• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.44 no.4
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• pp.527-537
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• 2020

Panax ginseng, a medicinal plant, has been used as a blood-nourishing tonic for thousands of years in Asia, including Korea and China. P. ginseng exhibits adaptogen activity that maintains homeostasis by restoring general biological functions and non-specifically enhancing the body's resistance to external stress. Several P. ginseng effects have been reported. Korean Red Ginseng, in particular, has been reported in both basic and clinical studies to possess diverse effects such as enhanced immunity, fatigue relief, memory, blood circulation, and anti-oxidation. Moreover, it also protects against menopausal symptoms, cancer, cardiac diseases, and neurological disorders. The active components found in most Korean Red Ginseng varieties are known to include ginsenosides, polysaccharides, peptides, alkaloids, polyacetylene, and phenolic compounds. In this review, the identity and bioactivity of the non-saponin components of Korean Red Ginseng discovered to date are evaluated and the components are classified into polysaccharide and nitrogen compounds (protein, peptide, amino acid, nucleic acid, and alkaloid), as well as fat-soluble components such as polyacetylene, phenols, essential oils, and phytosterols. The distinct bioactivity of Korean Red Ginseng was found to originate from both saponin and non-saponin components rather than from only one or two specific components. Therefore, it is important to consider saponin and non-saponin elements together.

• The Plant Pathology Journal
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• v.25 no.4
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• pp.400-407
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• 2009

A pathogenesis-related protein (PgPR5) gene that isolated from the leaf of Panax ginseng was characterized. The ORF is 756 bp with a deduced amino acid sequence of 251 residues. The calculated molecular mass of the matured protein is approximately 27.5 kDa with a predicated isoelectric point of 7.80. A GenBank BlastX search revealed that the deduced amino acid of PgPR5 shares highest sequence similarity to PR5 of Actinidia deliciosa (80% identity, 87% similarity). PgPR5 has a C-terminal and N-terminal signal peptide, suggesting that it is a vacuolar secreted protein. The expression of PgPR5 under various environmental stresses was analyzed at different time points using real-time PCR. Our results reveal that PgPR5 is induced by salt stress, chilling stress, heavy metal, UV, and pathogen infection. These results suggest that the PgPR5 could play a role in the molecular defence response of ginseng to abiotic and pathogen attack. This is the first report of the isolation of PR5 gene from the P. ginseng.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.32 no.3
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• pp.232-237
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• 2008

Cinnamoyl-CoA reductase (CCR, EC 1.2.1.44) catalyses the reduction of cinnamic acid CoA esters into their corresponding aldehydes, the first step of the phenylpropanoid pathway specially dedicated to monolignol biosynthesis. A cDNA clones encoding CCR have been isolated from Panax ginseng C.A. Meyer and its expression was investigated in response to abiotic stresses. The cDNA, designated PgCCR which is 865 nucleotides long and has an open reading frame of 590 bp with a deduced amino acid sequence of 176 residues. The PgCCR encoded protein possesses substantial homology with CCRs isolated and cloned from other sources; the highest identity (51.8%) was observed with CCR from Tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum). Under various stress conditions, expression patterns of the PgCCR were highly induced in adventitious and hairy roots by several abiotic stresses. These results indicated that PgCCR plays protective role against diverse environmental stresses.

• Journal of the East Asian Society of Dietary Life
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• v.23 no.1
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• pp.78-84
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• 2013

Powders prepared from three different varieties of Korean ginseng (white, red and black) are consumed daily by many Koreans as a functional food material. These variants exert a variety of physiological effects. The principal objective of this study was to evaluate the quality characteristics of Yanggaeng prepared with three different types of ginseng powder. We conducted tests for ginsenosides content, Hunter's color values, mechanical characteristics, and sensory evaluation analysis. The ginsenosides of black ginseng were higher than those of white and red ginseng. The lightness of the black ginseng Yanggaeng was significantly less than the white, red, and control samples (p<0.05). We noted significant differences in Hunter's a and b values. With regard to the mechanical properties of the samples, we noted significant differences in gumminess (p<0.05), but no differences in hardness, springiness, chewiness, and cohesiveness were detected. The results of sensory evaluation showed that there were significant differences in the color, flavor, and overall quality of the samples (p<0.05), but there were no significant differences in taste and texture. Overall, red ginseng Yanggaeng appeared to have the most commercial value for improving the Yanggaeng product.

• The Journal of Korean Obstetrics and Gynecology
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• v.23 no.4
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• pp.57-66
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• 2010

Purpose: To provide basic informations for guidelines of Ginseng usage during lactation. Method: Based on a regulation of scope and preparation of herbal prescriptions by Ministry of health and welfare of Korea, we selected the formulae for postpartum care and disease in 7 Korean Medical Classics. And we searched the number of formulae including Ginseng, dosage and indications of Ginseng in formulae in those books. Results: The range of Ginseng dosage during lactation from medical classics is 1.5-18.75g/day for medical purposes. Indications of Ginseng are lethargy, excessive bleeding, asthma, fever, cold, pain, dizziness, mental disorder, spasm, digestive problem, constipation, diarrhea, urinary incontinence, edema, breast engorgement, lack of breastmilk, breast ulcer, etc. But Ginseng had not been used in the case of stroke, epistaxis, beginning of mastitis, tumor of lower abdomen. Conclusions: Ginseng should be recommended less than 1.5g/d as a nutritional supplement. If breastfeeding woman wants to take Ginseng as a medication or as a tonic, she should consult with a official specialist about proper prescription and dosage instead of risky random medication.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.38 no.4
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• pp.264-269
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• 2014

Background: In this study, we examined the effects of various enzymes on chemical conversions of ginsenosides in ginseng extract prepared by amylases. Methods: Rapidase, Econase CE, Viscozyme, Ultraflo L, and Cytolase PCL5 were used for secondary enzymatic hydrolysis after amylase treatment of ginseng extract, and ginsenoside contents, skin permeability, and chemical compositions including total sugar, acidic polysaccharide, and polyphenols were determined on the hydrolyzed ginseng extract. Results: Rapidase treatment significantly elevated total ginsenoside contents compared with the control (p < 0.05). In particular, deglycosylated ginsenosides including Rg3, which are known as bioactive compounds, were significantly increased after Rapidase treatment (p < 0.05). The Rapidase-treated group also increased the skin permeability of polyphenols compared with the control, showing the highest level of total sugar content among the enzyme treatment groups. Conclusion: This result showed that Rapidase induced the conversion of ginsenoside glycosides to aglycones. Meanwhile, Cytolase PCL5 and Econase treatments led to a significant increase of uronic acid (acidic polysaccharide) level. Taken together, our data showed that the treatments of enzymes including Rapidase are useful for the conversion and increase of ginsenosides in ginseng extracts or products.

• Food Science and Preservation
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• v.14 no.6
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• pp.650-654
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• 2007

Ginseng sikhye is a unique beverage containing medicinal ingredients and having the unique flavor of ginseng. In this study, changes in the sugar composition of ginseng sikhye were investigated during the saccharification process. The concentration of ginseng sikhye was varied and the sugar content analyzed during the process. The amount of ginseng powder was varied from 3% to 12% in a mixture of malt (20 g), steamed rice (400 g) and 0.2 mL ${\alpha}$-amylase (Teramyl). With increasing time and temperature during the saccharification process, the sugar content in the ginseng sikhy eincreased, reaching levels similar to commercial sikhye. However, based on analysis of free sugars, the maltose content in ginseng sikhye was over 4.3%, which was higher than for commercial sikhye. Therefore, ginseng sikhye shows excellent marketability quality.

• Korean Journal of Medicinal Crop Science
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• v.17 no.4
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• pp.266-272
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• 2009

Cinnamyl alcohol dehydrogenase (CAD, EC 1.1.1.95), catalyzes the reduction of hydroxycinnamaldehydes to give hydroxycinnamyl alcohols, or "monolignols," the monomeric precursors of lignin. Lignins are important components of cell walls and lignified secondary cell walls play crucial roles in long distance transport of water and nutrients during plant growth and development and in plant defense against biotic and abiotic stresses. Here a cDNA clone containing a CAD gene, named as PgCAD, was isolated from a commercial medicinal plant Panax ginseng. PgCAD is predicted to encode a precursor protein of 177 amino acid residues, and its sequence shares high homology with a number of other plant CADS. The expression of PgCAD in adventitious roots and hairy roots of P. ginseng was analyzed using reverse transcriptase (RT)-PCR under various abiotic stresses such as salt, salicylic acid, wounding and chilling treatment that triggered a significant induction of PgCAD at different time points within 2-48 h post-treatment. This study revealed that PgCAD may help the plants to survive against various abiotic stresses.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.33 no.3
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• pp.212-218
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• 2009

Triterpenoid saponins were synthesized in Panax ginseng C.A. Meyer via the isoprenoid pathway by cyclization of 2,3-oxidosqualene to give primarily oleanane (beta-amyrin) or dammarane triterpenoid skeletons. The triterpenoids are backbone and undergoes various modifications (oxidation, substitution and glycosylation), mediated by cytochrome P450 (CYP)-dependent monooxygenases, glycosyltransferase and other enzymes. This is likely to be due in part to the complexity of the molecules and the lack of pathway intermediates for biochemical studies. A cDNA clone encoding a putative CYP gene was isolated from flower bud of ginseng and transformed into the plant(Nicotiana tabacum cv. Xanthi) and confirmed by PCR analysis. The CYP gene (PgCYP) contained an open reading frame(ORF) encoding mature protein of 500 amino acids. The expression of PgCYP were investigated in transgenic tobacco by reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR).

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Crop Science Conference
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• 2003.10a
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• pp.100-101
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• 2003