• Toxicological Research
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• v.7 no.2
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• pp.129-139
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• 1991

Preventive effect of red ginseng saponin on experimentally-induced hyperkeratosis was investigated by ultrastructural observation, skin weight and epidermal lipid analysis. Hexadecane increased skin weight per unit area and epidermal lipids, free fatty acids, cholesterol and triglyceride in guinea pig skin. Topical application of ginseng saponin reduced these hyperkeratotic responses regradless of the concentration and the purity of ginseng saponin. Ultrastructurally, lipids and empty space-containing multiple horny cells were piled and nuclear remnants, desmosome, desmosomal bodies, tight junction were shown in the stratum corneum of hexadecane-treated skin.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.20 no.1
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• pp.7-14
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• 1996

This study was performed to examine the effect of red ginseng total saponin and extract on memory in mice using one trial step-down type passive avoidance method. Red ginseng total saponins (No. 1: PD/PT ratio=1.24, No. 2: PD/PT ratio=1.47) were prepared with the different mixing ratio by using the parts of red ginseng. In single administration of total saponin No. 1 (100 mg/ kg, bw) or No. 2 (50 mg/kg, bw) increased the latency time as compared with control group but was not statistically significant. Treatment of total saponin No. 1 (50 mg/kg, bw) for 10 days produced an increase of latency time but was not statistically significant. In scopolamine-induced memory deficient mice total saponin No. 1 (50 mg/kg, bw) and No. 2 (100 mg/kg, bw) significantly improved the latency time. These results show that red ginseng total saponin may improve the memory of sco-polamine-induced memory deficient mice and have nootropic activity.

• Applied Biological Chemistry
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• v.20 no.2
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• pp.188-204
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• 1977

The studies on the saponins of Korean ginseng, Panax ginseng C.A. Meyer, were performed according to the cultivating locations, sampling seasons, plant parts, and growing stages. The changes in saponin content in the course of manufacturing Red ginseng and Ginseng extract were observed. In this paper, a new method for the determination of the total and the individual saponin glucosides was proposed and applied to the samples under study. The method employing Digital Densitorol DMU-33C (Toyo electric Co., Japan) followed the separation of the saponins by means of a preparative thin layer chromatography. The saponin contents and their fractional distribution were summarized as follows: 1. The average concentrations(% plant dry weight) of semi-purified saponins in the roots of Korean ginseng planted in the various locations were 5.0%(Keumsan), 6.0% (Kimpo), and 5.4% (Pocheon), respectively. 2. There were 3.3% saponins in White ginseng(Rhizome) and 12.7% saponins in Ginseng tail (Fibrous root). 3. Regarding the year of growth, the contents of saponins were 90.3mg (2-year-old ginseng), 254.4mg (3-year-old ginseng), 404.2mg (4-year-old ginseng). 999.6mg (5-year-old ginseng), and 1377.1mg (6-year-old ginseng) respectively, and the saponin factions containing panaxatriol as an aglycone increased. 4. Thin layer chromatography revealed that Red ginseng yielded many saponins which Shibata et al. designated as $ginsenoside-Rb_1$ (22.1%), $-Rb_2(15.4%)$, -Rc(12.6%), -Re (15.7%), and $-Rg_1$, (9.3%). 5. 29.9% of crude saponins were isolated from ethanolic extract of Panax ginseng fibrous root and their extraction yield was 94.2% of fibrous root saponin.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.10 no.2
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• pp.209-217
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• 1986

Yeast alcohol dehydrogenates and ginseng saponin interaction has been investigated to understand the non-specific enzyme stimulating effect of the saponin of Panax ginseng C.A. Meyer. It was confirmed that several amphiphiles such as sodium dodecyl sulfate(SDS), Triton X-100, sodium taurodeoxycholate (Na-TDC) as well as ginseng saponin mixture and purified ginseng glycosides lowered Km values of yeast alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH) for ethanol and NAD in the presence of the above amphiphiles suggesting that the surface activity of the amphiphiles might play a significant role in the ADH catalyzed reactions. Conformational change of yeast alcohol dehydrogenase in the presence of the above amphiphiles at their optimal concentration for the maximum activity was studied. Circular dichroism (C.D) spectrum of yeast ADH showed that the conformational change of the enzyme occurred in the presence of above amphiphiles. Fluorescence data also showed that the hydrophobic area increased in the presence of above amphiphiles. Examination of the interaction between ADH and ginseng saponin using radioactive saponin showed that there might be a very weak interaction between them. From the above results, it was concluded that the non-specific enzyme stimulating effect of the saponin might be due to the change of polarity of the enzyme solution in the presence of the saponin.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.13 no.1
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• pp.1-4
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• 1989

Linoleic acid and ferulic acid were isolated from alkaline hydrolysate of a crude ginseng saponin fraction of Panax ginseng C.A. Meyer roots.

• Archives of Pharmacal Research
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• v.19 no.4
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• pp.264-268
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• 1996

Panax-ginseng saponin has been known to exert various pharmacological effects on cellular metabolism. This study was performed to determine the effect of ginseng saponin on gap junction channel-mediated intercellular communication, using an established in vitro system of reconstituted gap junction channels. Gap junction channels are a specialized plasma membrane fraction, which are permeable to relatively large water-soluble molecules. The sucrose permeable property of reconstituted gap junction channels was completely inhibited with 0.1 % (w/v) of ginseng saponin. We also compared the effect of ginseng saponin with that of Triton X-100, a nonionic detergent, on the same system. Triton X-100 showed significantly different effect on sucrose-permeability of gap junction channel from that was affected by ginseng saponin. The structures of liposomes containing gap junction channels was significantly destroyed by Triton X-100.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.22 no.4
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• pp.316-323
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• 1998

To study e(feces of Korean Binseng (Parfax ginseff C. A. hfeyer) total saponin fraction on spermidine and spermine metabolism in rat reproductive systems, we administrated the saponin fractation to rats for 2 years. Then, we determined the activities of S-adenosylmethionine decarboxylase (SAMDC), the quantitation of the enzyme protein and the amounts of spermidine and spermine contents In prostate and testis. In young sexually immature stage, administration of Korean ginseng saponin fraction showed no effect on SAMDC activities. The stimulatory effect on the activities of SAMDC gradually increased and reached maximal activities in test groups of prostate and testis at sexually mature stage. The amounts of SAMDC protein in test groups were paralleled by the changes of SAMDC activities in test groups, indicating that all of the increased activity occurring in administration of ginseng saponin fraction was not due to the activation of SAMDC activity but to the Increase in enzyme protein. However, the spermidine and spermine contents of test groups showed small increase in compared to that of control groups. From these results, we suggest that administration of ginseng saponin fraction alter the spermidine and spermine metabolism in sexually mature and aged reproductive systems in rats.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.10 no.1
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• pp.26-33
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• 1977

In order to identify the sugars of saponin originated from Korean ginseng, experimentations were made on the four kinds of ginseng. The results are summarized as follows. 1. The starch content of Ginseng-tail, White-ginseng 3 and 6 years old-whole ginseng were 10.4, 31.5, 8.2, 25.6% and total sugar of its were 37.0, 61.5, 64.5, 62.5% and free sugar were 7.6, 10.5, 11.3, and 10.7% respectively. 2. Saponins were separated from Ginseng-tail, White-ginseng, 3 and 6 years old-whole ginseng by modified SHIBATA method. looms of crude saponin was used for the Thin layer Chromatography (TLC) and thirteen to twelve spots of saponin were isolated by double development $(Solvent:\;CHCL_3\;:\;MeOH\;:\;H_2O=65\;:\;35\;:\;10)$ and by two dimensional development. $(Solvent:\;nBuOH\;:\;HOAC\;:\;H_2O=4\;:\;1\;:\;5)$ The Pattern of spot was not significantly different according to Ginseng sample. 3. Glucose was identified from the acid-hydrolyzate of Ginsen-tail saponin by paper chromatography and isolated the unknown chromatogram seems to be pentose.

• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
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• v.10 no.2
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• pp.101-108
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• 1982

The effects of ginseng extract and ginseng saponin on the growth of bacterial cells were variable depending upon the species of bacterium and concentrations of saponin. Serratia marcescens and Aerobocter aerosenes showed the maximum growth in the basal medium pius 0.1% of ginseng extract, but did the suppressed growth in the medium plus above 1 % of ainseng extract. Stophylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli showed the maximum growth in the basal medium plus 5% of ginseng extract. The slightly accelerated growth was shown with Micrococus flavus and Aerobacter aerogenes cultivated in the basal medium plus 0.002% of ginseng saponin, but the remarkably supressed growth was done in the medium plus above 0.02% of ginseng saponin. Ginseng saponin functioned a physiologically suppressing factor of growth to genus Serratia, but no antimicrobial activity was found against Erwinia aroideae and Sarcina marginata. The substance causing the antimicrobial activity from ginseng saponin was proven to be a ginsenoside Rg$_1$.

• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
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• v.9 no.3
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• pp.129-137
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• 1981

The purpose of this study was to extract saponin efficiently from ginseng leaves and peelings by macerating them with microbial enzyme. To begin with, we selected G-211 strain having the highest macerating activity among several rotting molds of fresh ginseng. Crude macerating enzyme was prepared from this G-2l1 strain by ammonium sulfate precipitation, and was applied to macerating leaves and peelings of ginseng. The optimal pH of the enzyme for maceration was 5.0 in both leaves and peelings of ginsen g. The optimal pH for the extraction of soluble matters and saponins was 4.5 and 5.5 in ginseng leaves and ginseng peelings, respectively. When this enzyme was treated together with crude cellulase from Trichoderma viride (To4), the extract content of saponin was 3.45% for ginseng leaves and 3.90% for ginseng peelings. Their yields were 39.8 % and 39.3 % of total saponin amounts in ginseng leaves and ginseng peelings, respectively. The ginsenoside patterns of saponins extracted with the treatment of enzymes were also studied by HPLC technics.