• Journal of Plant Biotechnology
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• v.50
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• pp.19-26
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• 2023

Korean ginseng (Panax ginseng Meyer) is an economically important plant because of it is rich in saponins. It is mainly cultivated in Asia, including Korea and China. Since ginseng requires a long breeding period due to juvenility, homozygote production techniques, such as anther culture, must be urgently established. In the present study, callus induction and embryogenesis through anther culture were observed in P. ginseng. Murashige and Skoog medium was used as the basal medium suitable for callus induction. When the medium was supplemented with 3% sucrose, the callus induction rate was high and the callus size was large. Cold pretreatment did not significantly affect callus induction and embryogenesis. Embryogenesis was the most efficient when the embryo-formation medium was supplemented with 1.0 or 3.0 mg/L 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid. Cultivar significantly affected anther culture efficiency. Specifically, 'Cheongseon' showed the highest embryo-formation efficiency, whereas no embryogenesis occurred in 'Sunun'. Ploidy assessment revealed the haploid status of the induced calli. Embryos derived from anther culture formed shoots upon transfer to germination medium, although no difference in ploidy was noted between the induced callus and control. Overall, the anther culture conditions established in the present study may contribute to the production of homozygous P. ginseng plants in the future.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.23 no.1 s.53
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• pp.13-20
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• 1999

We previously reported that Korean red ginseng (KRG) has a relaxation effect on the smooth muscles of corpus cavernosum via nitric oxide (NO) pathway and calcium and potassium channels. However, it is suggested that the active ingredients of KRG might be different depending on the sources of preparation, and there might be differences in actions for different compositions. We first investigated the composition of KRG saponins according to the extractions of the various sources of KRG, then with these extractions the relaxation effects were evaluated in vitro and hemodynamical in vivo using New Zealand white rabbit and rat corpus cavernosum. The total compositions of ginsenoside $(G-Rb_1,\;-Rb_2,\;-Rc,\;-Rd,\;G-Re,\;-Rf,\;-Rg_1)$ in fractionated KRG saponin designated as TS-1, TS-2, TS-3 were $41\%,\;40\%,\;and\;62\%,$ respectively, and the ratios of PD saponin and PT saponin (PD/PT) were 1,55, 1.72, 2.25, and 2.61, the values of which were statistically significant. In vitro studies using the rabbit corpus cavernosal muscle strips, the KRG saponin relaxed cavernosal strips in a dose-dependent manner, and same results were observed in in vivo studies, that KRG saponin increased the intracavernosal pressure in the rat. There was difference in the efficacy according to fractionation techniques. The differences in the total contents of ginsenosides did not affect relaxation, rather PT saponin content was statistically related to the degree of cavernosal relaxation, and this action presumed to be mediated by NO pathway and calcium and potassium channels. In conclusion, KRG exerts relaxation which is a key step in erection via combination of effects on NO system or calcium and potassium channels. The efficacy of this action is different to the sources of ginseng, which is affected by the different composition of ginsenosides $(G-Rb_1,\;-Rb_2,\;-Rc,\;-Rd,\;G-Re,\;-Rf,\;-Rg_1).$ Thus the further studies on the active ingredients such as minor ginsenosides and non-saponin components of red ginseng with maximum potency should be sought.

• Journal of Korean Society of Forest Science
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• v.84 no.4
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• pp.415-423
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• 1995

This study was conducted to analyze the chemical composition, nutritional contents, and saponin in the xylem sap of Acer mono Max. From Feb 25 to Mar 4, 1994, spring sap was collected by making holes with 1.7cm diameter on the trunk of trees in Mt. Baekwoon and Mt. Jiri. Sugars were quantified by HPIC, amino acids by amino acid analyzer, saponins by TLC, HPLC, and $^1H$ & $^{13}C$ NMR. Major component of the sap was sucrose at a concentration range of 0.68 to 2.01%. Following minor components were found: glucose at 0.03-0.11%, and fructose at 0.01-0.03% as sugars, lipid at 0.03%, threonine at 0.152%, lysine at 0.038%, arginine at 0.068% as amino acids, ash at 0.1%, Ca at 175ppm, Fe at 2ppm, P at 19ppm, K at 16ppm, Na at 31ppm as minerals, vitamin $B_1$ at 0.6ppm, vit. $B_2$ at 0.1ppm, and vit. C at 19ppm. A trace of phenolic compounds was found by TLC, while saponin commonly reported in high-quality ginseng roots was not found in maple sap. It is concluded that sap of Acer mono contains a good variety of natural compounds such as sugars, amino acids, Ca, Fe, and vitamins to serve as an excellent source of very natural and health-promoting drink.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.39 no.11
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• pp.1660-1665
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• 2010

To obtain data for the standardization of manufacturing method of red ginseng extract pouch products, saponin and physico-chemical properties of 44 Korean red ginseng extract pouch products were analyzed. The concentration of total ginsenoside contents were 5.5~185.7 mg/100 mL. Distribution of the contents of ginsenoside $Rg_3$, $Rg_2$, $Rh_1$, and $Rh_2$ known to have anticancer effect are as follows: $Rg_3$ is 1.6~46.3 mg/100 mL, $Rg_2$ is 0~22.0 mg/100 mL, $Rh_1$ is 0~4.3 mg/100 mL and that of $Rh_2$ is 0~20.4 mg/100 mL, respectively. The anti-diabetic effect of ginsenoside $Rb_2$ and Re distribution of contents were 0~10.8 mg/100 mL and 0~7.0 mg/100 mL, respectively. Among the other saponins, exhibited content to distribution of ginsenoside $Rb_1$ was 0~25.2 mg/100 mL, Rc was 0~12.5 mg/100 mL, Rd was 0~11.3 mg/100 mL, Rf was 0~5.9 mg/100 mL and $Rg_1$ was 0~4.4 mg/100 mL. Results of physicochemical characterization showed total sugar content of 226.6~3,102.9 mg/100 mL, total soluble solids content $1.4\sim9.5^{\circ}Bx$, turbidity 82.2~100.0%, pH in the range of 4.1 to 5.0, respectively. In approximately 50% of collected domestic ginseng extract pouch products (21~24 items), ginsenoside $Rb_1$, $Rb_2$, Rc, Rd, Re and $Rg_1$ were not detected, and saponin content of each product appears to differ greatly. Results indicated that standardization of production methods and standards set for red ginseng extract pouch products in Korea is needed.

• Korean Journal of Plant Resources
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• v.23 no.5
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• pp.415-422
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• 2010

Red ginseng(RG, steamed and dried root of Panax ginseng C. A. Meyer, family Araliaceae) and fermented red ginseng(FRG, fermented red ginseng by yeast and lactic acid bacteria) are known to show different pharmacological effects by changed composition of saponins through fermentation. We examined the effects of RG and FRG on $\beta$-hexosaminidase secretion, ICAM-1 expression, the mitogen-induced proliferation of lymphocyte from mice in ex vivo systems and HaCaT cell(keratinocyte) proliferation to compare the anti-allergic and anti-inflammatory effects between both groups. RG groups showed inhibition of $\beta$-hexosaminidase secretion and ICAM-1 expression at $1{\mu}g/ml$, $10{\mu}g/ml$ and the same effects were observed at all concentrations in FRG groups. In our study, RG increased LPS-induced B cell proliferation at $1{\mu}g/ml$ and ConA-induced B cell proliferation at $100\;{\mu}g/ml$ but FRG decreased LPS- and ConA-induced lymphocytes at $100\;{\mu}g/ml$. We showed that FRG increased the proliferation of HaCaT at 1, $10{\mu}g/ml$ but not by RG. These findings suggest that RG and FRG might have anti-inflammatory and anti-allergic effects, which can be needed to proper clinical concentration to applied to various allergic diseases and inflammation.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.29 no.4
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• pp.500-508
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• 2016

This study was conducted to investigate the effects of Momordica charantia saponin (MCS) on ruminal fermentation of maize stover and abundance of selected microbial populations in vitro. Five levels of MCS supplements (0, 0.01, 0.06, 0.30, 0.60 mg/mL) were tested. The pH, $NH_3-N$, and volatile fatty acid were measured at 6, 24, 48 h of in vitro mixed incubation fluids, whilst the selected microbial populations were determined at 6 and 24 h. The high dose of MCS increased the initial fractional rate of degradation at t-value = 0 ($FRD_0$) and the fractional rate of gas production (k), but decreased the theoretical maximum of gas production ($V_F$) and the half-life ($t_{0.5}$) compared with the control. The $NH_3-N$ concentration reached the lowest concentration with 0.01 mg MCS/mL at 6 h. The MSC inclusion increased (p<0.001) the molar proportion of butyrate, isovalerate at 24 h and 48 h, and the molar proportion of acetate at 24 h, but then decreased (p<0.05) them at 48 h. The molar proportion of valerate was increased (p<0.05) at 24 h. The acetate to propionate ratio (A/P; linear, p<0.01) was increased at 24 h, but reached the least value at the level of 0.30 mg/mL MCS. The MCS inclusion decreased (p<0.05) the molar proportion of propionate at 24 h and then increased it at 48 h. The concentration of total volatile fatty acid was decreased (p<0.001) at 24 h, but reached the greatest concentration at the level of 0.01 mg/mL and the least concentration at the level of 0.60 mg/mL. The relative abundance of Ruminococcus albus was increased at 6 h and 24 h, and the relative abundance of Fibrobacter succinogenes was the lowest (p<0.05) at 0.60 mg/mL at 6 h and 24 h. The relative abundance of Butyrivibrio fibrisolvens and fungus reached the greatest value (p<0.05) at low doses of MCS inclusion and the least value (p<0.05) at 0.60 mg/mL at 24 h. The present results demonstrates that a high level of MCS quickly inhibits in vitro fermentation of maize stover, while MCS at low doses has the ability to modulate the ruminal fermentation pattern by regulating the number of functional rumen microbes including cellulolytic bacteria and fungi populations, and may have potential as a feed additive applied in the diets of ruminants.

• Korean Journal of Poultry Science
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• v.34 no.1
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• pp.43-52
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• 2007

Experiments were conducted to investigate the effects of dietary botanicals (herbs and plant extracts) on the performance, nutrient metabolizability, small intestinal microflora, IgG level and blood parameters in broiler chickens. In Exp. 1, 1,000 (500 each sex) broiler chicks($Ross^{(R)}$) were divided into 20 groups of 50 chickens each(25 birds each sex). Four groups were assigned to each of five dietary treatments:control and diets containing antibiotics($Avillamix^{(R)}$, avillamycin-premix), Herb M(Herb $mix^{(R)}$), Plant extract B(BIOSTRONG $510^{(R)}$) and Plant extract A($APEX^{(R)}$). In Exp. 2, 240(120 each sex) broiler chicks($Ross^{(R)}$) were devided into six treatment groups:control and diets containing antibiotics($Avillamix^{(R)}$, avillamycin-premix), Plant extract D($Digestarom^{(R)}$), Plant extract P($Phellozyme^{(R)}$), Plant extract G($Galicin^{(R)}$) and Plant extract C(CRINA $POULTRY^{(R)}$). Each treatment consisted of four replicates of 10 birds each. In both experiments, birds had free access to diets and water for 5 wk on floor pens(Exp. 1) and cages(Exp. 2). In Exp.1, production index of groups fed diets supplemented with herbs and plant extracts was slightly higher than the control and those fed Herb M was highest. In Exp. 2, groups fed diets supplemented with herbs and plant extracts consumed more feed than the control during the period between 4 and 5 wk(P<0.05). Feed conversion(feed/gain) was lower in antibiotics group than other groups. The values of RBC, Hb and HCT were higher(P<0.05) in chicken fed diets supplemented with the additives than in the control in Exp. 1. BA value was lower(P<0.05) in groups fed diets supplemented with the additives than in the control in Exp. 2. Serum IgG were higher(P<0.05) in groups fed diets supplemented with the additives than in the control in both experiments. The cfu of intestinal microflora and metabolizability of nutrients were not significantly different among treatments in both experiments. It was concluded that the botanical supplements can be used as an alternative to antibiotics in broiler diets.

• Journal of Food Hygiene and Safety
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• v.13 no.2
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• pp.77-82
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• 1998

As a fundermental research for quality stailization of herb extract, the effects of water activity on microbial growth in herb extract were investigated. Herbs-Panax ginseng, Cinnamomum cassia, Lycium chinense, Zyzyphus jujuba, Lindera obtusilobum-were mixed and extracted with water at $80^{\circ}C$ and concentrated at $75^{\circ}C$. Water activity of the herb extract was adjusted to 0.86, 0.80 and 0.69, using water activity analyzer. The extracts were incubated for 180 days at $40^{\circ}C$ and then examined microbial cell counts and some physicochemical properties. In the extract of $a_{w}$ 0.86, 18 CFU/g of initial viable cell was increased to 80 CFU/g with 90 days of incubation and to 190 CFU/g 180 days of incubation. In the extract of $a_{w}$ 0.80, 24 CFU/g of initial viable cell was also increased to 83 CFU/g during the 90 days of incubation and to 170 CFU/ g for the 180 days of incubation. However, in the extract of $a_{w}$ 0.69, viable cell after 180 days of incubation was remained at almost the same level as initial viable cell. pH of herb extract was reduced in proportion to the decrease in water activity. The TLC (thin layer chromatography) patterns of ginseng saponins of herb extract did not show any significant changes after 180 days of incubation. Growth of pathogenic microorganisms was inhibited more with lower water activity of the herb extracts. In the herb extract inoculated with Candida albicans and Aspergillus niger, initial viable cells of 150 and 140 CFU/g were decreased to 30 and 20 CFU/g, repectively, after 30 days of incubation at $28^{\circ}C$. In the case of herb extract inoculated with Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa, growth of the bacteria was totally inhibited even after 30 days of incubation at $37^{\circ}C$.

• Journal of Animal Science and Technology
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• v.53 no.2
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• pp.147-154
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• 2011

This study was conducted to evaluate the effects of saponin contained plant extracts on in vitro rumen fermentation characteristics and methane production. Ruminal fluid was collected from rumen cannulated Hanwoo steers fed rice straw and concentrate (5:5). Collected rumen fluids, corn starch and buffer including saponin contained plant extracts (ginseng, Ogapi, soapwort, tea plant and yucca; 0.5%/15 ml) were incubated at $39^{\circ}C$ for 24 h. All incubations were repeated five times. Rumen pH in all treatments was lower (p<0.05) compared with that of the control (no addition) during incubation time. The concentration of total VFA in all treatments was higher (p<0.05) than that of the control after 12h incubation. Compared with the control, the concentration of acetate and propionate in all treatments was lower and higher after 6h incubation, respectively. The concentration of $NH_3$-N in all treatments was lower (p<0.05) than that of the control except for Ogapi or yucca extracts supplementation. The number of protozoa in all treatments was significantly (p<0.05) lower than that of the control except for soapwort extract supplementation. The total gas production and methane production in all treatments was higher (p<0.05) and lower (p<0.05) compared with the control, except for ogapi or soapwort extracts supplementation after 12h incubation, respectively. Therefore, reduction in methane production by saponins may could be results from decreased protozoal population without any negative in vitro fermentation.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.33 no.4
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• pp.316-323
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• 2009

Ginseng saponins have various pharmacological effects on the immune system. 20(S)-protopanaxadiol (PPD) and 20(S)-protopanaxatriol (PPT) are the species of ginseng saponin metabolites that are formed by human intestinal bacteria and detected in circulation. The effects of PPD and PPT on the inflammatory mediator release from the activated mast cells were tested. Histamine release was evaluated in activated guinea pig lung mast cells, and the secretion of interleukin-4 (IL-4), interleukin-8 (IL-8), and the tumor necrosis factor-${\alpha}$ (TNF-${\alpha}$) was assessed in an HMC-1 cell after treating it with ginseng saponin metabolites. The results are as follows. PPT, at its maximum concentration of $100\;{\mu}M$, completely abolished the secretion of IL-4 from the PMA-stimulated HMC-1 cell. It also inhibited IL-8 secretion from the same cells by about 40-50% of the PMA-treated DMSO control. PPD, at its maximum concentration of $100\;{\mu}M$, showed a tendency to induce histamine release from the guinea pig lung mast cells. It inhibited the secretion of IL-4 (by 89% of the PMA-treated DMSO control) in the PMA-stimulated HMC-1 cell, but did have a significant effect on the IL-8 release from the same cell. Both PPD and PPT showed no effects, however, on the release of TNF-${\alpha}$ from the PMA-stimulated HMC-1 cell. These results suggest that PPD and PPT are from the ginseng metabolites that are responsible for the immunomodulating activity of ginseng extracts when they are taken orally.