• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.27 no.4
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• pp.183-187
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• 2003

This study was carried out to ascertain the basic information on characteristics of Korean Ginseng(Panax ginseng) and American ginseng(Panax quinquefolius), F$_1$ hybrids. Interspecies hybrids between Panax ginseng and Panax quinquefolius were examined morphological characteristics, rusty root incidence, and contents of effective ingredients such as ginsenosides. The summarized results are as follows. In Panax ginseng, rusty root incidence tended to increase with age of ginseng, but there was no difference in the incidence among ginseng ages and cultivation years in Panax quinquefolius and F$_1$ hybrid. The interspecies hybrid of panax ginseng and Panax quinquefolius flowered later than the Panax ginseng, but earlier than the Panax quinquefolius. As for the characteristics of ginseng root, Panax quinquefolius seedling was better than cv. Panax ginseng, as the former had longer and heavier seedling root than the latter. Ginsenosides of the hybrid F$_1$ showed intermediate value in amounts of Rb$_1$, Rb$_2$, Rc and Rd which were detected as in Panax gineng and Panax quinquefolius. The amount of Re of the hybrid was higher, but that of Rg$_1$ and Rg$_2$ in main and branch roots was lower compared with its parents. Rf was 0.14% and 0.20% in main and branch roots of Panax ginseng, respectively; however, no Rf was detected in Panax quinquefolius and in the hybrid F$_1$. This suggests there may be remarkable difference in Rf content among the ginseng species.

• Molecules and Cells
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• v.24 no.1
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• pp.60-68
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• 2007

Microsatellites, also called simple sequence repeats (SSR), are very useful molecular genetic markers commonly used in crop breeding, species identification and linkage analysis. In the present study, we constructed a microsatellite-enriched genomic library of Panax ginseng, and identified 251 novel microsatellite sequences. Tri-nt repeat units were the most abundant (46.6%), followed by di-nt repeats (35.5%). The $(AG)_n$ motif was most common (23.1%), followed by the $(AAC)_n$ motif (22.3%). From the genotyping of 94 microsatellites using marker-specific primer sets, we identified 11 intraspecific polymorphic markers as well as 14 possible interspecific polymorphic markers differing between P. ginseng and P. quinquefolius. The exact allele structures of the polymorphic markers were determined and the alleles were named. This study represents the first report of the bulk isolation of microsatellites by screening a microsatellite-enriched genomic library in P. ginseng. The microsatellite markers could be useful for linkage analysis, genetic breeding and authentication of Panax species.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.37 no.2
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• pp.227-247
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• 2013

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are a class of recently discovered non-coding small RNA molecules, on average approximately 21 nucleotides in length, which underlie numerous important biological roles in gene regulation in various organisms. The miRNA database (release 18) has 18,226 miRNAs, which have been deposited from different species. Although miRNAs have been identified and validated in many plant species, no studies have been reported on discovering miRNAs in Panax ginseng Meyer, which is a traditionally known medicinal plant in oriental medicine, also known as Korean ginseng. It has triterpene ginseng saponins called ginsenosides, which are responsible for its various pharmacological activities. Predicting conserved miRNAs by homology-based analysis with available expressed sequence tag (EST) sequences can be powerful, if the species lacks whole genome sequence information. In this study by using the EST based computational approach, 69 conserved miRNAs belonging to 44 miRNA families were identified in Korean ginseng. The digital gene expression patterns of predicted conserved miRNAs were analyzed by deep sequencing using small RNA sequences of flower buds, leaves, and lateral roots. We have found that many of the identified miRNAs showed tissue specific expressions. Using the insilico method, 346 potential targets were identified for the predicted 69 conserved miRNAs by searching the ginseng EST database, and the predicted targets were mainly involved in secondary metabolic processes, responses to biotic and abiotic stress, and transcription regulator activities, as well as a variety of other metabolic processes.

• Korean Journal of Plant Resources
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.82-93
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• 2004

Phylogenetic relationships among species in Araliaceae were analyzed using PCR-RAPD and sequence of ITS region of nuclear ribosomal DNA based on samples collected in Korea. RAPD analysis showed various polymorphic bands which were able to differentiate species and genus, and specific bands showing variations among individuals within species. Cluster analysis using gel images revealed high molecular variability within species of Aralia eleta. No significant variation was found among cultivated species of Panax ginseng, but they showed high genetic differences with wild type of the species. In ITS analysis, specific sequences for each genus and species were observed and these were allowed to differentiate species and genus. Phylogenetic analysis using ITS sequences showed that Acanthopanax and Kalopanax had a close relationship, and Aralia and Panax are monophyletic, but genus Hedera is different species from other species in family Araliaceae in this study. The results showing close relationship between genera Aralia and Panax were also observed in RAPD analysis. Contrary to the results of RAPD analysis of Panax ginseng, sequence analysis of ITS showed no significant difference between wild mountain ginseng and cultivated species of P. ginseng. Also, both RAPD and ITS analysis of P. ginseng showed no significant genetic variability among cultivation sites. Results indicate that P. ginseng cultivating in Korea is monophyletic. The molecular analysis used in this study agreed on classification using morphological feature. These results suggest that molecular techniques used in this study could be useful for phylogenetic analysis of Araliaceae.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.44 no.5
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• pp.680-689
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• 2020

Background: Peptides have diverse and important physiological roles in plants and are ideal markers for species identification. It is unclear whether there are specific peptides in Panax quinquefolius L. (PQ). The aims of this study were to identify Quinetides, a series of diverse posttranslational modified native peptides of the ribonuclease-like storage protein (ginseng major protein), from PQ to explore novel peptide markers and develop a new method to distinguish PQ from Panax ginseng. Methods: We used different fragmentation modes in the LTQ Orbitrap analysis to identify the enriched Quinetide targets of PQ, and we discovered Quinetide markers of PQ and P. ginseng using ultrahigh-performance liquid chromatography-quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry analysis. These "peptide markers" were validated by simultaneously monitoring Rf and F11 as standard ginsenosides. Results: We discovered 100 Quinetides of PQ with various post-translational modifications (PTMs), including a series of glycopeptides, all of which originated from the protein ginseng major protein. We effectively distinguished PQ from P. ginseng using new "peptide markers." Four unique peptides (Quinetides TP6 and TP7 as markers of PQ and Quinetides TP8 and TP9 as markers of P. ginseng) and their associated glycosylation products were discovered in PQ and P. ginseng. Conclusion: We provide specific information on PQ peptides and propose the clinical application of peptide markers to distinguish PQ from P. ginseng.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.36 no.2
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• pp.211-217
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• 2012

Endophytic fungi were isolated from various tissues (root, stem, petiole, leaf, and flower stalk) of 3- and 4-year-old ginseng plants (Panax ginseng Meyer) cultivated in Korea. The isolated endophytic fungi were identified based on the sequence analysis of the internal transcribed spacer (ITS), 1-5.8-ITS 2. A morphological characterization was also conducted using microscopic observations. According to the identification, 127 fungal isolates were assigned to 27 taxa. The genera of Phoma, Alternaria and Colletotrichum were the most frequent isolates, followed by Fusarium, Entrophospora and Xylaria. Although 19 of the 27 taxa were identified at the species level, the remainder were classified at the genus level (6 isolates), phylum level (Ascomycota, 1 isolate), and unknown fungal species (1 isolate). Endophytic fungi of 13 and 19 species were isolated from 3- and 4-year-old ginseng plants, respectively, and Phoma radicina and Fusarium solani were the most frequently isolated species colonizing the tissues of the 3- and 4-year-old ginseng plants, respectively. The colonization frequency (CF%) was dependant on the age and tissue examined: the CFs of the roots and stems in the 3-year-old ginseng were higher than the CF of tissues in the 4-year-old plants. In contrast, higher CFs were observed in the leaves and petioles of 4-year-old plants, and endophytic fungi in the flower stalks were only detected in the 4-year-old plants. In conclusion, we detected diverse endophytic fungi in ginseng plants, which were distributed differently depending on the age and tissue examined.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.14 no.2
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• pp.135-141
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• 1990

In order to elucidate the mechanism of the leaf-burning disease of ginseng (Panax ginseng C.A. Meyer), the relationships between thylakoid membrane peroxidation and chlorophyll bleaching were investigated in comparison with the ones of soybean (Glycine max L). When I measured the rate of lipid peroxidation in the thylakoids of ginseng and soybean by irradiation of light(60 w.m-2), it was identified that, the remarkably lower rate of lipid peroxidation was found in the ginseng thylakoid than the case of soybean. When lipid peroxidation of ginseng thylakoid was induced in the dark, chlorophyll contents of thylakoid was not changed. The results suggest that lipid peroxidation does not affect the chlorophyll bleaching in ginseng thylakoid. Thylakoid membrane peroxidation as well as chlorophyll bleaching was closely related with photosynthetic electron transport. But, according to the quenching experiment active oxygen species induced lipid peroxidation may be different species in the case of chlorophyll bleaching.

• KOREAN JOURNAL OF CROP SCIENCE
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• v.29 no.4
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• pp.342-349
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• 1984

In order to obtain the basic information for the development of ginseng varieties with high saponin contents. saponin contents and ginsenosides of Panax ginseng (Korean ginseng) and Panax quinquefolium (American ginseng) grown under the same environmental conditions were analysed. Crude saponin contents of root and aerial parts were more in Panax quinquefolium than in Panax ginseng, and aerial parts had more saponin contents in comparison with a root. Protopanaxatriol saponin was greatly more in the aerial parts of ginseng while more amount of protopanaxadiol saponins were detected in the root. As for the ginsenosides, the patterns of ginsenosides detected in total saponin of the aerial parts were not different between two species, Panax ginseng and Panax quinquefolium, but the root ginsenoside patterns were quite different. Ginsenosides such as Rg$_2$, R$_{f}$. R$_{a}$ and R$_{o}$ were not detected in the root of Panax quinquefolium (American ginseng).).).).

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.33 no.1
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• pp.55-58
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• 2009

Generally, the direct sequencing through PCR is faster, easier, cheaper, and more practical than clone sequencing. Frequently, standard PCR amplification is usually interpreted by mispriming internal or external regions of the target template. Normally, DNA fragments were eluted from the gel using Gel extraction kit and subjected to direct sequencing or cloning sequencing. Cloning sequencing has often troublesome and needs more time to analyze for many samples. Since touchdown (TD) PCR can generate sufficient and highly specific amplification, it reduces unwanted amplicon generation. Accordingly, TD PCR is a good method for direct sequencing due to amplifying wanted fragment. In plants the 5S-rRNA gene is separated by simple spacers. The 5S-rRNA gene sequence is very well-conserved between plant species while the spacer is species-specific. Therefore, the sequence has been used for phylogenetic studies and species identification. But frequent occurrences of spurious bands caused by complex genomes are encountered in the product spectrum of standard PCR amplification. In conclusion, the TD PCR method can be applied easily to amplify main 5S-rRNA and direct sequencing of panax ginseng cultivars.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.46 no.1
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• pp.33-38
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• 2022

Traditionally, Asian ginseng or Korean ginseng, Panax ginseng has long been used in Korea and China to treat various diseases. The main active components of Panax ginseng is ginsenoside, which is known to have various pharmacological treatment effects such as antioxidant, vascular easing, anti-allergic, anti-inflammatory, anti-diabetes, and anticancer. Most reactive oxygen species (ROS) cause chronic diseases such as myocardial symptoms and cause fatal oxidative damage to cell membrane lipids and proteins. Therefore, many studies that inhibit the production of oxidative stress have been conducted in various fields of physiology, pathophysiology, medicine and health, and disease. Recently, ginseng or ginsenosides have been known to act as antioxidants in vitro and in vivo results, which have a beneficial effect on preventing cardiovascular disease. The current review aims to provide mechanisms and inform precious information on the effects of ginseng and ginsenosides on the prevention of oxidative stress and cardiovascular disease in animals and clinical trials.