• YAKHAK HOEJI
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• v.36 no.5
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• pp.449-454
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• 1992

The effect of radioprotective ginseng protein fraction on DNA repair capacity was determined by measuring the amount of $^{3}H-thymidine$ incorporated into DNA in the process of repair synthesis for UV damaged DNA. CHO-Kl cells were prepared whose semiconservative replication was inhibited by trimethylpsoralen plus near-UV(PUVA) treatment. When the cells were exposed to UV light alone, the DNA repair capacity was increased at first and then decreased as UV dose increased. However, when the ginseng fraction was treated to the cells, the DNA repair capacity was kept increasing regardless of UV dose increment. When the concentration of protein contained in the added fraction was increased gradually, the repair capacity was also increased almost linearly showing dose-response relationship of the effect. These results suggest that the enhancement of DNA repair capacity of the cell can be one of the mechanisms of radioprotection by the ginseng fraction.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.48 no.1
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• pp.20-30
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• 2024

Red ginseng (RG) is widely used as a herbal medicine. As the human lifespan has increased, numerous diseases have developed, and RG has also been used to treat various diseases. Neurodegenerative diseases are major problems that modern people face through their lives. Neurodegenerative diseases, including Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, Huntington's disease, and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis are featured by progressive nerve system damage. Recently, neuroinflammation has emerged as a degenerative factor and is an immune response in which cytokines with nerve cells that constitute the nervous system. RG, a natural herbal medicine with fewer side effects than chemically synthesized drugs, is currently in the spotlight. Therefore, we reviewed studies reporting the roles of RG in treating neuroinflammation and neurodegenerative diseases and found that RG might help alleviate neurodegenerative diseases by regulating neuroinflammation.

• Korean Journal of Pharmacognosy
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• v.51 no.1
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• pp.1-29
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• 2020

Diabetes mellitus, commonly known as diabetes, is a group of metabolic disorders characterized by high blood sugar levels over a prolonged period. Diabetes has been found to show many acute complications such as cardiovascular disease, stroke, chronic kidney disease, foot ulcer and damage to eyes. Korean ginseng (Panax ginseng) has been traditionally known to normalize the functional deficiencies of the lung, spleen and stomach, and thus improve the secretion of body fluids, thereby quenching thirst, suggesting it to be effective in the treatment of diabetes. Experimental studies (in vitro and in vivo) have recently shown that Korean ginseng and its extracts exhibit antidiabetic effects, and also insulin secretion and sensitizing effects related to blood glucose control. Moreover, clinical trials on antidiabetic effects of Korean ginseng have been reported to show blood glucose control, improvement of insulin resistance, reduction of postprandial blood glucose level and improvement of serum lipids (TG, TC, LDL-C). These will be critically examined by means of in vitro studies, cell experiment, animal models and human trials with a focus on understanding of molecular mechanisms.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.35 no.1
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• pp.80-85
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• 2011

Ginseng, a traditional medicine in Asian countries, is known to prevent various neuropathologic diseases such as Alzheimer's. Ginseng total saponins (GTS) in particular are one of the most effective ginseng extract compounds for neuroprotection. However, their protective effects on astrocytes are rarely reported. In pathological circumstances, astroglial activation plays a pivotal role in neuroinflammation. Subsequently, neuroinflammation induced by activated astrocytes causes brain damage. The purpose of the present study was to determine the suppressive effects of GTS on astroglial activation in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated rat primary astrocytes. Astrocytes treated for 24 h with LPS demonstrated suppressed glialfibrillary acidic protein expression in a dose-dependent manner in the presence of GTS. GTS reduced production of proinflammatory cytokines such as tumor necrosis factor-${\alpha}$ and interleukin-1${\beta}$ and inhibited the level of inducible nitric oxide synthase, and cyclooxygenase-2 in LPS-stimulated astrocytes. Furthermore, GTS suppressed intracellular reactive oxygen species production. These modulations due to GTS may indicate neuroprotective antiinfl ammatory properties which may in turn be related to improvements in neurological performance.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.22 no.1
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• pp.1-10
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• 1998

In the present study, to determine whether the antioxidative components of Korean red ginseng protect against radiation damage and the possible relationship among the radioprotective effects and antioxidant actions, the effects of total saponin (200 mg/kg, ip) and lipophilic fraction (200 mg/kg, oral) preferment of mice on the survival ratio, major antioxidant enzymes (SOD, catalase and glutathione peroxidase) activities, glutathione levels and lipid peroxidation in the liver were exiled for 2 weeks after whole ${\gamma}$-body ${\gamma}$-irradiation (6.5 Gy). The 30-day survival ratio increased from 10% to 57% and 40% for mice treated with total saponin and lipophilic fraction, respectively. On day 14 after ${\gamma}$-irradiation, the ginseng total saponin pretreatment produced a slight increase of antioxidant enzymes activities and significantly Increased reduced glutathione (GSH) contents (p<0.05) in the liver compared with non-treated group. Pretreatment with ginseng total saponin significantly deceased GSSG/total GSH ratio (p<0.05) without change of GSSG in the liver and inhibited the radiation-induced incense in the hepatic malondialdehyde levels. (p<0.05) In these results, GSH plays an important role in the liver in several detoxifications and the reduction of lipid peroxides. Thus, it appears that total saponin of red ginseng exerts its radioprotective effect by accelerating the production of endogenous antioxidants, such as glutathione from radiation induced damages and thereby oxygen free radicals.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.25 no.4
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• pp.141-149
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• 2001

The effect of ginseng on gastric ulcer and gastric acid secretion was investigated in pylorus-ligated rats. Methods: Sprague-Dawley strain rats were used after 24 hours fast. Pylorus-ligation was performed under light ether anaesthesia, then gastric mucosal damage was evoked in conscious pylorus-ligated rats by the administration of subcutaneous (s.c.) indomethancin (20mg/kg), s.c. histamine (150mg/kg) or by pylorus-ligation (Shay ulcer). Ginseng was given by intragastric (i.g.) or intraperitoneal (i.p.) route simultaneously with the ulcerogens. Rats were killed after 3h (indomethacin) and histamine models) or after 18h (Shay ulcer), when the gastric secretory responses, the number and severity of gastric mucosal lesions and mucosal mucus content deetermined. the effect of i.p. ginseng on basal gastric acid secretion and on gastric acide secretion in indomethacin (20mg/kg, s.c.)-treated rats was also investigated in urethane anesthetized rats. Gastric acid secretion was measured by flushing of the gastric lumen with saline every 15min through an oesophageal cannula. Results: In conscious pylorus-ligated rats, i.g. ginseng(12.5-50mg/$m\ell$; 50-200mg/kg) protected against gastric mucosal lesions evoked by s.c. indomethacin or s.c. histanmine in the d3-h pylorus-lighted rat, withoutmodifying gastric acid secretory responses. Ginseng given i.p. (150 or 200mg/kg) did not reduce the gastric lesions produced by histamine or by ligating the pylorus (Shay ulcer) Ginseng given orally in 50mg/$m\ell$ (200mg/kg) increased gastric mucus secretion in saline- and indomethacin-treated conscious pylorus-ligated rats. In anaesthetized rats ginseng (50 or 200mg/kg) did not modify basal gastric acid secretion or gastric acid secretion in the indomethacin-treated rats. Conclusions: ginseng given orally exerts gastroprotective effects in the rat stomach. Such anti-ulcer effect does not involve changes in gastric acid secretory responses. In addition, ginseng possesses stimulatory effect on gastric mucus secretion, which could be one mechanism by which the compound exerts its antiulcer effect. Our data are in favor for a beneficial effect for topically applied ginseng on the gastric mucosa.

• Korean Journal of Medicinal Crop Science
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• v.22 no.6
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• pp.483-488
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• 2014

Lime-bordeaux mixture (LBM) has been used instead of pesticides in ginseng field and orchard since the 1960's in Korea. In this experiment, LBM was made with different concentrations and sprayed in the field of ginseng for eco-friendly cultivation. Growth characteristics and disease such as alternaria blight, anthracnose, and gray mold were investigated in 4-5 year old ginseng after spraying LBM. LBM caused a little damage on leaf when it was sprayed at the time of leafing stage, late April and early May. Root weights of five-year-old ginseng were 43.1~51.5 g and 41.2~46.6 g in the plot of mid-April and mid-May treatments, respectively. These growth levels were further reduced as compared with that of the chemicals treatment plot. The rate of diseases in the plot of 6-6 and 8-8 ratio were 0.0~4.8% and 0.0~4.4%, respectively, which was similar with that in the plot of chemical control for alternaria blight and anthracnose. However, LBM had little effect on controling gray mold. It showed lower control effect in the plot of 4-4 ratio than that of chemical control. This result will be expected to be a useful guide that can be used in the field to the farmers of the ginseng.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.39 no.4
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• pp.376-383
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• 2015

Background: Panax ginseng has a wide range of biological activities including anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and immunomodulatory functions. Wild ginseng cambial meristematic cells (CMCs) were obtained from P. ginseng cambium. This study examined the protective mechanism of wild ginseng CMCs against $\small{D}$-galactosamine (GalN)-induced liver injury. GalN, a well-known hepatotoxicant, causes severe hepatocellular inflammatory damage and clinical features similar to those of human viral hepatitis in experimental animals. Methods: Hepatotoxicity was induced in rats using GalN (700 mg/kg, i.p.). Wild ginseng CMCs was administered orally once a day for 2 wks, and then 2 h prior to and 6 h after GalN injection. Results: Wild ginseng CMCs attenuated the increase in serum aminotransferase activity that occurs 24 h after GalN injection. Wild ginseng CMCs also attenuated the GalN-induced increase in serum tumor necrosis factor-${\alpha}$, interleukin-6 level, and hepatic cyclooxygenase-2 protein and mRNA expression. Wild ginseng CMCs augmented the increase in serum interleukin -10 and hepatic heme oxygenase-1 protein and mRNA expression that was induced by GalN, inhibited the increase in the nuclear level of nuclear factor-kappa B, and enhanced the increase in NF-E2-related factor 2. Conclusion: Our findings suggest that wild ginseng CMCs protects liver against GalN-induced inflammation by suppressing proinflammatory mediators and enhancing production of anti-inflammatory mediators.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.35 no.3
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• pp.339-343
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• 2011

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are well known environmental carcinogens. PAH metabolites, especially BaP-7,8- dihydrodiol, 9,10 epoxide, initiate carcinogenesis via high specificity binding to DNA to form DNA adducts. The Korean red ginseng (KRG) from Panax ginseng has been suggested to protect against damages due to PAH exposure but the mechanism is unknown. Therefore, we investigated effects of KRG on PAH exposure using toxicokinetic methods and changes of PAH-induced oxidative damage during a 2 week-clinical trial (n=21 healthy young female, $23.71{\pm}2.43$ years). To analyze antioxidative effects of KRG, we measured changes in the levels of urinary malondialdehyde (MDA) before and after KRG treatment. We observed a significant positive association between levels of urinary MDA and 1-hydroxypyrene, a biomarker of PAH exposures (slope=1.47, p=0.03) and confirmed oxidative stress induced by PAH exposures. A reverse significant correlation between KRG treatment and level of urinary MDA was observed (p=0.03). In summary, results of our clinical trial study suggest that KRG plays a significant role in antioxidative as well as toxicokinetic pathways against PAHs exposure.

• Proceedings of the Korean Environmental Health Society Conference
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• 2005.06a
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• pp.306-310
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• 2005

Exposure to UVB radiation can cause diverse biological photodamage to skin. Eeb 761 and Korean red ginseng are the major and most effective natural drug against a variety of oxidative damage. But, the protective effects against UVB radiation have not been clearly identified. In this study, we investigated the protective effect of topical EGb 761 and Korean red ginseng on pigmentation by UVB radiation. Pro-inflammatory cytokines($IL-l{\beta}$, IL-6 and $TNF-{\alpha}$) and melanogenesis proteins(tyrosinase, TRP-1 and TRP-2) mRNA were measured by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction(RT-PCR) analysis. The in vivo protection against pigmentation was calculated using chromameter. The mRNA level of IL-lf and TNF-a were increased by UVB irradiation in treated and non-treated group, while no significant changes were observed in IL-6 level. Topical treatment with EGb 761 and Korean red ginseng remarkably reduced expression of tyrosinase, TRP-1 and TRP-2 in the non-irradiated and irradiated skin. Application of EGb 761 and Korean red ginseng significantly protected the WB-induced skin pigmentation and Korean red ginseng was more effective. Our study suggests that topical ECb761 and Korean red ginseng can regulate melanogenic proteins and protect UVB radiation on skin pigmentation.