• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• 제36권1호
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• pp.61-67
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• 2012

In the present study, effects of sun ginseng (SG) on the collagen synthesis and the proliferation of dermal fibroblast were investigated. Collagen synthesis was measured by assaying procollagen type I C-peptide production. In addition, the level of matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-1 was assessed by western blot analysis. SG suppressed the MMP-1 protein level in a dose-dependent manner. In contrast, SG dose-dependently increased tissue inhibitors of MMP (TIMP)-1 production in fibroblasts. SG increased type I collagen production directly and/or indirectly by reducing MMP-1 and stimulating TIMP-1 production in human dermal fibroblasts. SG dose-dependently induced fibroblast proliferation and this, in turn, can trigger more collagen production. These results suggest that SG may be a potential pharmacological agent with anti-aging properties in cultured human skin fibroblast.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• 제34권1호
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• pp.47-50
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• 2010

The common DNA extraction methods are indispensable for genotyping by molecular marker analysis. However, genotyping a large number of plants is painstaking. A modified 'NaOH-Tris' method used in this study reduces the extraction time while keeping the cost low and avoiding the use of hazardous chemicals. The endpoint analysis by realtime PCR tends to be fast and effective for the development of SNP markers linked to the 'Chunpoong' cultivar of Panax ginseng. The 'Chunpoong' marker was developed by a major latex-like protein gene sequence. From our results, we suggest that this method is successful in distinguishing 'Chunpoong' from a large number of ginseng cultivars.

• 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.

• Archives of Pharmacal Research
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• 제27권5호
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• pp.524-530
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• 2004

Epilepsy or the occurrence of spontaneous recurrent epileptiform discharges (SREDs, seizures) is one of the most common neurological disorders. Shift in the balance of brain between excitatory and inhibitory functions due to different types of structural or functional alterations may cause epileptiform discharges. N-Methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor dysfunctions have been implicated in modulating seizure activities. Seizures and epilepsy are clearly dependent on elevated intracellular calcium concentration ([C $a^{2+}$]$_{i}$ ) by NMDA receptor activation and can be prevented by NMDA antagonists. This perturbed [C $a^{2+}$]$_{i}$ levels is forerunner of neuronal death. However, therapeutic tools of elevated [C $a^{2+}$]$_{i}$ level during status epilepticus (SE) and SREDs have not been discovered yet. Our previous study showed fast inhibition of ginseng total saponins and ginsenoside R $g_3$ on NMDA receptor-mediated [C $a^{2+}$]$_{i}$ in cultured hippocampal neurons. We, therefore, examined the direct modulation of ginseng on hippocampal neuronal culture model of epilepsy using fura-2-based digital $Ca^{2+}$ imaging and neuronal viability assays. We found that ginseng total saponins and ginsenoside R $g_3$ inhibited $Mg^{2+}$ free-induced increase of [C $a^{2+}$]$_{i}$ and spontaneous [C $a^{2+}$]$_{i}$ oscillations in cultured rat hippocampal neurons. These results suggest that ginseng may playa neuroprotective role in perturbed homeostasis of [C $a^{2+}$]$_{i}$ and neuronal cell death via the inhibition of NMDA receptor-induced SE or SREDs.d SE or SREDs..

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• 제37권2호
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• pp.227-247
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• 2013

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are a class of recently discovered non-coding small RNA molecules, on average approximately 21 nucleotides in length, which underlie numerous important biological roles in gene regulation in various organisms. The miRNA database (release 18) has 18,226 miRNAs, which have been deposited from different species. Although miRNAs have been identified and validated in many plant species, no studies have been reported on discovering miRNAs in Panax ginseng Meyer, which is a traditionally known medicinal plant in oriental medicine, also known as Korean ginseng. It has triterpene ginseng saponins called ginsenosides, which are responsible for its various pharmacological activities. Predicting conserved miRNAs by homology-based analysis with available expressed sequence tag (EST) sequences can be powerful, if the species lacks whole genome sequence information. In this study by using the EST based computational approach, 69 conserved miRNAs belonging to 44 miRNA families were identified in Korean ginseng. The digital gene expression patterns of predicted conserved miRNAs were analyzed by deep sequencing using small RNA sequences of flower buds, leaves, and lateral roots. We have found that many of the identified miRNAs showed tissue specific expressions. Using the insilico method, 346 potential targets were identified for the predicted 69 conserved miRNAs by searching the ginseng EST database, and the predicted targets were mainly involved in secondary metabolic processes, responses to biotic and abiotic stress, and transcription regulator activities, as well as a variety of other metabolic processes.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• 제34권4호
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• pp.296-303
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• 2010

A peroxiredoxin cDNA (PgPrx) was isolated and characterized from the leaves of Panax ginseng. The cDNA is 716 nucleotides long and has an open reading frame of 489 base pairs with a deduced amino acid sequence of 162 residues. The calculated molecular mass of the mature protein is approximately 17.4 kDa with a predicted isoelectric point of 5.37. A GenBank BlastX search revealed that the deduced amino acid sequence of PgPrx shares a high degree homology with type II peroxiredoxin (Prx) proteins in other plants. The PgPrx gene was highly expressed in leaves, and expressed at a low level in the stem. To analyze the gene expression of PgPrx in response to various abiotic stresses, we utilized real-time quantitative RT-PCR. Our results reveal that PgPrx expression is induced by ultraviolet irradiation, low temperature, and salt. The induction of PgPrx in response to abiotic stimuli suggests that ginseng Prx may function to protect the host against environmental stresses.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• 제34권1호
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• pp.17-22
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• 2010

Sesquiterpenes are found naturally in plants and insects as defensive agents or pheromones. They are produced in the cytosolic acetate/mevalonate pathway for isoprenoid biosynthesis. The inducible sesquiterpene synthases (STS), which are responsible for the transformation of the precursor farnesyl diphosphate, appear to generate very few olefinic products that are converted to biologically active metabolites. In this study, we isolated the STS gene from Panax ginseng C.A. Meyer, designated PgSTS, and investigated the correlation between its expression and various abiotic stresses using real-time PCR. PgSTS cDNA was observed to be 1,883 nucleotides long with an open reading frame of 1,707 bp, encoding a protein of 568 amino acids. The molecular mass of the mature protein was determined to be 65.5 kDa, with a predicted isoelectric point of 5.98. A GenBank BlastX search revealed the deduced amino acid sequence of PgSTS to be homologous to STS from other plants, with the highest similarity to an STS from Lycopersicon hirsutum (55% identity, 51% similarity). Real-time PCR analysis showed that different abiotic stresses triggered significant induction of PgSTS expression at different time points.

• 한국미생물·생명공학회지
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• 제37권1호
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• pp.55-61
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• 2009

인삼 근권에 존재하는 토양 미생물중 esculin agar법을 이용하여 $\beta$-glucosidase를 생산하는 균주를 분리하고, 다시 ginsenoside $Rb_1$을 선택적으로 분해하는 균주 Gsoil 235를 선발 및 동정하였다. 16S rRNA 염기서열을 sequencing한 후, genebank에서 가장 가까운 type strain을 결정하여 유연 관계를 분석한 결과 Cellulosimicrobium 속의 funkei ATCC BAA-$886^T$(AY501364)와 99.7% 일치하는 균주임을 확인하였다. TSB, LB, NB등 3종류의 배지에서 균의 생장은 접종 후 12-24 시간에서 가장 잘 자라며, TSB>LB>NB의 순으로 잘 자라는 것을 알 수 있었다. ginsenoside $Rb_1$과 8, 24, 48시간 동안 반응시킨 후 TLC로 분석한 결과 NB>LB>TSB순으로 $Rb_1$ 분해 활성이 뛰어나 배지의 생장과 대조적인 결과를 얻었다. 반응시간이 증가할수록 Rd를 포함한 minor ginsenoside의 생성이 증가하였으며, 특히 다른 배지에 비해 균주 생장속도가 상대적으로 낮은 NB는 48시간 후 $Rb_1$을 거의 분해하여 강한 효소 활성을 확인할 수 있었다.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• 제36권4호
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• pp.369-374
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• 2012

The berry of Panax ginseng significantly inhibited the histamine releases at the concentration of $30{\mu}g/mL$ (p<0.05) and $10{\mu}g/mL$ (p<0.01). The ginsenoside Re from ginseng berry was found out to have a potent effect in the experiment of histamin and cytokine release.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• 제32권3호
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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.