• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• 제13권3호
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• pp.156-164
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• 2005

This study was performed to investigate the anxiolytic-like effects Panax ginseng in mice using the elevated plus-maze model. Furthermore, the anxiolytic-like effects of Panax ginseng were compared to a known active anxiolytic drug, diazepam. Ginseng total saponin (GTS, 100 mg/kg) from red ginseng (RG), sun ginseng (SG) total extract (50 mg/kg), butanol fraction of SG(25 and 50 mg/kg) and ginsenosides ($Rb_1,\;Rg_1,\;and\;Rg_5$ and Rk mixture) significantly increased the number of open arm entries and the time spent on the open arm, compared with that of control. However, Red ginseng (RG) total extract (l00 mg/kg), GTS (25, 50 mg/kg), SG total extract (25 mg/kg) and ginsenosides ($Rg_{3}-R\;and\;Rg_{3}-S$) did not increase the number of open arm entries and the time spent on the open arm. On the other hand, butanol fraction of RG (l00 mg/kg), total extract of SG (50 mg/kg), butanol fraction of SG (50 mg/kg), ginsenosides ($Rb_{1},\;and\;Rg_{5}$ and Rk mixture) decreased the locomotor activity, in a similar fashion to diazepam. These data support that ginseng has the anxiolytic-like effects and the anxiolytic potential of SG was stronger than that of RG. Ginsenosides $Rb_{1},\;Rg_{1},\;and\;Rg_{5}$ and Rk mixture play important role on the anxiolytic-like effects of Panax ginseng. We provide evidence that ginseng and some ginsenosides may be useful for the treatment of anxiety.

• 한국약용작물학회지
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• 제19권5호
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• pp.313-318
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• 2011

This study was carried out to utilize the byproducts (flower, immature and mature berry, leaf and stem) of ginseng. Yield of byproducts were $32.7{\pm}9.8g$ in flower, $68.2{\pm}2.2g$ in immature berry, $48.5{\pm}4.3g$ in mature berry, $316.2{\pm}20.5g$ in leaf, and $296.6{\pm}15.4g$ in stem per $3.3m^2$ ($180{\times}90cm$, ginseng root $675.5{\pm}35.7g$/drybasis. The total saponin contents of ginseng byproducts and root are $52.36{\pm}1.24$, $68.71{\pm}1.98$, $168.89{\pm}0.57$, $68.26{\pm}1.32$, $7.85{\pm}0.61$ and $35.08{\pm}0.96$ mg/g, respectively. The main ginsenoside of all byproducts was Re and the highest content was $132.23{\pm}1.56$ mg/g in mature berry. But flower and berry was not detected Rf and Rh1, respectively. Total polyphenolic compound content on mature berry was the highest, $2.242{\pm}0.140%$, after, immature berry > leaf > flower > root > stem order. The DPPH radical scavenging activity on mature berry was the highest, $0.115{\pm}0.004$ mg/mL($IC_{50}$), and the others were the same order of polyphenolic compound and ginsenoside content on byproducts.

• 한국약용작물학회지
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• 제20권5호
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• pp.315-319
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• 2012

This study was conducted to select plant growth regulators effective at ginseng berry set inhibition to help root growth in Korean ginseng (Panax ginseng C. A. Meyer). PGRs (ethephon, gibberellic acid, maleic hydrazide, coumarin) were applied to field grown 5-year-old Korean ginseng between one and two times, before and during bloom in 2009, 2010. The number of treatment was more effective in ginseng berry set inhibition when used two times compared with one time in GA 1,000 ppm, MH (5,000, 10,000 ppm), coumarin (5,000, 10,000 ppm) treatment. According to treatment period of plant growth regulator, ginseng berry set inhibition rate from 20days before flowering date to 5days after blooming was the highest in MH 5000 ppm showing 99.9% and the lowest in GA 100 ppm showing 32.8%. The spray treatments of Ethephon (50, 150 ppm) and MH (5,000, 10,000 ppm) from 20 days before the flowering bloom up to 5 days before, and coumarin (5,000, 10,000 ppm) from 20 days to 6 days and before blooming that induced the inhibitory effect more than 90% after 12 weeks. Considering ginseng berry set inhibition characteristics and treatment period ethephon and coumarin was important about applied period but, MH treatment appeared to effective ginseng berry set inhibition regardless of treatment period.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• 제28권10호
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• pp.1626-1634
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• 2018

Ginseng (the root of Panax ginseng Meyer) fermented by Lactobacillus plantarum has been found to attenuate allergic responses in in vitro and in vivo experimental models. Ginseng has been reported to also possess various biological functions including anti-inflammatory activity. The present study was aimed at comparing the anti-allergic effect of ginseng and fermented ginseng extracts on IgE-mediated passive cutaneous anaphylaxis in vitro in a murine cell line and in vivo in mice. Fermented ginseng extract (FPG) showed higher inhibitory effect against in vitro and in vivo allergic responses when compared with ginseng extract (PG). The secretion of ${\beta}$-hexosaminidase and interleukin (IL)-4 from the IgE-DNP-stimulated RBH-2H3 mast cells were significantly (p < 0.05) inhibited by FPG treatment, and this effect was concentration-dependent. Further, MKK4 activation and subsequent JNK phosphorylation were attenuated by FPG treatment. The inhibitory effect of FPG on the in vitro allergic response was verified in vivo against IgE-DNP-induced passive cutaneous anaphylaxis in a mouse model. These data indicated that the fermentation of ginseng with L. plantarum enhanced its anti-allergic effects both in vitro and in vivo. We predict that compositional changes in the ginsenosides caused by the fermentation may contribute to the change in the anti-allergic effects of ginseng. The results of our study highlight the potential of the use of FPG as a potential anti-allergic agent.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• 제32권2호
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• pp.127-134
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• 2008

This study was carried out to investigate the changes of ginsenosides composition in Korean red ginseng water extract (RGWE) after heated with high temperatures above $100^{\circ}C$. RGWEs were adjusted with pH 3.0, pH 7.0 and pH 10.0, respectively, and then heated at 100,110 and $120^{\circ}C$ for 30 minutes by using autoclave. Total ginsenosides of RGWE treated with heating showed decreasing tendency when compared with control. By TLC analysis, decreasing effect of ginsenosides in RGWE were significantly observed in the acidic condition of pH 3.0, particulary. By HPLC analysis, total ginsenoside of control showed 1.89%, while those of RGWE treated with 100, 110 and $120^{\circ}C$ showed 1.22, 1.05 and 0.97%, respectively. The ratio of protopanaxadiol (PD) to protopanaxatriol (Pr) saponins in control was 1.89, while that of PD/PT in treated RGWEs were level of 1.33 to 1.47. By the result of decreased ratio of PD/PT in RGWE, it was considered that PD type saponin such as ginsenoside$-Rb_{1}$, $-Rb_{1}$, -Rc and -Rd was more unstable than PT type saponin such as ginsenoside-Re and Rg against high temperature heating above $100^{\circ}C$.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• 제35권2호
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• pp.170-175
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• 2011

Exposure to the sun, ultraviolet radiation, and oxidative stress are the chief etiologic factors responsible for melasma. The ingredients of Korean red ginseng powder, which include ginsenoside and phenolic compounds, have antioxidative effects and reduce ultraviolet B-induced pigmentation. This study was designed to evaluate the effectiveness and safety of Korean red ginseng powder in patients with melasma. In 25 female patients, 3 g of Korean red ginseng powder was orally administered for a 24 week period. The level of pigmentation and erythema were determined and clinical improvement was evaluated by the melasma area and severity index (MASI), melasma quality of life scale (MELASQoL), and patient- and investigator-rated global improvement scale. After 24 weeks, the MASI score decreased from 8.8 to 5.6, and MELASQoL showed improvement in 91% of patients (p<0.05). The mean level of pigmentation decreased from 184.3 to 159.7 and erythema levels decreased from 253.6 to 216.4 (p<0.05). Additionally, 74% of the patients showed some improvement in both patient- and investigator-rated global improvement scales at week 24. Korean red ginseng powder was well tolerated by most of the patients. In conclusion, Korean red ginseng powder showed good tolerability and beneficial effects in patients with melasma. The use of Korean red ginseng would be counted as a useful adjunctive therapy for patients with melasma.

• 한국약용작물학회지
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• 제26권4호
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• pp.302-307
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• 2018

Background: A soil-borne pathogenic fungus, Ilyonectria radicicola (Cylindrocarpon destructans) causes root rot on ginseng (Panax ginseng C. A. Meyer) and is known to attack many other plants. The Nectria/Neonectria radicicola complex has been renamed as the I. radicicola complex after analysis of its multi-gene relatedness and morphological characteristics. The fungi in this complex have been reclassified into 16 species under the genus Ilyonectria based on characteristics analysis Methods and Results: To obtain useful data from the Korean ginseng root rot, I. radicicola was isolated from the rhizosphere soils of the chestnut tree. They were identified through a pathogenicity test and a survey of the morphological features. The existence of I. radicicola in soil samples was confirmed by PCR detections using nested PCR with species-specific primer sets. These were subsequenctly isolated on semi-selective media from PCR-positive soils. Genetic analysis of the I. radicicola complex containing these pathogens was done by comparing the DNA sequences of the histone h3 region. These isolates originating from the rhizosphere soils of chestnut constituted a clade with other closely related species or I. radicicola isolates originating from ginseng or other host plants, respectively. Additionally, the pathogenicity tests to analyze the characteristics of these I. radicicola isolates revealed that they caused weakly virulent root rot on ginseng. Conclusions: This is the first study reporting that I. radicicola isolates from chestnut rhizosphere soils can attack ginseng plant in Korea. Thus, these results are expected to provide informations in the selection of suitable fields for ginseng cultivation.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• 제19권2호
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• pp.127-133
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• 1995

The complete open reading frame (ORF) of o-subunit of the $F_1$ ATP synthase (atPA) in Korean ginseng mitochondria was identified by the sequence similarity with atPA genes in other plant mitochondria. The sequence alignment showed that the common translation initiation codon, ATG, in plant genes was replaced with GTG valid codon in Korean ginseng. The atPA gene from GTG to TGA termination codon was 1524 nucleotides long, and the sequence homology of nucleotides and deduced amino acids revealed high values of 92~97%. A deletion event of 6 nucleotides was observed at the 1468th nucleotide from the GTG in Korean ginseng, in contrast to that at the 1450th in other plants such as pea, common bean, soybean, sugar beet, and radish. An unidentified open reading frame (on7) was observed upstream of atmA ORF. No other ATG as an initiation codon was detected in the region between off and atmA ORF in Korean ginseng, although a pyrimidine cluster "TTTTCTTTT" was located in this region as in Oenothera and maize genes. It could be supposed that GTG codon in atpA gene of Korean ginseng mitochondria would act as an initiation codon as in microbial genes.ial genes.

• 한국환경농학회지
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• 제40권2호
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• pp.118-126
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• 2021

BACKGROUND: It is very important to monitor the residual characteristics of pesticides in pre-harvest fresh ginseng to ensure consumer safety. METHODS AND RESULTS: Forty-eight fresh ginseng samples were collected from 8 ginseng-growing fields 10 days before harvest and pesticide residues in fresh ginseng with and without rhizome (head of ginseng) and rhizome were analyzed for 320 pesticides by using GC-MS/MS and LC-MS/MS. As a result of the pesticide residue analysis, the number of pesticides detected from the fresh ginseng with rhizome, that without rhizome and rhizome were 26, 25, and 40, respectively, indicating that high number of pesticides found in rhizome, compared with the other parts. Pyraclostrobin was detected with the highest frequency in all samples, reaching to 21.2% in fresh ginseng with rhizome, 16.8% in that without rhizome, and 14.8% in rhizome. CONCLUSION: The residue levels of pesticides detected did not exceed their maximum residue limits, in spite of residual data in fresh ginseng before harvest. The amounts of the estimated daily intakes of all the detected pesticides were found to be from 0.018 to 1.818% of their acceptable daily intakes, indicating that concentrations of pesticides detected from fresh ginseng with and without rhizome collected before harvest do not pose the immediate health risks.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• 제45권1호
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• pp.191-198
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• 2021

Background: Most clinical studies of immune responses activated by Korean Red Ginseng (KRG) have been conducted exclusively in patients. However, there is still a lack of clinical research on immune-boosting benefits of KRG for healthy persons. This study aims to confirm how KRG boosts the immune system of healthy subjects. Methods: A total of 100 healthy adult subjects were randomly divided into two groups that took either a 2 g KRG tablet or a placebo per day for 8 weeks. The primary efficacy evaluation variables included changes in T cells, B cells, and white blood cells (WBCs) before and after eight weeks of KRG ingestion. Cytokines (TNF-α, INF-γ, IL-2 and IL-4), WBC differential count, and incidence of colds were measured in the secondary efficacy evaluation variables. Safety evaluation variables were used to identify changes in laboratory test results that incorporated adverse reactions, vital signs, hematological tests, blood chemistry tests, and urinalysis. Results: Compared to the placebo group, the KRG intake group showed a significant increase in the number of T cells (CD3) and its subtypes (CD4 and CD8), B cells, and the WBC count before and after eight weeks of the intake. There were no clinically significant adverse reactions or other notable results in the safety evaluation factors observed. Conclusion: This study has proven through its eight-week intake test and subsequent analysis that KRG boosts the immune system through an increase in T cells, B cells, and WBCs, and that it is safe according to the study's safety evaluation.