• Proceedings of the Ginseng society Conference
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• 1980.09a
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• pp.71-76
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• 1980

Aortic strips were prepared from rabbits, and the tensions were maintained by administration of norepinephrine into the incubation chamber. The application of diol or triol induced relaxation of the aortic strip, as indicated by the decreased aortic tension. Triol, in a concentration of $30\;mg\%\;causes\;approximately\;50\%$ of muscle relaxation, whereas a similar degree of relaxation is induced by $50\;mg\%$ of diol. This indicates that both triol and diol cause relaxation of the aorta, but that triol is about $170\%$ more potent than diol. It is well established that blood-vessel smooth-muscle tone is regulated by the available intracellular $Ca^{++}$ concentration, which in turn is profoundly influenced by interaction of the cellular membrane and sarcoplasmic reticulum in the smooth muscle. Thus, any agent which modifies the smooth-muscle tone is expected to interfere with the $Ca^{++}$ binding or uptake of sarcolemma and sarcoplasmic reticulum. In the following experiments sarcoplasmic reticulum and sarcolemma were prepared from the ventricle of rabbit heart, and the active $Ca^{++}$ uptake by these cellular components was measured employing $Ca^{45}$ in the presence of triol and diol. It was found that the active $Ca^{++}$ uptake in the presence of ATP by sarcoplasmic reticulum was inhibited by both triol and diol. Panaxatriol, in a concentration of $80\;mg\;\%,$ inhibited $Ca^{++}$ uptake by $30\%,$ whereas panaxatriol in the same concentration inhibited uptake by $20\%.$ It is clear that triol is a more potent inhibitor of active $Ca^{++}$ transport in sarcoplasmic reticulum than diol. The $Ca^{++}$ binding of the cellular membrane was also studied employing Ca45 and milipore techniques. It was found that triol in a concentration of $80\;mg\;\%,$ decreased $Ca^{++}$ binding by $29\%.$ Diol in the same concentration decreased the binding by $17\%.$ It is clear that both triol and diol inhibit $Ca^{++}$ binding to the cellular membrane, but triol is approximately $180\%$ more potent than diol.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.13 no.2
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• pp.223-228
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• 1989

Natural killer (NK) cells are a heteroguneous subpopulation of lymphocytes that spontaneously exhibit cytotoxic activity against various virus-Infected and neoplastic target cells without prior exposure to a specific antigen. It was thought that NK calls play an important role in immunosurvrillanre against viral agents and tumors, and in prevention of metastasis. Recently, several reports have indicated evidence that ginseng extracts show a significant stimulatory effect on the humoral and cellular immune responses. This evidence gives support to the suggestion that the anticarcinogenic effect of ginseng may be due to the effect of ginseng on the immunological system. Treatment with total, diol, and triol saponin resulted in an increase in NK cytotoxic activity, but no enhancement of the lytic activity due to the natural killer cytotoxic factor (NKCF). Therefore, these results suggest that the augmentation of NK activity by ginseng saponin fractions may not be due to the activation of NKCF lytic activity.

• Archives of Pharmacal Research
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• v.9 no.1
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• pp.29-38
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• 1986

The effects of ginseng saponins on the sarcolemmal $Na^{+}$, $K^{+}$-ATPase were compared to gypsophila saponin, sodium dodecylsulfate (SDS), and Triton X-100 to elucidate whether the effects are due to the membrane distruption, using a highly enriched preparation of cardiac sarcolemma prepared from dog ventricular myocardium. About 26% and 29% of vesicles in the preparation, enriched in ouabain-sensitive $Na^{+}$, $K^{+}$-ATP ase, $\beta$-adrenergic and muscarinic receptors are rightside-out and inside-out orientation, respectively. Ginseng saponins (triol>total> diol) inhibited $Na^{+}$, $K^{+}$-ATP ase activity, $Na^{+}$, $K^{+}$-ATPase activity and [$^{3}$H]ouabain binding of sarcolemmal vesicles. However, gypsophila saponin, SDS (0.4$\mu$g/$\mu$g protein) and Triton X-100 (0.6 $\mu$g/$\mu$g protein) caused about 1.35 and 1.40-fold increase in $Na^{+}$, $K^{+}$-ATPase activity and [$^{3}$H] oubain binding, respectively. Especially, the activating effect of gypsophila saponin on membrane Na+, K+ ATPase was detected at gypsophila saponin to sarcolemmal protein ratios as high as 100. Low dose of ginseng saponin (3$\mu$g/$\mu$g protein) decreased the phosphorylation sites and the concentration of ouabain binding sites (Bmax) without affecting the turnover number and affinity for ouabain binding, while gypsophila saponin, SDS(0.4 ug/ug protein), ahd Triton X-100 (0.6$\mu$g/$\mu$g protein) increased the Bmax. The results suggest that ginseng saponins cause a decrease in the number of active sites by interacting directly with $Na^{+}$, $K^{+}$-ATPase before disruption of membrane barriers of sarcolemmal vesicles.

• The Korean Journal of Zoology
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• v.21 no.3
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• pp.79-86
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• 1978

0.02 mg of Korean ginseng total saponins, and/or 0.01 mg of diol- and/or triol-saponin per 10g of boby weight per day were subcutaneously injected in mice weighing about 20g. The changes of tryptophan pyrrolase (TP) activity in vivo were determined and the following results were obtained. 1. With total saponins treatment, TP activity increased slightly after 3 hours, which was not statistically significant. The activity returned to its control level after 24 hours. One week treatment caused a significant. The activity returned to its control level after 24 hours. One week treatment caused a significant 61.11% increase. 2. With diol-saponin treatment, TP activity increased slightly after 3 hours, which was not significant. The activity increased 64.98% after 12 hours, and then again returned to its control level after 24 hours. One week treatment caused a significant 100.58% increase. 3. With triol-saponin treatment, TP activity increased 59.17% after 3 hours and it returned to its control level after 24 hours. One week treatment caused a significant 66.98% increase.

• YAKHAK HOEJI
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• v.36 no.2
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• pp.129-136
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• 1992

The effects of ginseng saponins, gypsophila saponin, sodium dodecyl sulfate(SDS), and Triton X-100 on membrane $K^+-dependent$ phosphatase activity which is lipid dependent and represents dephosphorylation step of the complete Na+, $K^+-ATPase$ reaction were investigated in this study to elucidate whether the effects of ginseng saponins are due to the detergent action, using sarcolemma enriched preparation isolated from dog ventricle. $Na^+$, $K^+-ATPase$ and $K^+-dependent$ phosphatase activities of cardiac sarcolemma were about $143\;{\mu}mol$ Pi/mg protein/hr and $34\;{\mu}mol$ p-nitrophenol/mg protein/hr, respectively. While ginseng saponins (triol>total>diol) inhibited $K^+-dependent$ phosphatase activity, gypsophila saponin, and low dose of SDS($0.4\;{\mu}g/{\mu}g$ protein), and Triton X-100 ($0.6\;{\mu}g/{\mu}g$ protein) increased the enzyme activity, indicating disruptive effect of detergents on membrane barriers. The activating effect of low doses of Triton X-100 on membrane $K^+-dependent$ phosphatase appeared at concentration decreasing light scattering. However, the inhibitory effect of ginseng saponin appeared before a decrease in light scattering. These results suggest that low concentrations of ginseng saponins inhibit the membrane $K^+-dependent$ phosphatase by interacting directly with enzyme before membrane disruption.

• YAKHAK HOEJI
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• v.39 no.1
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• pp.85-93
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• 1995

Acidic and alkaline hydrolysis of diol-type ginseng saponins produced a new glycoside, (20E)-ginsenoside Rh$_{3}$, and its stereoisomer (20Z)-, which were further subjected to alkaline by drolysis to give their aglycones, (20E)- and (20Z)-3$\beta$, 12$\beta$-dihydroxy-dammar-20(22),24-diene. The ratio of stereoisomeric mixtures was estimated to be ca. 5:1 from intensities of the peaks in $^{1}$H- and $^{13}$C-NMR spectra. The $^{1}$H- and $^{13}$C-NMR signals of ginsenoside Rh$_{3}$, which have remained unclarified, were completely assigned by the extensive application of modern NMR techniques.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.10 no.1
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• pp.101-107
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• 1986

Relationships among ginsenosides, panaxadiol(PD), panaxatriol(PT), and total saponin(TS) in Panax ginseng root (2nd Year) grown with culture solotion different in nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium level were analyzed by simple correlation, multiple regression and standard partial regression coefficient. The closeness between ginsenosides by simple correlation was closely related with the similarity of molecular structure. The content of PT was much attributed to Re and Rg1. The contribution order of ginsenosides for PD was Rb1>Rb2$\geq$Rd>Rc. There was significant positive correlation between PT and PD but PD increased more rapidly than PT. Thus total saponin depended much on PD and PT/PD decreased with the increase of total saponin content. All ginsenosides, especially Re showed decreasing tendency with the increase of root weight.

• Applied Biological Chemistry
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• v.29 no.1
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• pp.78-82
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• 1986

Panax ginseng seedlings were grown in vermiculite with nutrient solution different in nitrogen, phosphorus ana potassium level. Ginsenoside contents of root were investigated by high performance liquid chromatogram. Elimination or increase of one of N.P.K. increased or decreased total saponin content. Nitrogen was most effective (15.5% for-N to 8.9% for 3N) and potassium least. Similar trend was shown in each ginsenoside. According to coefficient of variation in one nutrient treatment or among all nutrient treatments ginsenoside Re was most insensitive to nutrient change and also other environmental factors and Rd most sensitive. Diol content (PD) was more variable than triol (PT) and variation of PT/PD was about half of them. Variation of ginsenoside content by nutrient change had no relation with the ginsenoside content. Similarity of ginsenoside pattern slightly decreased with the difference of saponin content by nutrient change. Root weight was significantly small only in tap water plot.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.15 no.2
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• pp.144-151
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• 1991

This study was conducted to elucidate the effects of light intensity using polyethylene (p.E) net shading on the specific gravity, red ginseng quality, sugar and saponin contents of ginseng root. The specific gravity significantly increased in the ginseng roots grown under the P.E net shading as compared with that of common straw shading. The red ginseng quality under the P.E net shading was improved in order of 10, 5, 15, 20, 30% of light intensity and the inside cavity and inside white part decreased remarkably as compared with those of common straw shading. The ginseng roots grown under the P.E net shading at 10% and 15% light intensity showed a significant increase in the total sugar content but a significant decrease in the reducing sugar content at 15% light intensity as compared with those of common straw shading. The amount of total saponin of ginseng roots was increased under the P.E net shading at high light intensity as compared with that of common straw shading and the ginseng roots grown under the P.E net shading at 10% light intensity showed an increase in the diol group saponin but the ratio of PT/PD was decreased. Extract contents of ginseng root under the P.E net shading was higher than those of common straw shading and the roots grown under the P.E net shading at 15% and 20% light intensity resulted in a remarkable increase in extract contents.

• Proceedings of the Ginseng society Conference
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• 1980.09a
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• pp.151-170
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• 1980

Physiological response of Panax ginseng var. atropurpureacaulo (purple stem variety, Pg) to light was reviewed through old literatures and recent experiments. Canopy structure, growth, pigment, leaf anatomy, disease occurence, transpiration, photosynthesis (PS), leaf saponin, photoperiodism and nutrient uptake were concerned. P. ginseng var. xanthocarpus (yellow berry variety, Px) and Panax quinquefolius(Pq) were compared with Pg if possible. Compensation point(Cp) increased with increase of light and ranged from 110 to 150 at $20^{\circ}C$ but from 140 to 220 at $30^{\circ}C$ with 4 to 15 Klux indicating occurence of light and temperature-dependent high photorespiration. Characteristics of Korea ginseng to hate high temperature was well accordance with an observation 2000 years ago. Korea ginseng showed lower Cp and appeared to be more tolerant to high light intensity and temperature than American sheng although the latter showed greater PS, stomata frequency and conductance, chlorophyll and carotenoids. Px showed lower PS than Pg probably due to higher Cp. Total leaf saponin was higher in leaves grown under high light. Ratio or diol saponin and triol saponin(PT/PD) decreased with increase of light intensity during growing mainly due to decrease of ginsenoside $Rg_1$ but increase of ginsenoside Rd. Leaves of Pg and Px had $Rg_1$ but no $Rb_3$ which was only found as much as $20\%$ of total in Pq leaves, and decreased with increase of light intensity. Re increased in Pg and Px but decreased in Pq with increase of light. PT/PD in leaf ranged 1.0-1.5 in Pg and Px but around 0.5 in Pq. Korea ginseng has Yang characteristics(tolerant to high light and temperature), cultured under Eum(shade) condition and long been used for Yang efficacy (to build up energy) while Pq was quite contrary. Traditional low light $intensity(3-8\%)$ for Korea ginseng culture appeared to be strongly related to historical unique quality. Effect of light quality and photoperiodism was not well known. Experiences are long but scientific knowledge is short for production and quality assessment of ginseng. Recent scientific knowledge of ginseng should learn wisdom from old experiences.