(肺氣虛寒).

• Journal of Environmental Impact Assessment
• /
• v.27 no.6
• /
• pp.521-547
• /
• 2018

To provide fundamental information to areas that lack data on the plant resources and the ecosystem, this study conducted a survey on the vascular plants in Mt. Jigisan in Hongseonggun. The vascular plants identified during the six-round field surveys were a total of 443 taxa: 96 families, 286 genera, 391 species, 7 subspecies, 40 varieties, 3 forms, and 2 hybrids. On floristic regional of Korea, Mt. Jigisan is deciduous broad-leaved and conifer-mixed forest which is south province of Korean peninsula. 4 taxa of Korean endemic plants such as Populus ${\times}$ tomentiglandulosa, Forsytsythia koreana, Forsytsythia ovate, and Iris rossii var. latifolia were collected. The vascular plants on the red list according to IUCN evaluation basis were found to be 6 taxa: Vulnerable (VU) species of Forsytsythia ovata, Least Conern (LC) species of Chionanthus retusus, Pseudoraphis ukishiba, and Cymbidium goeringii, and Not Evaluate (NE) species of Panax ginseng, and Fimbristylis verrucifera. The floristic regional indicator plants were found 27 taxa: 2 taxa of grade V, 3 taxa of grade IV, 6 taxa of grade III, 4 taxa of grade II, and 12 taxa of grade I. The specific distribution plants were found 27 taxa: 4 taxa of northern part of plants, 12 taxa of southern part of plants, 10 taxa of isolation distribution of plants, and 1 taxon of recently reported Viola betonicifolia var. albescens. The invasive alien plants were identified as 67 taxa. The naturalized index (NI) was 15.12%, and urbanization index (UI) was 20.9%, respectively.

• Applied Microscopy
• /
• v.9 no.1
• /
• pp.57-69
• /
• 1979

The ultrastructural changes of embryo and endosperm cells were observed during the green fruit with embryo about $250{\mu}$ long to germination. 1. In the embryo cells of green fruit with embryo about $250{\mu}$ long, mitochondrial cristae and plastid are undifferentiated and dictyosome are occasionally observed. There are electron-opaque globoids in the vacuole and a lot of spherosomes in the outer layer of smooth endoplasmic reticulum. Endosperm is filled with spherosomes and electron-opaque protein bodies surrounded by spherosomes, and due to these, other organelle are not observed. 2. In the embryo cells of seeds with red seed coat, mitochondrial cristae are well developed, electron-opaque globoids increased, and vacuoles are enlarged. In the endosperm, however, spherosomes increased, protein bodies are enlarged, and electron-opaque globoidal crystals are dispersed within them. 3. In the procambium and epicotyl cells of dehiscent seed, Golgi vacuoles and vesicles are well developed, and mitochondrial cristae are also well differentiated. Spherosomes are numerously present and radicle cells, peripheral cells of hypocotyl, and vacuoles of cotyledon are well differentiated. Endosperm is filled with spherosomes containing electron-opaque granules and protein bodies are surrounded by a single membrane. There are acid phosphatase around globoids and spherosomes. 4. At the time of seeding, spherosomes markedly increased in the outer layer of cotyledon and protein bodies are also observed. Cell organelles are differentiated and plastids containing starch are also present. 5. In the outer $2{\sim}3$ layers of cotyledons, radicle cells, and peripheral cells of hypocotyl during post-seeding to germination, spherosomes and plastids with starch increased, and mitochondria and microbodies are also found around the nucleus of embryo cells. With approaching, the germination stage, in the endosperm contacting with embryo, vacuoles are well differentiated but spherosomes decreased. There increased electron-opaque materials within vacuoles. In other endosperm, with the decrease of spherosome, mitochondria increased and electro n-opaque globular bodies are formed and gradually increased. The outer layer of protein bodies are reduced while electron-transparent portions are enlarged and fused together to occupy the outer layer where small particles are formed. 6. In the endosperm of germination stage, spherosomes decreased while protein bodies, are fused together to form 2 or 3 within a cell.

• Journal of Food Hygiene and Safety
• /
• v.13 no.2
• /
• pp.77-82
• /
• 1998

As a fundermental research for quality stailization of herb extract, the effects of water activity on microbial growth in herb extract were investigated. Herbs-Panax ginseng, Cinnamomum cassia, Lycium chinense, Zyzyphus jujuba, Lindera obtusilobum-were mixed and extracted with water at $80^{\circ}C$ and concentrated at $75^{\circ}C$. Water activity of the herb extract was adjusted to 0.86, 0.80 and 0.69, using water activity analyzer. The extracts were incubated for 180 days at $40^{\circ}C$ and then examined microbial cell counts and some physicochemical properties. In the extract of $a_{w}$ 0.86, 18 CFU/g of initial viable cell was increased to 80 CFU/g with 90 days of incubation and to 190 CFU/g 180 days of incubation. In the extract of $a_{w}$ 0.80, 24 CFU/g of initial viable cell was also increased to 83 CFU/g during the 90 days of incubation and to 170 CFU/ g for the 180 days of incubation. However, in the extract of $a_{w}$ 0.69, viable cell after 180 days of incubation was remained at almost the same level as initial viable cell. pH of herb extract was reduced in proportion to the decrease in water activity. The TLC (thin layer chromatography) patterns of ginseng saponins of herb extract did not show any significant changes after 180 days of incubation. Growth of pathogenic microorganisms was inhibited more with lower water activity of the herb extracts. In the herb extract inoculated with Candida albicans and Aspergillus niger, initial viable cells of 150 and 140 CFU/g were decreased to 30 and 20 CFU/g, repectively, after 30 days of incubation at $28^{\circ}C$. In the case of herb extract inoculated with Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa, growth of the bacteria was totally inhibited even after 30 days of incubation at $37^{\circ}C$.

• Journal of the East Asian Society of Dietary Life
• /
• v.25 no.5
• /
• pp.791-805
• /
• 2015

Foxtail millet (Setaria italica L. Beaur) is a native Korean herbal medical food and a native millet, and Koreans have eaten it as a substitute for rice since ancient times. Foods using foxtail millet (Setaria italica L. Beaur) have been recorded not only in cookbooks but also in Korean traditional medical books several times. Therefore, the purposes of this study was to investigate Food-Therapy (食治) using foxtail millet (Setaria italica L. Beaur) recorded in the literature from 1300 to 1600 from early to mid-Joseon (朝鮮) and provide data required to develop menus for Yaksun (藥膳, herbal food). This study examined Food-Therapy using foxtail millet (Setaria italica L. Beaur) in 10 types of literatures from the 1300s to the 1600s. and is described in the literature a total of 63 times. According to classification by cooking method, porridge (粥) was most frequently mentioned in the literature at 27 times. The cooking method of Soup (湯) is described 11 times. Cooking methods such as porridge juice and soup are frequently used since those methods are digestive and absorptive. Other food ingredients described using foxtail millet (Setaria italica L. Beaur) are white leek (Allii Fistulosi Bulbus) ginger (Zingiber officinale), chicken egg, Allium chinense, sparrow (Passer montanus), rooster liver, Du-si, crucian carp (Carassius auratus L), and white broiler. Other medicinal herbs described with Setaria italica are Panax ginseng (人蔘), Poria cocos (茯笭), Angelica acutiloba (當歸), Ziziphus jujuba (大棗), Liriopeplatyphylla (麥門冬), and cinnamon (肉桂). Food-Therapy using Setaria italica L. Beauv was described as a prescription for stomach and spleen (脾胃), stomach reflux (反胃), defecation and urinary disorder (大小便難), cholera, deficiency syndrome (虛症), and tonification (補益). This focus on promoting health and preventing diseases by strengthening the stomach and spleen and improving defecation and urination using Food-Therapy when herbal medicine was rare.

• Journal of the Society of Cosmetic Scientists of Korea
• /
• v.38 no.4
• /
• pp.277-287
• /
• 2012

To develop new therapeutic materials to prevent hair loss and enhance hair growth, we developed a medicinal herbal complex extract (MHCE) using 23 herbs traditionally used in oriental medicine. Medicinal Herbal complex extract was consist of Angelica gigas Nakai, Psoralea corylifolia Linne, Biota orientalis Endlicher, and Eclipta prostrata Linne, Rehmannia glutinosa Liboschitz var. purpurea Makino, Ligustrum lucidum Aiton, Polygonum multiflorum Thunberg, and Sesamum indicum Linne, Sophora angustifolia Sieboldet Zuccarini, Angelica dahurica Benthamet Hooker, and Leonurus sibiricus Linne, Salvia miltiorrhiza Bunge, Prunus persica Batsch, Commiphora molmol Engler, Chrysanthemum indicum Linne, Boswellia carterii Birdwood, Panax ginseng C. A. Meyer, Cnidium officinale Makino, Albizia julibrissin Durazzini, and Corydalis ternata Nakai that have traditionally been used for treating hair loss, preventing gray hair, anti-inflammation, and blood circulation in oriental medicine. In addition, we examined the hair growth effect of MHCE in vitro and in vivo. In vitro, we evaluated the effects of MHCE on cultured HFDPC, HaCaT cells, and murine embryonal fibroblasts (NIH3T3 cells). Also, we evaluated the ability of MHCE to prevent gray hair on murine melanoma cells (B16F1 cells). The hair growth-promoting effect of MHCE in vitro was also observed in vivo using C57BL/6 mice. Our results showed that MHCE significantly increased the proliferation of HFDPC (175 % proliferation at $50{\mu}g/mL$), HaCaT cells (133 % proliferation at $20{\mu}g/mL$), and NIH3T3 cells (120 % proliferation at $50{\mu}g/mL$). MHCE also showed consistent melanogenesis in B16F1 cells (154 % melanin synthesis at $50{\mu}g/mL$). Moreover, MHCE showed potential for hair growth stimulation in C57BL/6 mice experiments (98 % hair growth area on 4 weeks). These results indicate that MHCE may be a good candidate for promotion of hair growth.