• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.8 no.2
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• pp.91-104
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• 1984

This study was conducted to investigate the characteristics of nonstarchy polysaccharides in Korean ginseng, (Panax ginseng C.A. Meyer). The results obtained are as follows. 1. The total sugar content of ginseng roots were decreased with increasing the cultural period. On the other hand, the crude fiber content was increased with that of the ginseng leaves or stems. But the crude fiber in root was much less than that of leaves and stems. 2. The dietary fiber content of ginseng root on 5 years old was 14.20% as neutral detergent fiber, 9.08% as acid detergent fiber, hemicellulose 5.12%, cellulose 7.98% and lignin of 1.10%, respectively. 3. Much more pectin was found in ginseng roots which was cultivated for shooter Period. And it was contained much more in the root than in the leaves and stems. 4. ginseng hemicellulose content in root was 5% to 10%. It was decreased with increasing: cultivated period. Hemicellulose was constituted of xylose, arabinose, glucose, rhamnose and xylose of these sugars was the predominant. 5. X-ray diffraction Pattern of ginseng cellulose showed maximum intensity at tile interplanar angle of 4.1$^{\circ}$.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.47 no.1
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• pp.89-96
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• 2023

Background and aim: Panax ginseng, a key herbal medicine of replenishing Qi and tonifying Spleen, is widely used in the treatment of gastrointestinal diseases in East Asia. In this study, we aim to investigate the potential effects and mechanisms of polysaccharides from P. ginseng (PGP) on intestinal mucosal restitution which is one of the crucial repair modalities during the recovery of mucosal injury controlled by the Ca²⁺ signaling. Methods: Rat model of intestinal mucosal injury was induced by indomethacin. The fractional cell migration was carried out by immunohistochemistry staining with BrdU. The morphological observations on intestinal mucosal injury were also performed. Intestinal epithelial cell (IEC-6) migration in vitro was conducted by scratch method. Western-blot was adopted to determine the expressions of PLC-𝛾1, Rac1, TRPC1, RhoA and Cav-1. Immunoprecipitation was used to evaluate the levels of Rac1/PLC-𝛾1, RhoA/TRPC1 and Cav-1/TRPC1. Results: The results showed that PGP effectively reduced the assessment of intestinal mucosal injury, reversed the inhibition of epithelial cell migration induced by Indomethacin, and increased the level of Ca²⁺ in intestinal mucosa in vivo. Moreover, PGP dramatically promoted IEC-6 cell migration, the expression of Ca²⁺ regulators (PLC-𝛾1, Rac1, TRPC1, Cav-1 and RhoA) as well as protein complexes (Rac1/PLC-𝛾1, Cav-1/TRPC1 and RhoA/TRPC1) in vitro. Conclusion: PGP increases the Ca²⁺ content in intestinal mucosa partly through controlling the regulators of Ca²⁺ mobilization, subsequently promotes intestinal epithelial cell migration, and then prevents intestinal mucosal injury induced by indomethacin.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.48 no.4
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• pp.354-365
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• 2024

Panax species include Panax ginseng Meyer, Panax quinquefolium L., Panax notoginseng, Panax japonicum, Panax trifolium, and Panax pseudoginseng, which contain bioactive components (BCs) such as ginsenosides and polysaccharides. Recently, growing evidence has revealed the pharmacological effects of Panax species and their BCs on allergic airway diseases (AADs), including allergic asthma (AA) and allergic rhinitis (AR). AADs are characterized by damaged epithelium, sustained acquired immune responses with enforced Th2 responses, allergenspecific IgE production, and enhanced production of histamine and leukotrienes by activated mast cells and basophils. In this review, we summarize how Panax species and their BCs modulate acquired immune responses involving interactions between dendritic cells and T cells, reduce the pro-inflammatory responses of epithelial cells, and reduce allergenic responses from basophils and mast cells in vitro. In addition, we highlight the current understanding of the alleviative effects of Panax species and their BCs against AA and AR in vivo. Moreover, we discuss the unmet needs of research and considerations for the treatment of patients to provide basic scientific knowledge for the treatment of AADs using Panax species and their BCs.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.21 no.2
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• pp.78-84
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• 1997

As a part of our ongoing effort to develop new antineoplastic immunostimulator from natural sources, bioassay-directed fractionationn of polysaccharides from Korean red ginseng was carried out by observing the proliferation of marine spleen cells and the generation of lymphoklne activated killer (LAK) cells. The acidic polysaccharide fractions proliferated spleen cells and generated LAK cells in proportion to their acidity in vitro. The LAK cell which was induced by ginseng showed tumoricidal activity against both NK celt sensitive and insensitive tumor target cells without major histocompatibility (MHC) restriction. Adherent macrophages and CD4+helper T cells were involved in the generation of the LAK cells. The acidic polysaccharide from Korean red ginseng synerglzed with recombinant IL-2 (rIff-2) at lower than 3 U/ml. The optimal doses of the acidic polysaccharide from Korean red ginseng for the proliferation of spleen cells and for the generation of LAK cells were 1 mg/ml and 100 $\mu\textrm{g}$/ml, respectively; this means that the mechanisms for the both activities may be different from each other.

• Natural Product Sciences
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• v.6 no.1
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• pp.31-35
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• 2000

Effects of red ginseng acidic polysaccharides (RGAP) on immune system were studied. The proliferation of spleen cells was induced by RGAP treatment per se. Cotreatment of lipopolysaccharide $(100\;{\mu}g/ml)$ or concanavalin A $(1\;{\mu}g/ml)$ with RGAP further stimulated the spleen cell proliferation. BALB/c mice treated with RGAP showed a slight splenic hyperplasia and increased antibody forming cell response to sheep red blood cells. Flow cytometry analysis revealed an influx of macrophages in the mice treated with RGAP.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.44 no.4
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• pp.538-543
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• 2020

Cardiovascular diseases are a rapidly growing epidemic with high morbidity and mortality. There is an urgent need to develop nutraceutical-based therapy with minimum side effects to reduce cardiovascular risk. Panax ginseng occupies a prominent status in herbal medicine for its various therapeutic effects against inflammation, allergy, diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, and even cancer, with positive, beneficial, and restorative effects. The active components found in most P. ginseng varieties are known to include ginsenosides, polysaccharides, peptides, alkaloids, polyacetylene, and phenolic compounds, which are considered to be the main pharmacologically active constituents in ginseng. P. ginseng is an adaptogen. That is, it supports living organisms to maintain optimal homeostasis by exerting effects that counteract physiological changes caused by physical, chemical, or biological stressors. P. ginseng possesses immunomodulatory (including both immunostimulatory and immunosuppressive), neuromodulatory, and cardioprotective effects; suppresses anxiety; and balances vascular tone. P. ginseng has an antihypertensive effect that has been explained by its vasorelaxant action, and paradoxically, it is also known to increase blood pressure by vasoconstriction and help maintain cardiovascular health. Here, we discuss the potential adaptogenic effects of P. ginseng on the cardiovascular system and outline a future research perspective in this area.

• Proceedings of the PSK Conference
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• 2003.10b
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• pp.163.3-163.3
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• 2003

Panax ginseng C.A. Meyer (Family Araliaceae) was treated at low ($60^{\circ}C$, LT), mild ($100^{\circ}C$, MT) and high ($120^{\circ}C$, HT) temperatures, some components (panaxytriol, ginsenosides and polysaccharides) were isolated, and their inhibitory effects on growth, infection and VacA vacuolation of Helicobacter pylori (HP) were investigated. The molecular weights of polysaccharides were decreased according to the increasing processed temperature. Ginseng polysaccharides inhibited the HP infection into KATO III cells, but did not inhibit HP growth and VacA vacuolation of HeLa cells. (omitted)

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.33 no.3
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• pp.165-176
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• 2009

Korean ginseng, which contains ginsenosides and polysaccharides as its main constituents, is orally administered to humans. Ginsenosides and polysaccharides are not easily absorbed by the body through the intestines due to their hydrophilicity. Therefore, these constituents which include ginsenosides Rb1, Rb2, and Rc, inevitably come into contact with intestinal microflora in the alimentary tract and can be metabolized by intestinal microflora. Since most of the metabolites such as compound K and protopanaxatriol are nonpolar compared to the parental components, these metabolites are easily absorbed from the gastrointestinal tract. The absorbed metabolites may express pharmacological actions, such as antitumor, antidiabetic, anti-inflammatory, anti-allergic, and neuroprotective effects. However, the activities that metabolize these constituents to bioactive compounds differ significantly between individuals because all individuals possess characteristic indigenous strains of intestinal bacteria. Recently, ginseng has been fermented with enzymes or microbes to develop ginsengs that contain these metabolites. However, before using these enzymes and probiotics, their safety and biotransforming activity should be assessed. Intestinal microflora play an important role in the pharmacological action of orally administered ginseng.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.8 no.2
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• pp.105-113
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• 1984

This study was conducted to investigate chemical and physical characteristics of pectin in Korean ginseng plant. The results obtained are as follows: 1, The molecular weight of the pectin in ginseng plant was in the range of 1.1-2.4x 104 and athydrouronic acid content in the pectin was 97.98%. 2. The intrinsic viscosity of pectin as well as apparent visosity of the pectin in the roots were increased with cultural period. 3. The IR spectra of ginseng pectin showed the OH stretch, C-H bending vibration and the vibration of ester group carboxyl. 4. Sugars present in galacturonic acid, glucose, arbinose, xylose, galactose and rhamnose.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Applied Pharmacology
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• 1996.04a
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• pp.223-223
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• 1996

Effects of Panax ginseng were tested on morphine-and steroids-induced immunosuppression, focusing on mechanism and identification of active components. To investigate overall effects of morphine and ginseng total saponin (GTS) on immune system, body weight and lymphoid organ weight were measured. Morphine significantly reduced body weight, spleen/body weight, and thymus/body weight ratio. GTS, at 100mg/kg (oral), restored spleen/body weight ratio. Because morphine is known to increase corticosterone level, serum corticosterone level was measured by radioimmunoassay. Serum corticosterone was increased by morphine and it was restored to the control level by GTS 100mg/kg (oral). In vitro proliferation studies were also conducted to study the effects of ginseng on steroids-induced immunosuppression. While ginsenoside Rg$_1$ and ginseng alkaloids were effective on proliferation and dexamethasone-induced death of thymocytes, 50% ginseng ethanol extract and polysaccharides were effective on splenocytes. In vivo mprohine-induced apoptosis of thymus was partly protected by GTS.