• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.38 no.2
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• pp.83-88
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• 2014

The adenosine monophosphate (AMP)-activated protein kinase (AMPK) is a key sensor of cellular energy. Once activated, it switches on catabolic pathways generating adenosine triphosphate (ATP), while switching off biosynthetic pathways consuming ATP. Pharmacological activation of AMPK by metformin holds a therapeutic potential to reverse metabolic abnormalities such as type 2 diabetes and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease. In addition, altered metabolism of tumor cells is widely recognized and AMPK is a potential target for cancer prevention and/or treatment. Panax ginseng is known to be useful for treatment and/or prevention of cancer and metabolic diseases including diabetes, hyperlipidemia, and obesity. In this review, we discuss the ginseng extracts and ginsenosides that activate AMPK, we clarify the various mechanisms by which they achieve this, and we discuss the evidence that shows that ginseng or ginsenosides might be useful in the treatment and/or prevention of metabolic diseases and cancer.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.39 no.5
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• pp.929-938
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• 2018

Objectives: To report the clinical application and effects of Rg3 ginseng (ginseng radix) pharmacopuncture in patients with dry eye syndrome. Methods: Six patients who suffered from dry eye syndrome were treated with Rg3 ginseng pharmacopuncture for 4 weeks. The Ocular Surface Disease Index (OSDI) was used twice, at the start and end of treatment, to analyze the results. Results: After treatment with Rg3 ginseng pharmacopuncture, OSDI scores were improved in all six patients. Conclusion: Rg3 ginseng pharmacopuncture is an effective treatment for patients with the symptoms of dry eye syndrome.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.13 no.2
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• pp.158-164
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• 1989

In order to determine the relationships between the lea(-burning disease and the light harvesting chlorophyll-protein (LHCP) complex in Panax ginseng C. A. Meyer, we investigated the chlorophyll-protein (CP) complex of the thylakoid membrane and its characteristics. In P. ginseng four Cp-complex bands determined by non-denaturing SDS-PAGE were identified CP I'(containing reaction center of photosystem I and LHCP I antennae), CP I (reaction center of photosystem I) LHCP II** (oligoform of LHCP II), and LHCP II (photosystem II antennae, CP 26 and CP 29) by Bassis and Dunahay's procedures. Under our experimental condition, the CP I band was only observed in P. ginseng and the band intensity of LHCP II** in P ginseng was higher than in spinach and soybean. There were differences in the absorption and fluorescence spectra and chlorophyll a/b ratio of the CP-complex bands between P. ginseng and other Plants. The Polypeptidr content of P. ginseng thylakoid was lower than in spinach and soybean thylakoid, and the Polypeptide profiles of P. ginseng was low band intensity, especially about 29-35 kD, 55 kD, and 60 kD, compared to spinach and soybean. The inhibitory effects of 2,5-dimethylfuran, specific singlet oxygen ($^1O_2$) quencher, showed that singlet oxygen destroyed 60% of chl.a, 90% of chl.b and 70% of carotenoid in bleaching P. ginseng with leaf-burning disease.

• Journal of Ginseng Culture
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• v.6
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• pp.51-79
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• 2024

In the 1970s and 1980s, during the nascent phase of ginseng disease research, efforts concentrated on isolating and identifying pathogens. Subsequently, their physiological ecology and pathogenesis characteristics were scrutinized. This led to the establishment of a comprehensive control approach for safeguarding major aerial part diseases like Alternaria blight, anthracnose, and Phytophthora blight, along with underground part diseases such as Rhizoctonia seedling damping-off, Pythium seedling damping-off, and Sclerotinia white rot. In the 1980s, the sunshade was changed from traditional rice straw to polyethylene (PE) net. From 1987 to 1989, focused research aimed at enhancing disease control methods. Notably, the introduction of a four-layer woven P.E. light-shading net minimized rainwater leakage, curbing Alternaria blight occurrence. Since 1990, identification of the bacterial soft stem rot pathogen facilitated the establishment of a flower stem removal method to mitigate outbreaks. Concurrently, efforts were directed towards identifying root rot pathogens causing continuous crop failure, employing soil fumigation and filling methods for sustainable crop land use. In 2000, adapting to rapid climate changes became imperative, prompting modifications and supplements to control methods. New approaches were devised, including a crop protection agent method for Alternaria stem blight triggered by excessive rainfall during sprouting and a control method for gray mold disease. A comprehensive plan to enhance control methods for Rhizoctonia seedling damping-off and Rhizoctonia damping-off was also devised. Over the past 50 years, the initial emphasis was on understanding the causes and control of ginseng diseases, followed by refining established control methods. Drawing on these findings, future ginseng cultivation and disease control methods should be innovatively developed to proactively address evolving factors such as climate fluctuations, diminishing cultivation areas, escalating labor costs, and heightened consumer safety awareness.

• Korean Journal of Organic Agriculture
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• v.22 no.4
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• pp.705-718
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• 2014

This study was performed to evaluate the suppressive effects of organic fungicides made using environment-friendly materials on leaf spot disease and anthracnose that infect ginseng. Anthracnose (Colletotrichum gloeosporioides) and leaf spot disease (Alternaria panax) are principal diseases that decrease the yield of ginseng by defoliation before root enlargement. Fermented eggs and oyster shells, water extract of green tea and ethanol extract of red ginseng dregs were significantly effective in suppressing leaf spot disease. Fermented crab and shrimp shells and fermented motherwort were also effective in suppressing the recurrence of ginseng anthracnose. The preventive effects of these environment-friendly materials were definitely superior to the therapeutic effects. Therefore, these materials could be used as alternatives to chemical pesticides, which can not be applied in organic ginseng cultivation field. These organic fungicides need to be applied before the incidence of ginseng anthracnose in order to maximize their suppressive effects.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Culture
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• v.27 no.3
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• pp.324-330
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• 2012

This study investigated the perception, consumer pattern and satisfaction of the ginseng products of 600 people in the Seoul area surveyed from Feb. 1 to 28, 2011. The perception and satisfaction tests were performed using a 5-point scale (1=disagree (dissatisfy) very much, 5=agree (satisfy) very much. People perceived ginseng to have refreshment (3.86), immuno-modulation (3.78), anticancer (3.51), and antiaging (3.41) properties. People in their 20s (4.02) scored high on refreshment compared to people in their 60s and over (3.73). Most people (79.8%) consume ginseng products and prefer red ginseng (74.3%). More people in their 40s (54.1%) and 50s (48.2%) consume ginseng products for refreshment than people in their 20s (38.7%), 30s (41.5%) or 60s and over (40.0%). However, more people in their 50s (36.1%) and 60s and over (43.6%) consume ginseng products for disease prevention than people in their 20s (8.6%). Most people (66.4%) take ginseng all year round. People in their 20s (2.70) showed a smaller satisfaction score of the taste of ginseng products than those in their 30s (3.21), 40s (3.23), 50s (3.26) and 60s and over (3.38).

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.22 no.4
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• pp.237-243
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• 1998

Three fungicides, Orbit (propiconazole), Benlate (benomyl) and ASC-66835 (fluazinam), were tested as soil drenches to control disappearing root rot (DRR) of ginseng (Panax quinquefolius) in gardens artificially infested with Cylindrocarpon dsstrutans. The incidence of DRR was low (0∼3.5%) in uninfected plots and significantly higher in infested plots (2.6∼19.9%). Significant reductions in the incidence of DRR were observed in 1-year-old and 2-year-old gardens that were treated and assessed for disease in the same year Significant control was not obtained in 3-year-old gardens treated and as secede in the same year, or in 1-year-old or 2-year-old gardens assessed in the year following information. Disease incidence was significantly reduced by 49-77% by low and high rates of benomyl (45 and 1,250 mg a.1./L) and propiconazole (10 and 40 mg a.i./L) and by fluazinam at 150 mg a.i./L. These fungicides seem to be worthy of further investigation as soil drenches to control DRR of ginseng.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.51 no.6
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• pp.558-564
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• 2019

Hypertriglyceridemia is one of the metabolic syndrome that is often observed as a result of lipid abnormalities. It is associated with other lipids, metabolic disorders, cardiovascular disease and liver disease. Korean red ginseng is known to affect obesity, dyslipidemia, liver disease and liver function, but the mechanism of its effect is not clear. This study examined the beneficial effects of hypertriglyceridemia and the mechanism of action of Jinan red ginseng extract (JRG) in hepatoma cells. To measure the levels of triglyceride accumulation, we studied the expression of proteins and mRNAs related to lipidogenesis in hepatoma cells (Huh7 and HepG2). JRG decreases the lipidogenic markers, peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ (PPARγ), CCAAT-enhancer-binding proteins α (C/EBPα) and C/EBPβ which are major regulators of triglyceride synthesis in hepatoma cells. We also found that JRG reduced sterol regulatory element binding proteins 1c (SREBP-1c), C/EBPα and C/EBPβ by regulating liver X receptor (LXR) and stearoyl CoA desaturase (SCD) expressions. In addition, the first-limited step of synthesis triglyceride (TG), glycerol-3-phosphate (G3P) is decreased by JRG. These results suggest that the anti-hypertriglyceride effect of JRG in hepatoma cells could be accompanied with the inhibition of lipidogenic transcription factors by regulating LXR and SCD expression.

• Herbal Formula Science
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• v.28 no.3
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• pp.243-254
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• 2020

Objectives : Network pharmacology analysis is commonly used to investigate the synergies and potential mechanisms of multiple compounds by analyzing complex, multi-layered networks. We used TCMSP and BATMAN-TCM databases to compare results of network pharmacological analysis between White Ginseng(WG) and Red Ginseng(RG). Methods : WG and RG were compared with components and their target molecules using TCMSP database, and compound-target-pathway/disease networks were compared using BATMAN-TCM database. Results : Through TCMSP, 104 kinds of target molecules were derived from WG and 38 kinds were derived from RG. Using the BATMAN-TCM database, target pathways and diseases were screened, and more target pathways and diseases were screened compared to RG due to the high composition of WG ingredients. Analysis of component-target-pathway/disease network using network analysis tools provided by BATMAN-TCM showed that WG formed more networks than RG. Conclusions : Network pharmacology analysis can be effectively performed using various databases used in system biology research, and although the materials that have been reported in the past can be used efficiently for research on diseases related to targets, the results are unreliable if prior studies are focused on limited or narrow research areas.

• Research in Plant Disease
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• v.24 no.4
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• pp.332-338
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• 2018

In August of 2011, a wilting disease of ginseng was observed at Bongwha, Gyeongbuk province, Korea. Affected plants initially show withering symptoms on leaves of ginseng. As the disease progresses, withering leaves spread downward, eventually encompassing the whole plant. Leaves lose vigor but remain pale green. Symptoms of roots were brown, and soft rots characterized by moist and watery decay of the whole ginseng root, which initiated as small brown, water-soaked lesions of hairy roots and enlarged to the entire roots. The causal organism isolated from the infected roots was identified as Serratia plymuthica based on its physiological and biochemical characteristics, by cellular fatty acid composition (GC-FAME), the utilization of carbon sources (BioLog System), and 16S rRNA sequence of the isolated bacterium were 99% homologous to those of Serratia plymuthica strains. Artificial inoculation of the bacterium produced the same brown or soft rot symptoms on the ginseng roots, from which the same bacterium was isolated. This is the first report of bacterial root rot caused by the Serratia plymuthica in ginseng in Korea. Serratia plymuthica has been used as antagonistic microorganism for biological control on several crop plants. But it was proved pathogen of ginseng at humid condition in this study.