• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.16 no.3
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• pp.217-221
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• 1992

Total polysaccharide contents in Panax ginseng roots were evaluated by a spectrophotometry, utilizing the complex formation of ginseng polysaccharide with alcian blue dye in 50 mM ammonium biphosphate, pH 4.2. The total polysaccharide content in red ginseng was about three times higher than that in fresh ginseng when both were extracted with water, and was increased about two times when red ginseng was extracted with an alkaline solution. The determination of total polysaccharide in various parts of ginseng revealed that main roots contained the component more than fine roots. Fresh ginseng sections stained by the dye showed polysaccharide mainly found in cortex and cambium but not in epidermis. Pattern-analysis on total and acidic polysaccharides from fresh and red ginsengs exhibited that the chemical compositions of the polysaccharides extracted from both ginsengs quite differed from each other.

• Korean Journal of Pharmacognosy
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• v.50 no.4
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• pp.305-311
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• 2019

The purpose of this study was to examine the changes in seasonal bioactive components of 4 and 6 years old fresh ginseng (Panax ginseng) and to provide basic information on the development of functional food using fresh ginseng. Seasonal changes were investigated by ginseng saponin analysis using HPLC method and acidic polysaccharides by carbazole sulfuric acid method. Total saponins showed the highest content of fresh ginseng collected in May, followed by March, July, and September. Fresh ginseng collected in May showed 2.5 times (4 years old) - 3.0 times (6 years old) higher than fresh ginseng collected in September. Acidic polysaccharides showed high content of fresh ginseng collected in March and September, and low content of fresh ginseng collected in May and July. From these results, the fresh ginseng collected in May can develop high concentrations of saponin. On the other hand, fresh ginseng collected in March and September is thought to be able to develop high concentration products of acidic polysaccharides.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.46 no.1
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• pp.23-32
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• 2022

Panax polysaccharides are biopolymers that are isolated and purified from the roots, stems, leaves, flowers, and fruits of Panax L. plants, which have attracted considerable attention because of their immunomodulatory activities. In this paper, the composition and structural characteristics of purified polysaccharides are reviewed. Moreover, the immunomodulatory activities of polysaccharides are described both in vivo and in vitro. In vitro, Panax polysaccharides exert immunomodulatory functions mainly by activating macrophages, dendritic cells, and the complement system. In vivo, Panax polysaccharides can increase the immune organ indices and stimulate lymphocytes. In addition, this paper also discusses the membrane receptors and various signalling pathways of immune cells. Panax polysaccharides have many beneficial therapeutic effects, including enhancing or activating the immune response, and may be helpful in treating cancer, sepsis, osteoporosis, and other conditions. Panax polysaccharides have the potential for use in the development of novel therapeutic agents or adjuvants with beneficial immunomodulatory properties.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.14 no.1
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• pp.202-204
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• 2004

Polysaccharides and saponins were isolated from the root of Panax ginseng C.A. Meyer (Family Araliaceae), treated at various temperatures, and their inhibitory effects on rotavirus were investigated. As the temperature of processing increased, the molecular weight of the polysaccharides decreased, but the yields of water extracted increased. These polysaccharides inhibited rotavirus infection in MA104 cells, but there were no significant differences in rotavirus infection-inhibitory potency. However, ginseng saponins did not exhibit rotavirus infection-inhibitory activity.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.41 no.1
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• pp.1-9
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• 2017

Panax ginseng Meyer, belonging to the genus Panax of the family Araliaceae, is known for its human immune system-related effects, such as immune-boosting effects. Ginseng polysaccharides (GPs) are the responsible ingredient of ginseng in immunomodulation, and are classified as acidic and neutral GPs. Although GPs participate in various immune reactions including the stimulation of immune cells and production of cytokines, the precise function of GPs together with its potential receptor(s) and their signal transduction pathways have remained largely unknown. Animal lectins are carbohydrate-binding proteins that are highly specific for sugar moieties. Among many different biological functions in vivo, animal lectins especially play important roles in the immune system by recognizing carbohydrates that are found exclusively on pathogens or that are inaccessible on host cells. This review summarizes the immunological activities of GPs and the diverse roles of animal lectins in the immune system, suggesting the possibility of animal lectins as the potential receptor candidates of GPs and giving insights into the development of GPs as therapeutic biomaterials for many immunological diseases.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.47 no.4
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• pp.506-514
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• 2023

Dementia has become one of the most important diseases threatening human health. Alzheimer's disease (AD) and vascular dementia (VaD) have the highest incidence rates among the types of dementia, but until now, therapeutic methods have been limited. Panax ginseng has been used in China for thousands of years to treat dementia, and modern medical studies have found that it contains multiple active components, such as ginsenosides, polysaccharides, amino acids, volatile oils and polyacetylenes, many of which have therapeutic effects in treating AD and VaD. Studies have found that ginsenosides have multitarget therapeutic effects in treating dementia, such as regulation of synaptic plasticity and the cholinergic system, inhibition of Aβ aggravation and tau hyperphosphorylation, anti-neuroinflammation, anti-oxidation effects and anti-apoptosis effects. Other active components of Panax ginseng, such as gintonin, oligosaccharides, polysaccharides and ginseng proteins, also have therapeutic effects on AD and VaD. The effectiveness of ginseng-containing Chinese medicine compounds has also been confirmed by clinical and basic investigations in treating AD and VaD. In this review, we summarized the potential therapeutic effects and related mechanisms of Panax ginseng in treating AD and VaD to provide some examples for further studies.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.13 no.5
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• pp.706-709
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• 2003

Ginsenosides and polysaccharides were isolated from Panax ginseng C.A. Meyer (Family Araliaceae) by treating at low ($60^{\circ}C$, LT), mild ($100^{\circ}C$, MT), and high ($120^{\circ}C$, HT) temperatures, and their inhibitory effects on growth, infection, and VacA vacuolation of Helicobacter pylori (HP) were investigated. The molecular weights of polysaccharides decreased as the processing temperature increased. Ginseng polysaccharides inhibited the HP infection into KATO III cells, but did not inhibit growth of HP and VacA vacuolation of HeLa cells. HT polysaccharides showed the most potent inhibition with $IC_50$ value of 6.8 mg/ml. Ginseng saponins did not inhibit the infection of HP into KATO cells. However, 20(s)-protopanaxadiol showed the most potent inhibition of HP growth and vacuolation of HeLa by VacA toxin with $IC_50$ values of 0.05 and 0.067 mg/ml, respectively.

• The Korea Journal of Herbology
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• v.31 no.4
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• pp.71-77
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• 2016

Objectives : Adipogenesis was defined as a differentiation process of preadipocytes into the adipocytes. Thus, to control of this process can be one of the most important strategies to prevent obesity. Korean ginseng(Panax ginseng C.A. Meyer) is one of the most widely used medicinal herbs. Although multiple biological activities of Korean ginseng, particularly ginsenosides, have been known, the anti-adipogenic role and function of polysaccharides from Korean ginseng are still unclear. In this study, we examined anti-adipogenic activity of polysaccharides and its molecular basis mechanisms are further investigated.Methods : The cytotoxicity of KGP in 3T3-L1 was evaluated by MTT assay. Anti-adipogenic effect of KGP was examined by Oil Red O (ORO) staining and microscopy observation in 3T3-L1 mature adipocytes. The mRNA expression levels of adipogenic transcriptional factors were analyzed by reverse transcription-polymer chain reaction (RT-PCR). To elucidate the adipogenic molecular mechanism of KGT, SB431542 (TGF-β specific inhibitor) was used.Results : We found that polysaccharides showed no effect on the viability of 3T3-L1 preadipocytes. Dose dependent inhibitory effect of polysaccharides on 3T3-L1 adipogenesis was observed as judged by ORO staining and microscopic image analysis. To obtain further mechanistic insight into anti-adipogenic function of polysaccharides, we then tested the effect of polysaccharides treatment on the adipogenic marker genes. The mRNA expressions level of C/EBPα, PPARγ, C/EBPβ, and fatty acid synthase (FAS) were dose-dependently inhibited by KGP treatment in 3T3-L1 mature adipocytes.Conclusions : In conclusion, these findings suggest that the KGP could be used in treatment of obesity and overweight related diseases.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.36 no.1
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• pp.1-15
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• 2012

The major commercial ginsengs are Panax ginseng Meyer (Korean ginseng), P. quinquifolium L. (American ginseng), and P. notoginseng (Burk.) FH Chen (Notoginseng). P. ginseng is the most commonly used as an adaptogenic agent and has been shown to enhance physical performance, promote vitality, increase resistance to stress and aging, and have immunomodulatory activity. These ginsengs contain saponins, which can be classified as dammarane-type, ocotillol-type and oleanane-type oligoglycosides, and polysaccharides as main constituents. Dammarane ginsenosides are transformed into compounds such as the ginsenosides $Rg_3$, $Rg_5$, and $Rk_1$ by steaming and heating and are metabolized into metabolites such as compound K, ginsenoside $Rh_1$, proto- and panaxatriol by intestinal microflora. These metabolites are nonpolar, pharmacologically active and easily absorbed from the gastrointestinal tract. However, the activities metabolizing these constituents into bioactive compounds differ significantly among individuals because all individuals possess characteristic indigenous strains of intestinal bacteria. To overcome this difference, ginsengs fermented with enzymes or microbes have been developed.

• 한국생물공학회:학술대회논문집
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• 2002.04a
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• pp.333-336
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• 2002

The root of Panax ginseng C. A. Meyer is the one of traditional medicines used for many therapeutic purpose in the orient for many years. Polysaccharides isolated from ginseng root were known for mitogenic, antitumor and hypoglycemic activities. We studied the production of ginseng polysaccharides from ginseng hairy roots and compared with natural ginseng root.