• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.13 no.2
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• pp.254-259
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• 1989

A radioprotective ginseng protein fraction was obtained from Korean white ginseng powder by the following isolation and purification procedures: Tris-HCI buffer extraction, 70% ammonium sulfate fractionation, CM-rellulosr column chromatography, heat inactivation and Sephadex G-75 column chromatography. This fraction was further purified by Sepharose 4B and Sephadex G-150 column chromatographies. Three fractions obtained were subjected to Native-PAGE and SDS-PAGE using gradient gels and the silver staining method. Molecular weights of the native proteins and their subunits were estimated.

• YAKHAK HOEJI
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• v.36 no.5
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• pp.449-454
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• 1992

The effect of radioprotective ginseng protein fraction on DNA repair capacity was determined by measuring the amount of $^{3}H-thymidine$ incorporated into DNA in the process of repair synthesis for UV damaged DNA. CHO-Kl cells were prepared whose semiconservative replication was inhibited by trimethylpsoralen plus near-UV(PUVA) treatment. When the cells were exposed to UV light alone, the DNA repair capacity was increased at first and then decreased as UV dose increased. However, when the ginseng fraction was treated to the cells, the DNA repair capacity was kept increasing regardless of UV dose increment. When the concentration of protein contained in the added fraction was increased gradually, the repair capacity was also increased almost linearly showing dose-response relationship of the effect. These results suggest that the enhancement of DNA repair capacity of the cell can be one of the mechanisms of radioprotection by the ginseng fraction.

• Proceedings of the Ginseng society Conference
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• 1990.06a
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• pp.137-141
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• 1990

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.14 no.2
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• pp.279-283
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• 1990

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.22 no.1
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• pp.1-10
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• 1998

In the present study, to determine whether the antioxidative components of Korean red ginseng protect against radiation damage and the possible relationship among the radioprotective effects and antioxidant actions, the effects of total saponin (200 mg/kg, ip) and lipophilic fraction (200 mg/kg, oral) preferment of mice on the survival ratio, major antioxidant enzymes (SOD, catalase and glutathione peroxidase) activities, glutathione levels and lipid peroxidation in the liver were exiled for 2 weeks after whole ${\gamma}$-body ${\gamma}$-irradiation (6.5 Gy). The 30-day survival ratio increased from 10% to 57% and 40% for mice treated with total saponin and lipophilic fraction, respectively. On day 14 after ${\gamma}$-irradiation, the ginseng total saponin pretreatment produced a slight increase of antioxidant enzymes activities and significantly Increased reduced glutathione (GSH) contents (p<0.05) in the liver compared with non-treated group. Pretreatment with ginseng total saponin significantly deceased GSSG/total GSH ratio (p<0.05) without change of GSSG in the liver and inhibited the radiation-induced incense in the hepatic malondialdehyde levels. (p<0.05) In these results, GSH plays an important role in the liver in several detoxifications and the reduction of lipid peroxides. Thus, it appears that total saponin of red ginseng exerts its radioprotective effect by accelerating the production of endogenous antioxidants, such as glutathione from radiation induced damages and thereby oxygen free radicals.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.20 no.2
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• pp.149-153
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• 1996

Studies were Performed to determine whether the water fraction of Panax ginseng Protected radiation damage to hair medullar cells of N:GP(s) mice after in vivo irradiation with $^{60}Co{\;}{\gamma}-rays$. The hair follicles in the middle of the growth cycle were analysed 3 days after 3 Gy irradiation for the changes in the number of cells in the forming medulla of the hair in the region just above the germinal matrix of the growing (anagen) hair follicle. The radioprotective effect of ginseng was compared with the irradiation control. The medullar cell count per unit length ($100{\;}\mu\textrm{m}$) of hair follicle was higher in the pretreated-groups of ginseng, both oral (2 mg/ml of drinking water, p<0.05) and intraperitoneal (0.3 mg/head, p<0.001) treatments, than the irradiation control. These data suggested that the water fraction of Panax ginseng may reduce cell damages on the body surface caused by ${\gamma}-rays$.

• YAKHAK HOEJI
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• v.29 no.5
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• pp.246-252
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• 1985

Ginseng proteins were isolated and partially purified to obtain two fractions, namely GI and GII. Radioprotective effects of these fractions were examined on $\gamma$-ray irradiated ICR mice by observing 30-day survival rates after irradiation. Also investigated were the effects of GI fraction on the recovery of radiation damage. As the results, the GI fraction showed strong protection against radiation indicated by the increment of 30-day survival rates, while the GII fraction did not. The GI fraction enhanced the recovery of body and splenic weights and increased the amount of DNA in liver significantly. It also helped to recover the damage done on erythrocytes by increasing the number to normal in short period, however, it had no effect on the recovery of leukocyte counts.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.15 no.3
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• pp.167-170
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• 1991

Radiation protective fraction was Isolated and partially purified from Korean white ginseng. The effect of the fraction was studied on the cell survival of W-damaged CHO-Kl cells. As a result, it was found that the fraction increased the survival rate of damaged cells significantly within the dose range of which cytotoxicity did not appear This fraction was separated into two parts by adding butanol, namely the precipitated protein component and the butanol extract. Damaged cells were treated with each of these components and their survival rates were measured. The protein component demonstrated significant increase in the survival rates, while the butanol extract showed no such increment. These results suggest that the radiation protective effect of the ginseng fraction is originated from the butanol-precipitated protein component, not from the butanol-soluble compounds.

• YAKHAK HOEJI
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• v.32 no.5
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• pp.313-318
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• 1988

Radioprotective ginseng protein fraction was isolated from Korean white ginseng and its cytotoxic effect on CHO-K1 cells was studied by the method of measuring the relative cell survival and total cellular protein content (FRAME method). When ginseng protein at the dose of 300, 600, 900, $1200{\mu}g/ml$ was treated to cells for 24 hrs, the relative survival was significantly decreased at the concentration of above $600{\mu}g/ml$, indicating the presence of cytotoxic effect of the protein at certain concentration. When cellular protein content was measured after ginseng protein at the dose of 300, 600, 900, $1200\;{\mu}g/ml$ was treated, the amount of cellular protein was significantly reduced at the concentration above $600{\mu}g/ml$ in the case of 24 hr treatment and at all concentrations including $300{\mu}g/ml$ in the case of 72 hr treatment. The data suggest that the protein may inhibit cell growth, resulting in the reduction of live cells in culture. $ID_{50}$ value which is the concentration of ginseng protein that reduces the total cellular protein content to 50% of the control was calculated as 2276.86 and $1323.32\;{\mu}g/ml$ in groups treated for 24 and 72 hr, respectively. Since $ID_{50}$ value of above $1000{\mu}g/ml$ indicates very weak cytotoxicity, the ginseng protein seems to exert very weak cytotoxic effect on CHO-K1 cells.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.38 no.3
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• pp.208-214
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• 2014

Background: In previous work, we reported that Korean Red Ginseng saponin fraction (RGSF) showed anti-inflammatory activities in vitro and in vivo. Methods: The present study investigated the radioprotective properties of RGSF by examining its effects on ionizing radiation (IR)-enhanced and lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-mediated inflammatory responses in murine macrophage cells. Results: RGSF induced strong downregulation of IR-enhanced and LPS-induced proinflammatory responses such as nitric oxide (NO) production (Inhibitory Concentration $50(IC_{50})=5.1{\pm}0.8{\mu}M$) and interleukin-$1{\beta}$ levels. RGSF was found to exert its radioprotective effects by inhibition of a signaling cascade that activated checkpoint kinase 2enuclear factor-${\kappa}B$. In addition, RGSF strongly inhibited IR-enhanced LPS-induced expression of hemoxyganase-1, implying that the latter may be a potential target of RGSF. Conclusion: Taken together, our data suggest that RGSF can be considered and developed for use as an effective radioprotective agent with minimal adverse effects.