• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.16 no.1
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• pp.53-63
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• 1992

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.46 no.5
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• pp.657-665
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• 2022

Background: Sarcopenia is a new and emerging risk factor aggravating the quality of life of elderly population. Because Korean Red Ginseng (RG) is known to have a great effect on relieving fatigue and enhancing physical performance, it is invaluable to examine its potential as an anti-sarcopenic drug. Methods: Anti-sarcopenic effect of non-saponin fraction of Korean Red Ginseng (RGNS) was evaluated in C2C12 myoblasts treated with C2-ceramide to induce senescence phenotypes, and 22-month-old mice fed with chow diet containing 2% RGNS (w/w) for 4 further months. Results: The RGNS treatment significantly alleviated cellular senescence indicated by intracellular lipid accumulation, increased amount of lysosomal β-galactosidase, and reduced proliferative capacity in C2C12 myoblasts. This effect was not observed with saponin fraction. In an aged mouse, the 4-month-RGNS diet significantly improved aging-associated loss of muscle mass and strength, assessed by the weights of hindlimb skeletal muscles such as tibialis anterior (TA), extensor digitorum longus (EDL), gastrocnemius (GN) and soleus (SOL), and the cross-sectional area (CSA) of SOL muscle, and the behaviors in grip strength and hanging wire tests, respectively. During the same period, an aging-associated shift of fast-to slow-twitch muscle in SOL muscle was also retarded by the RGNS treatment. Conclusions: These findings suggested that the long-term diet of RGNS significantly prevented aging-associated muscle atrophy and reduced physical performance, and thus RGNS has a strong potential to be developed as a drug that prevents or improves sarcopenia.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.14 no.3
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• pp.437-441
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• 1990

The investigation of UV absorbing compounds in saponin fraction of Pnm.1. Kiairnk root was carried out by thin layer chromatography, semipreparative HVLC. l3C, 1H-NMR, mass spectrometry and chemical characteristics in searching plant for growth regulatony substances such as phenolic glycoside. Drying of fresh ginseng at 15 $^{\circ}C$ decreased not only number but also size of UV absorbing sports on TLC. One of the relatively large spots in fresh ginseng was isolated and identified as adenosine, which is subjected for growth stimulatory activity Detection of phenolic glycosides failed in dried root bolt was highly probable in fresh ginseng even with the insufficient amount of sample.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.9 no.2
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• pp.213-220
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• 1985

It was attempted to observe the effects of ginseng saponin, one of the major components of the roots of Panax ginseng, on androgen biosynthesis from cholesterol in vitro as well as in vivo in rat testis. Ginseng saponin was administered by stomach tubing prior to intraperitoneal injection of cholesterol containing (4-14C)-cholesteroll into adult male rats and the liver, testis and blood serum were analyzed. The first high radioactivity of the liver and blood serum of test animal was observed at 6 hours after radioactive cholesterol injection, while that of control appeared at 12 hours after the injection. In the case of testis, the first high radioactivity of test group appeared between 4 and 6 hours after the radioactive cholesterol injection, while that of control appeared at 10-14 hours. Analysis of radioactivity distribution of cholesterol, androstenedione and testosterone in the testis of rats fed with/without ginseng saponin piror to (4-14C)-cholesterol injection showed that the saponin stmulated the synthesis of androgens from cholesterol. This was confirmed again by in vitro experiment using testis homogenate as an enzyme source. From the above experimental results, it was suggested that the ginseng saponin stimulates both cholesterol transport and the biosynthesis of androgens from cholesterol in rat testis.

• Korean Journal of Microbiology
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• v.24 no.3
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• pp.288-294
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• 1986

The effects of ginseng saponin and its related materials on aflatoxin production by Aspergillus parasiticus NRRL2999 in yeast extract sucrose (YES) medium were studied. Maximal production of aflatoxins by the mold in the medium occurred after 9 days at $28^{\circ}C$. When various concentrations of ginseng saponin were added to the medium aflatoxin productions were significantly reduced (p<0.05) compared to the control after 9 days at $28^{\circ}C$. 0.05% of saponin in the medium greatly decreased aflatoxin synthesis, and no aflatoxins were synthesized by the mold in the medium contained 5.0% of saponin. When various concentrations of saponin diol and triol were added to the medium both ingibitory and sitimulatory effects on alfatoxin production were resulted. Saponin fraction numbers of 1, 2, 4, 5 and 6 decreased aflatoxin production, however the numbers of 3 and 7 stimulated the toxin production. 0.05% of adenosine, guanosine, caffeine and xanthosine in the media inhibited aflatoxin production (p<0.05), but adenine and cytosine increased the production. When 5.0% of saponin was added to the medium aflatoxins were not synthesized at all, but total lipid synthesis and mold growth were highly stimulated. Both the synthesis of total lipid and mold growth were reduced in case of aflatoxin synthesis stimulated.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.44 no.2
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• pp.362-372
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• 2020

Background: The non-saponin fraction of Korean Red Ginseng has been reported to have many biological activities. However, the effect of this fraction on anti-diabetic activity has not been elucidated in detail. In this study, we investigated the effects of KGC05P0, a non-saponin fraction of Korean Red Ginseng, on anti-diabetic activity in vitro and in vivo. Methods: We measured the inhibition of commercially obtained α-glucosidase and α-amylase activities in vitro and measured the glucose uptake and transport rate in Caco-2 cells. C57BL/6J mice and C57BLKS/J^db/db (diabetic) mice were fed diets with or without KGC05P0 for eight weeks. To perform the experiments, the groups were divided as follows: normal control (C57BL/6J mice), db/db control (C57BLKS/J^db/db mice), positive control (inulin 400 mg/kg b.w.), low (KGC05P0 100 mg/kg b.w.), medium (KGC05P0 200 mg/kg b.w.), and high (KGC05P0 400 mg/kg b.w.). Results: KGC05P0 inhibited α-glucosidase and α-amylase activities in vitro, and decreased glucose uptake and transport rate in Caco-2 cells. In addition, KGC05P0 regulated fasting glucose level, glucose tolerance, insulin, HbA1c, carbonyl contents, and proinflammatory cytokines in blood from diabetic mice and significantly reduced urinary glucose excretion levels. Moreover, we found that KGC05P0 regulated glucose production by down-regulation of the PI3K/AKT pathway, which inhibited gluconeogenesis. Conclusion: Our study thereby demonstrated that KGC05P0 exerted anti-diabetic effects through inhibition of glucose absorption and the PI3K/AKT pathway in in vitro and in vivo models of diabetes. Our results suggest that KGC05P0 could be developed as a complementary food to help prevent T2DM and its complications.

• Journal of Food Hygiene and Safety
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• v.9 no.3
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• pp.105-109
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• 1994

Lysosomal enzymes might play a most important role in the pathogenesis od diabetic microangiopathy. Some glycosidases, which participate in the catabolism of glycoprotein, are significantly decreased in diabetic mice. In search of new potential lysosomal enzyme inducers, we examined the effects of crude red-ginseng saponin fraction on N-acetyl-$\beta$-D-glucosaminidase, $\beta$-D-galactosidase and $\alpha$-D-mannosidase activities in the liver and kidney of normal and streptozotocin induced diabetic mice. It was found that i.p. administration of ginseng saponin produced the induction of lysosomal enzymes in the kidney more intensively than in the liver. The obtained results suggest the possibility that ginseng saponin might prevent the diabetic microangiopathy.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.7 no.1
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• pp.63-67
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• 1983

Bacillus subtilis grown on medium containing 0.1% trios fraction, 0.005% sodium deoxycholate, and 0.05% taurocholate respectively was shown to grow as filamentous form and contain 2.3 x 10-5M, 1 x 10-5M, and 2.3${\times}$10-5M of intracellular C-AMP, respectively. The concentration was 3 or 4 times lower than that of the control. But concentrations of extracellula: C-AMP were similar to that of the control. Such decrease in C-AMP concentration was shown to parallel with decrease in autolysin activity indicating 40% and 20% lower activity of Bacillus subtilis grown on medium containing 0.05% and 0. l% triol fraction respectively than that of the control, The activity was also shown to be in inverse proportion with the formation of filament .

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.14 no.2
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• pp.171-177
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• 1990

Using an ethopharmacological technique, we demonstrated that saponin fraction from red ginseng root possessed a potent psychotropic actions on either intermale or maternal aggression models. A series of experiments clearly indicated that one of psychoactive ingredient is ginsenoside Rbl. Although a drug-induced debilitation of motor performance remains a possible cause of the antiaggressive affect of the drug. ginsenoside Rbl did not alter the locomotor activity of the mice during agonistic confrontations. Thus. one can eliminate the possibility that the psychotropic effect of ginsenoside Rbl might be concealed by a drug-induced impairment of motor performance. More recently, we developed a nevi model for copulatory disorder and introduced into the behavioral analysis of drug action. Male mice which has been housed individually from weaning for 5 weeks failed to manifest copulatory behavior when they encountered with the sexually receptive females. Daily administration of crude ginseng saponin during isolation housing period prevented the development of copulatory disorder, whereas both ginsenoside Rbl and Rgl were ineffective. A further experiment may be needed to explore active ingredient of ginseng saponins.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.46 no.6
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• pp.809-818
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• 2022

Background: The non-saponin fraction (NSF) of Korean Red Ginseng is a powder in which saponin is eliminated from red ginseng concentrate by fractionation. In this study, we examined the effect of NSF on age-associated sarcopenia in old mice. Methods: NSF (50 or 200 mg/kg/day) was administered orally daily to young (3-6-month-old) and old (20-24-month-old) C57BL/6 J mice for 6 weeks. Body weight and grip strength were assessed once a week during the oral administration period. The gastrocnemius and quadriceps muscle were excised, and the muscle fiber size was compared through hematoxylin and eosin staining. In addition, the effect of NSF on sarcopenia and inflammation/oxidative stress-related factors in hindlimb muscles was investigated by western blotting. Flow cytometry analysis was conducted to investigate the effect of NSF on immune homeostasis. Blood samples were collected by cardiac puncture, and the serum levels of insulin-like growth factor 1, pro-inflammatory cytokines, and glutathione were evaluated. Results: NSF significantly alleviated muscle strength, mass, and also fiber size in old mice. Age-associated impairment of immune homeostasis was recovered by NSF through retaining CD11b⁺F4/80⁺ macrophages and regulating inflammatory biomarkers. NSF also decreased the age-induced expression of oxidative stress factors. Taken together, NSF showed the effect of improving sarcopenia by inhibiting low-grade chronic inflammatory/oxidative stress factors. Conclusion: NSF exhibited anti-sarcopenia effects by regulating chronic inflammation and oxidative stress in old mice. Thus, we suggest that NSF is a promising restorative agent that can be used to improve sarcopenia in the elderly as well as maintain immune homeostasis.