• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.40 no.2
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• pp.113-120
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• 2016

Background: The present study aimed to compare the relative abundance of proteins and amino acid metabolites to explore the mechanisms underlying the difference between wild and cultivated ginseng (Panax ginseng Meyer) at the amino acid level. Methods: Two-dimensional polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and isobaric tags for relative and absolute quantitation were used to identify the differential abundance of proteins between wild and cultivated ginseng. Total amino acids in wild and cultivated ginseng were compared using an automated amino acid analyzer. The activities of amino acid metabolism-related enzymes and the contents of intermediate metabolites between wild and cultivated ginseng were measured using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and spectrophotometric methods. Results: Our results showed that the contents of 14 types of amino acids were higher in wild ginseng compared with cultivated ginseng. The amino acid metabolism-related enzymes and their derivatives, such as glutamate decarboxylase and S-adenosylmethionine, all had high levels of accumulation in wild ginseng. The accumulation of sulfur amino acid synthesis-related proteins, such as methionine synthase, was also higher in wild ginseng. In addition, glycolysis and tricarboxylic acid cycle-related enzymes as well as their intermediates had high levels of accumulation in wild ginseng. Conclusion: This study elucidates the differences in amino acids between wild and cultivated ginseng. These results will provide a reference for further studies on the medicinal functions of wild ginseng.

• Proceedings of the Ginseng society Conference
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• 1984.09a
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• pp.63-74
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• 1984

Preventive effect of the saponin fraction extracted from Panax ginseng C.A. Meyer against ethanol intoxication of the liver has been investigated biochemically and morphologically. Previous work in this laboratory showed that the moderate amounts of ginseng sponins stimulated several enzymes including mitochondrial dehydrogenases and transaminases so far examined in vitro. It was also realized that the half life of the saponin in the liver was estimated approximately five hours and the saponin concentration in the liver was around $10^{-5}\%$ level at two hours after the saponin (1mg) administration orally. In this study, it was confirmed that ginseng saponins stimulated alcohol dehydrogenase, aldehyde dehydrogenase and microsomal ethanol oxidizing system in vivo as well as in vitro. It seemed likely that toxic aldehyde formed during ethanol oxidation in the body might be removed relatively quickly from the liver and the excess hydrogen was used for the biosynthetic work in the presence of the saponin, resulting in the liver protection from alcohol intoxication. Electron microscopic observation demonstrated that the hepatocytes of rats doses with $12\%$ ethanol instead of water for six days were found severely damaged while those of the ginseng saponin administered rats were not impaired suggesting that the sapcnin protected the liver against ethanol intoxication.

• Korean Journal of Pharmacognosy
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• v.46 no.3
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• pp.173-188
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• 2015

We have conducted a comprehensive literature review regarding the chemical constituents and biological activities of Korean black ginseng(Panax ginseng C. A. Meyer), three to nine times-steamed and dried ginseng, which shows strong black color through Maillared browning reaction. It has been reported that some chemically deglycosylated and transformed saponins are obtained from black ginseng as artifacts produced during intensive steaming. They have been known to be ginsenosides Rg3, Rg4, Rg5, Rg6, Rh1, Rh2, Rh4, Rk1 and Rk3, quite different from those of red ginseng, among which ginsenosides Rg3, Rg5 and Rk1 are considered to be major components. And also, black ginseng has been recently found to demonstrate anticancer, recovery from learning and memory damages, hypontensive, antidiabetic, antiobesitic, tonic and antiatopic activities, together with antioxidative and exercise performance improving activities, exhibiting their effects to be a little bit stronger than those of red ginseng. These findings suggest that black ginsng might play an important role in the development of promising functional foods and drugs from the viewpoint of the chemical composition and biological activities of black ginseng with a distinction from those of white and red ginsengs. In this review, the authors will survey and evaluate further functions of black ginseng with a focus on its physicochemical properties and biological activities.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.33 no.1
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• pp.65-71
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• 2009

This experiment was done to determine the optimum conditions for the induction of tetraploidy in Panax ginseng C. A. Meyer using bud length, temperature and plant growth regulator pretreatments. Highest callus formation was obtained when the medium was inoculated with flower bud in the size of 2-3 mm in length. The optimum temperature for the callus formation was high when treated at $4^{\circ}C$ for 4-5 days. Among the treatments of growth regulators and different concentration, highest callus formation was observed in combination of 5 mg/L 2,4-D and 1 mg/L kinetin for P. ginseng. As a result of flow cytometer analysis, all 7 adventitious roots were confirmed as tetraploidys. Cytological analysis revealed that the chromosome number of tetraploid roots was 96, while that of diploid roots was 48. Tetraploid ginseng roots were inoculated to flower bud size of 2-3 mm in length. The callus formation was optimum when treated with 1 mg/L 2,4-D at $4^{\circ}C$ for 5 days. Compared with control roots, tetraploid roots were thicker and longer and had few lateral branches. Fresh weight of tetraploid roots was relatively higher than the control roots.

• Korean Journal of Medicinal Crop Science
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• v.23 no.6
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• pp.431-438
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• 2015

Background : This study was conducted to determine out the effect of storage temperature on the quality of fresh ginseng (Panax ginseng C. A. Meyer) during distribution. Methods and Results : Fresh ginseng was washed, packed in $30{\mu}m$ low density polyethylene (LDPE) film, then stored at 0, -2 and $-4^{\circ}C$. After 4 weeks of storage, ginseng was then stored at $5^{\circ}C$, as a simulation of the distribution process. Ginseng stored at $-4^{\circ}C$ showed higher respiration rate, ethylene production and electrolyte conductivity during the distribution phase than those stored at 0 and $-2^{\circ}C$. Decay and browning rate rapidly increased following 3 weeks of distribution in samples stored $-4^{\circ}C$. However ginseng stored $-2^{\circ}C$, which is below freezing point, for 4 weeks did not show the physiological change or quality deterioration. Ginsenoside contents decreased during storage for all plant, but did not differ significantly between storage temperatures. Conclusions : Storage at temperatures below $-2^{\circ}C$ can negatively affect respiratory characteristics and electrolyte leakage and increase quality deterioration and decay rates during distribution.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.8 no.2
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• pp.124-134
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• 1984

Ginseng root starch, prepared by conventional method, contained crude lipid of 0.5%, crude protein of 0.4%, crude mineral of 0.17% and phosphorous of 12.5mg% as noncarbohydrate constituents. The amylose content of ginseng root starch picked in Summer (May to August) and Winter (November to March) was 32-35% and 15-20%, respectively, and it was decreased with a growing preiod of ginseng. The blue value, alkali number and ferricyanide number of the starch were 0.14-0.17, 8.50 and 0.781, respectively. The molecular weight of amylose in the starch was estimated to be 1.27-7.95${\times}$105 by means of periodate oxidation, and the degree of branching and glucose unit per segment of amylopectin were 3.50-3.53% and 28.3-28.5, respectively, The starch content of ginseng root was decreased when dried under sunlight and stored at 5$^{\circ}C$ for twenty days. In contrast, sucrose content in the root was increased from 3.8% in fresh state to 11.5% during storage at the above condition. In the other hand, starch was converted to maltose by heating at temperature above 70$^{\circ}C$.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.41 no.2
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• pp.159-168
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• 2017

Background: Radiotherapy is one of the most important modalities in cancer treatment; however, normal tissue damage is a serious concern. Drug development for the protection or reduction of normal tissue damage is therefore a clinical issue. Herein, we evaluated the protective properties of Panax ginseng Meyer and its corresponding mechanisms. Methods: C56BL/6 mice were orally pretreated with P. ginseng water extract (PGE; 25 mg/kg, 50 mg/kg, or 100 mg/kg) or intraperitoneally injected melatonin (20 mg/kg) for 4 d consecutively, then exposed to 15-Gy X-ray radiation 1 h after the last administration. After 10 d of irradiation, the biological properties of hematoxicity, fat accumulation, histopathology, oxidative stress, antioxidant activity, pro-inflammatory cytokines, and apoptosis signals were examined in the hepatic tissue. Results: The irradiation markedly induced myelosuppression as determined by hematological analysis of the peripheral blood. Steatohepatitis was induced by X-ray irradiations, whereas pretreatment with PGE significantly attenuated it. Oxidative stress was drastically increased, whereas antioxidant components were depleted by irradiation. Irradiation also notably increased serum liver enzymes and hepatic protein levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines. Those alterations were markedly normalized by pretreatment with PGE. The degree of irradiation-induced hepatic tissue apoptosis was also attenuated by pretreatment with PGE, which was evidenced by a terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase 2'-deoxyuridine 5'-triphosphate nick-end labeling assay, western blotting, and gene expressions analysis, particularly of apoptotic molecules. Conclusion: We suggest that PGE could be applicable for use against radiation-induced liver injury, and its corresponding mechanisms involve the modulation of oxidative stress, inflammatory reactions, and apoptosis.

• Korean Journal of Plant Tissue Culture
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• v.26 no.2
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• pp.109-113
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• 1999

To elucidate the relationship between in vitro flowering and the structure of cytokinins in ginseng (Panax ginseng C.A. Meyer), zygotic embryos, seedlings, and cotyledonary nodes were cultured on MS medium supplemented with 5 $\mu$M of various cytokinins (BA, kinetin, 2-iP, and zeatin) with or without GA$_3$ (5 $\mu$M). The frequency of in vitro flowering was the highest when explants were cultured on the medium containing BA regardless of the kinds of explants, followed by kinetin, 2-iP, and zeatin. Flowering frequency of cotyledonary node explants was significantly increased by the combined treatment of cytokinin and GA$_3$. Flowering frequency was highly correlated with the logP of cytokinins, indicating that the lipophilicity of each cytokinin may involved in the in vitro flowering of ginseng.

• Proceedings of the SCSK Conference
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• 2003.09a
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• pp.611-616
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• 2003

Korean ginseng(Panax Ginseng C.A. Meyer) known as a oriental miracle drug is an important medicinal plant. Ginseng has been used for geriatric, tonic, stomachic, and aphrodisiac treatments for thousands years. Also, it is an antibiotic and has therapeutic properties against stress and cancer. Ginseng is widely distributed all over the world. Among them, Korean mountain ginseng has the most valuable effect on pharmaceuticals. The roots of mountain ginseng contained several kinds of ginsenosides that have many active functions for the human body. However, the study of mountain ginseng has a limit because the mountain ginseng is very expensive and rare. So, we artificially cultured mountain ginseng adventitious roots using the bioreactor culture system. We induced callus from original mountain ginseng, directly dug up in mountain and aged about one hundred ten years. Separated adventitious roots were precultured in 500ml conical flasks and then, transferred in 20L bioreactors. The adventitious roots of mountain ginseng were harvested after culturing for 40days, dried and then, extracted with several solvents. In this study, we investigated the whitening effect, anti-wrinkle effect and the safety of tissue cultured adventitious roots extract of mountain ginseng in order to identify the merit as a cosmetic ingredient. Particularly, extract of mountain ginseng adventitious roots showed whitening and anti-wrinkle effects. The inhibitory effect of this extract on the melanogenesis was examined using B-16 melanoma cell. When B-16 melanoma cells were cultured with adventitious root extract, there was a dramatically decrease in melanin contents of 8-16 melanoma cell. And we identified this extract inhibited Dopa auto-oxidation significantly. Also, when transformed mouse fibroblast L929 cells were treated with this extract, there was a significant increase in collagen synthesis. The results show significant inhibited melanization and wrinkle without inhibiting cell viability.

• Proceedings of the PSK Conference
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• 2002.10a
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• pp.370.2-370.2
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• 2002

This study was carried out to obtain basic informations that can be used in index for Korea ginseng (Panax ginseng C.A. Meyer) cultivated in East Asia (Geumsan. Ganghwa. Punggi. Umsong, Jinan, Hongchon. Jilin. Nagano). Ginsenosides composition in various Panax ginseng roots cultivated in different places and years were carried by the Shibata method. The average about total saponins and each ginsenosides content of four year-age Ginseng Radix aquosa cultivated in Korea were higher than those of ginseng cultivated for its longer period. (omitted)