• Korean Journal of Medicinal Crop Science
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• v.23 no.3
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• pp.185-189
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• 2015

In this study, the clinical safety and toxicology of oral ingestion of supplement capsules containing ginseng radix was investigated in healthy young volunteers. This study was a pilot randomized, double blinded, placebo controlled trial. The healthy volunteers were divided into 6 groups of 20 each (10 males and 10 females). They took the ginseng powder for 35 days (3g/day) for safety evaluation. There were measured general healthy levels such as hematological, biochemical and electrocardiographic parameters. After the first week, besides Korean white ginseng the other treatments led to an significant increase of white blood cells. Korean red ginseng increased UREA (blood urea nitrogen) in healthy volunteers, but it didn't exceed the range of normal values, and in the subsequent process of treatment there is no effect of elevating UREA. After the three weeks, Korean white ginseng showed relatively low the content of blood glucose and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol. After the five weeks, compared with the other treatments, Korean red ginseng increased white blood cells, platelet distribution width and average volume of platelet. Korean white ginseng decreased low-density lipoprotein cholesterol. American ginseng decreased blood creatinine in healthy volunteers. In conclusion, through test the blood routine, urine routine, liver function, renal function, blood glucose, blood lipid and electrocardiogram, the healthy volunteers continuous taking ginseng for 35 days (3 g/day) is safe and reliable, and have no obvious adverse reactions and side effects.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.41 no.4
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• pp.615-619
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• 2017

Background: Black ginseng has a more potent biological activity than non-steamed ginseng. We investigated the effects of long-term intake of dietary black ginseng extract (BG) on antioxidant activity in aged mice. We also compared the effects of BG on cognitive deficits with those of white ginseng extract (WG) and red ginseng extract (RG). Methods: Ten-month-old mice were fed an AIN-93G-based diet containing 10 g/kg (low dose, L) or 30 g/kg (high dose, H) WG powder, RG powder, or BG powder for 24 wk. We measured serum lipids, the activities of antioxidant enzymes, and malondialdehyde levels. Additionally, the protein expression levels of choline acetyltransferase and vesicular acetylcholine transporter, which are presynaptic cholinergic markers in the cortex and hippocampus of the brain, were measured by western blotting. Results: Triglyceride levels were reduced in all the extract-treated mice, except those in the LBG group. High-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels in the HBG group were higher than those in the control group. Total cholesterol levels were reduced in the LBG group. Additionally, glucose levels in the HBG group were significantly reduced by 41.2%. There were lower levels of malondialdehyde in the LBG group than in the control group. Furthermore, glutathione reductase activity increased in the HWG group and the HRG group. The protein expression levels of choline acetyltransferase and vesicular acetylcholine transporter significantly increased in all the ginseng-treated groups. Conclusion: The results suggest that supplementation with the tested ginseng extracts may suppress the cognitive decline associated with aging, via regulation of the cholinergic and antioxidant defense systems.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.38 no.7
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• pp.946-950
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• 2009

Chemical components and antioxidative activities of white ginseng, red ginseng and extruded white ginseng (EWG) were evaluated. Extrusion condition was 20% moisture content, 100 and $140^{\circ}C$ barrel temperature. The results showed that total sugar and acidic polysaccharide contents of white ginseng powder were increased after extrusion treatment of which EWG at $140^{\circ}C$ barrel temperature had higher value than EWG at $100^{\circ}C$ barrel temperature. Free radical scavenging activity of EWG at $140^{\circ}C$ barrel temperature was 80.2 and 45.6% respectively. The butanol fraction of polyphenolic compound and acidic polysaccharide were $27.2{\pm}0.1\;mg/g$ and $217.6{\pm}0.7\;mg/g$, respectively. The ginsenosides were quantified by HPLC and the yield of ginsenoside-Rg3s and Rg3r were achieved by extrusion process.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.22 no.4
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• pp.252-259
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• 1998

Electron beam, electrically produced from an electron accelerator, was compared with gamma energy in terms of its influence on color and organoleptic qualities of ginseng powders when exposed to the energy used for their microbial decontamination. Hunter color L and b values were suitable for measuring color characteristics of ginseng powders, which were not significantly changed by the exposure to 5 to 7.5 kGy electron beam and gamma energy. Fifty percent ethanol extracts of irradiated ginseng powders at 10 key showed negligible differences from the non-irradiated control in the pattern of absorption spectra at 280∼800 am, but showed increased values in overall color difference (AE) as compared with powdered samples. Irradiation more than 10 kGy and storage at ambient temperature for 4 months caused browning of powdered samples. Irradiation at more than 10 kGy of electron beam was found a critical level to bring about appreciable changes (p<0.05) in or-ganoleptic qualities such as color and odor of sterilized samples, and red ginseng powder was more susceptible than white one to organoleptic changes by irradiation.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.41 no.5
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• pp.566-571
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• 2009

The principal objective of this study was to use a fermentation and extrusion process in order to improve the antioxidant properties of original Sangmaksan (ES), containing maekmoondong, omija, and white ginseng. The antioxidant activities of fermented Sangmaksan prepared with different types of ginseng [white (FSW), red (FSR), and extruded white (FSE)], were investigated. The white ginseng powder was extruded at 20% moisture content and $120^{\circ}C$ of the maximum process temperature at the barrel. The antioxidant properties of Sangmaksan were increased after fermentation. Interestingly, the fermented Sangmaksan containing the extruded white ginseng evidenced more potent antioxidant properties than the fermented Sangmaksan containing white ginseng. The content of total phenolic compounds, DPPH-radical scavenging activity, acidic polysaccharide, reducing power, and total anthocyanin were highest with FSR, followed by FSE, FSW and ES, respectively. Additionally, superoxide dismutase-like activity and total flavonoid contents were highest in the fermented Sangmaksan containing extruded white ginseng. In conclusion, it can be asserted that the fermentation and extrusion process utilized in this study may prove to be an effective new process for the production of high-quality Sangmaksan.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.30 no.6
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• pp.1362-1366
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• 1998

The sterilizing effect of electron beam was compared with that of gamma irradiation for commercial ginseng powders. White and red ginseng powders were contaminated by about $10^5\;CFU/g$ of total bacteria and by $10^3\;CFU$ of coliforms only in white ginseng powder. Data of microbial population for the sterilizing effect of electron beam irradiation showed that no microorganisms were detected in the samples irradiated up to 7.5 kGy for total aerobic bacteria and 2.5 kGy for molds and coliforms. Such doses were effective for controlling the microbial growth in the samples during 4 months of storage at room temperature. Decimal reduction doses $(D_{10}$ value) on the initial bacterial populations were $2.85{\sim}3.75\;kGy$ in electron beam and $2.33{\sim}2.44\;kGy$ in gamma irradiation, which were influenced by the initial microbial loads and the energy applied. Compared with gamma irradiation, electron beam showed a similar result in its sterilizing effect on ginseng powders, suggesting its potential utilization in due time.