• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.37 no.2
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• pp.176-186
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• 2013

In this study, we have investigated the effects of total saponin from Korean red ginseng (TSKRG) on thrombin-induced platelet aggregation. TSKRG dose-dependently inhibited thrombin-induced platelet aggregation with $IC_{50}$ value of about 81.1 ${\mu}g/mL$. In addition, TSKRG dose-dependently decreased thrombin-elevated the level of cytosolic-free $Ca^{2+}$ ($[Ca^{2+}]_i$), one of aggregation-inducing molecules. Of two $Ca^{2+}$-antagonistic cyclic nucleotides as aggregation-inhibiting molecules, cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) and cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cGMP), TSKRG significantly dose-dependently elevated intracellular level of cAMP, but not cGMP. In addition, TSKRG dose-dependently inhibited thrombin-elevated adenosine triphosphate (ATP) release from platelets. These results suggest that the suppression of $[Ca^{2+}]_i$ elevation, and of ATP release by TSKRG are associated with upregulation of cAMP. TSKRG elevated the phosphorylation of vasodilator-stimulated phosphoprotein (VASP)-$Ser^{157}$, a cAMP-dependent protein kinase (A-kinase) substrate, but not the phosphorylation of VASP-$Ser^{239}$, a cGMP-dependent protein kinase substrate, in thrombin-activated platelets. We demonstrate that TSKRG involves in increase of cAMP level and subsequent elevation of VASP-$Ser^{157}$ phosphorylation through A-kinase activation to inhibit $[Ca^{2+}]_i$ mobilization and ATP release in thrombin-induced platelet aggregation. These results strongly indicate that TSKRG is a beneficial herbal substance elevating cAMP level in thrombin-platelet interaction, which may result in preventing of platelet aggregation-mediated thrombotic diseases.

• Korean Journal of Plant Resources
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• v.19 no.1
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• pp.139-143
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• 2006

To increase the contents of functional ginsenosides by conversion, especially ginsenoside-$Rg_3$ and $Rh_2$, the extracts of red ginseng were treated with high temperature and citric acid or apricot extract. When the extracts were subject to $120^{\circ}C$ for 2 hours, the content of ginsenoside-$Rg_3$ was increased 2 times than in control. When the extracts were subject to $120^{\circ}C$ and acidic conditions adjusted with citric acid, the ginsenoside-$Rg_3$, was detected 2.8 times, but other ginsenoside were decreased heavily to 65%. When the extract were treated with for 12 hours at $80^{\circ}C$, the content of ginsenoside-$Rg_3$ was increased to 3.3 times, Also, when the red ginseng extracts were treated with apricot extract, the ginsenoside-$Rg_3$ was detected to 4 times than in control, but other ginsenoside were decreased lightly to 35%, not same as at the $120^{\circ}C$ treatment.

• The Korean Journal of Pharmacology
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• v.20 no.1 s.34
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• pp.13-21
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• 1984

The present study was undertaken to investigate an effect of ginseng butanol fraction(total saponin) on the hepatic ethanol metabolism, we used experimental animals for the subject of study. When, in case of ADH and MEOS, ginseng butanol fraction was added, enzyme activity was increased in a small dose, and on the contrary, in a large dose, showed inhibitory effect. in catalase, the activity showed no significant effect by adding ginseng butanol fraction. In the light of kinetic aspect, when, in reaction mixture, ethanol and ginseng butanol fraction were concurrently added and reacted, Km value of ADH and MEOS was decreased. After pretreated with ginseng butanol fraction and inducement of acute toxic state by ethanol, the activities of ADH and MEOS were increased to an extent of about 25% compared to controls. But catalase activity was not significantly affected. In case that ginseng butanol fraction was given to mice fed with 5% ethanol instead of water for 60 days, the activities of ADH and MEOS were increased about 20% to 50% compared to ethanol-treated group. On the contrary, catalase activity was not affected. But blood concentrations of ethanol were decreased due to ginseng butanol fraction treatment. All these observations suggested that reduction of ethanol blood concentration should be dependent upon increased activities of ADH and MEOS. Thereby it suggests the recovery from alcohol intoxication can be prompted by treatment with ginseng.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.35 no.4
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• pp.429-435
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• 2011

Korean red ginseng has been studied various biological activities such as immune, anti-oxidative, anti-microbial, and anticancer activities but antiviral mechanism needs further studies. In this study, we aimed to examine the antiviral effects of Korea red ginseng extract and ginsenosides on norovirus surrogate, including murine norovirus (MNV) and feline calicivirus (FCV). We evaluated the pre-, co-, and post-treatment effects of Korean red ginseng (KRG), ginsenosides $Rb_1$ and $Rg_1$. To measure the antiviral effect and cytotoxicity of KRG extract, and ginsenosides $Rb_1$ and $Rg_1$, we treated Crandell-Reese Feline Kidney for FCV or RAW264.7 cells for MNV with concentrations of 0, 5, 6.7, 10, 20 ug/mL total saponin. There was cytotoxic effect in the highest concentration 20 ug/mL of KRG extract so this concentration was excluded in this study. The FCV titer was significantly reduced to 0.23-0.83 $log_{10}$ 50% tissue culture infectious dose ($TCID_{50}$)/mL in groups pre-treated with red ginseng extract or ginsenosides. The titer of MNV was significantly reduced to 0.37-1.48 $log_{10}$ $TCID_{50}$/mL in groups pre-treated with red ginseng extract or ginsenosides. However, there was no observed antiviral effect in groups co-treated or post-treated with KRG and its constituents. Our data suggest that KRG extract has an antiviral effect against norovirus surrogates. The antiviral mechanisms of KRG and ginsenosides should be addressed in future studies.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.37 no.3
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• pp.349-354
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• 2013

Dried ginseng (DG) is in fact the representing ginseng product in the worldwide market. Although it is made in various packages depending on the processing method, size and age of DG, basic scientific data reporting the chemical components are limited. In this study, 4-year-old curved ginseng (CG), one of the domestic DG products, was selected for further investigation. Eighty-six samples of 30 and 50 piece-grade CG, which are the most widely distributed in the market, were collected for 5 yr. Their major components, such as moisture, total sugar, acidic polysaccharides, total phenolic compounds, and saponins, were analyzed to figure out the standard quality characteristics. The moisture content of all CG samples was less than 15%. The total water-soluble sugar contents were 22.9% to 47.8% and 23.2% to 49.5% in the 30 and 50 piece-grade CG, respectively. The acidic polysaccharide contents were 3.6% to 6.7% and 2.9% to 6.9% in the 30 and 50 piece-grade CG, respectively. The total phenolic compound content was 0.4% to 0.5% in CG, regardless of the piece-grade. The crude saponin content, which represents the active component of ginseng, was over 2% in all samples. In 30 piece-grade CG samples, the contents of major ginsenosides, Rb1, Rf, and Rg1, were 2.2 to 4.7 mg/g, 0.4 to 1.3 mg/g, and 1.6 to 4.0 mg/g, respectively. The ginsenoside contents in 50 piece-grade CG samples were 2.1 to 3.9 mg/g (Rb1), 0.5 to 1.2 mg/g (Rf), and 1.3 to 3.4 mg/g (Rg1). Overall, since there were relatively high standard deviation and coefficient of variation in all the chemical component contents that were assessed, we found some difficulties in showing the CG standard chemical component characteristics by average, standard deviation, and other statistical analysis factors.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.37 no.1
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• pp.67-72
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• 2005

Antioxidative activity of crude saponin fraction (CSF) prepared from Basidiomycota cultured with fresh ginseng (Panax ginseng C.A. Meyer) as substrate was investigated by analyzing CSFs for ginsenoside and phenolic compounds. On TLC chromatogram, ginsenosides such as $Rg_{2},\;Rg_{3}$, and $Rh_{1}$ which were rare in fresh ginseng, were identified. CSF of Phellinus linteus culture product showed the highest total phenolic content and electron donating ability (EDA), suggesting phenolic compounds contribute to EDA. In vitro lipid peroxidation was inhibited most by CSF of Ganoderma lucidum, indicating that the highest EDA does not imply highest inhibition against lipid peroxidation. Tyrosinase was also inhibited mostly by CSF of G. lucidum. These results suggest culture of Basidiomycota with fresh ginseng has more active substances than fresh ginseng alone.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.27 no.3
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• pp.103-109
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• 2003

We investigated the effect of ginseng total saponin (GTS) on the regeneration process of experimentally crush injured rat sciatic nerves. The bilateral sciatic nerves of fifty adult male Sprague-Dawley rats were compressed surgically with a straight hemostat for 30 seconds with 1 mm width. Twenty rats were divided into four groups to test the dose-dependent effect of GTS (0, 50, 100, or 150 mg/kg, i.p.). Saline for vehicle control group or GTS dissolved in saline was administerd for three weeks. After that period of time, the numbers of total myelinated axon and degenerated myelin in the sciatic nerves of bilateral legs were examined and analyzed using image analysis system to confirm a morphological effect of GTS. We found that the most effective concentration of GTS for the regeneration of damaged sciatic nerve was 150 mg/kg. In another set of experiment, thirty rats were divided into two groups as saline-treated vehicle group and GTS-treated group (150 mg/kg, i.p.) for three weeks. Every week we examined the numbers of total myelinated axon and degenerated myelin in the sciatic nerves of bilateral legs using image analysis system to evaluate the effect of GTS on injured nerves. We found that the regeneration of damaged sciatic nerves was facilitated in GTS-treated group compared to saline-treated group until two weeks. However, after that period of time we could not observe the significant difference between saline-treated group and GTS-treated group. These results suggest that GTS is a useful adjuvant therapy for the regeneration of the peripheral nerve injury in short period of treatment.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.4 no.4
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• pp.270-275
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• 2010

Catecholamines are among the first molecules that displayed a kind of response to prolonged or repeated stress. It is well established that long-term stress leads to the induction of catecholamine biosynthetic enzymes such as tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) and dopamine ${\beta}$-hydroxylase (DBH) in adrenal medulla. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effects of ginseng on TH and DBH mRNA expression. Repeated (2 h daily, 14 days) immobilization stress resulted in a significant increase of TH and DBH mRNA levels in rat adrenal medulla. However, ginseng treatment reversed the stress-induced increase of TH and DBH mRNA expression in the immobilization-stressed rats. Nicotine as a ligand of the nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (nAChR) in adrenal medulla stimulates catecholamine secretion and activates TH and DBH gene expression. Nicotine treatment increased mRNA levels of TH and DBH by 3.3- and 3.1-fold in PC12 cells. The ginseng total saponin exhibited a significant reversal in the nicotine-induced increase of TH and DBH mRNA expression, decreasing the mRNA levels of TH and DBH by 57.2% and 48.9%, respectively in PC12 cells. In conclusion, immobilization stress induced catecholamine biosynthetic enzymes gene expression, while ginseng appeared to restore homeostasis via suppression of TH and DBH gene expression. In part, the regulatory activity in the TH and DBH gene expression of ginseng may account for the anti-stress action produced by ginseng.

• Applied Biological Chemistry
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• v.51 no.2
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• pp.114-118
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• 2008

Ginseng treated with several treatment conditions of various acids to search hydrolysates on the basis of increased biological activity and modified structure. In the result of acid treatment, the conversion rate of ginsenoside Rg3, Rk1 and Rg5 was highest when ginseng treated with citric acid. After added citric acid to ginseng extract, boiled at l00$^{\circ}C$ for 1 hour and add enzyme, which is examined change by time. It compared with group which did not treated acid. Two groups became difference according to enzyme but the generation rate of ginsenoside Rg3, Rk1 and Rg5 did not show difference greatly. Also, the generation rate of ginsenoside Rg3, Rk1 and Rg5 by time passes did not show difference. The generation rate of ginsenoside Rg3, Rk1 and Rg5 increased when increased acid concentration, temperature and time. We did exclusion molding to shorten treatment time. In the result of ginseng treated with citric acid of various concentrations at various temperatures as time passes by extrusion molding, the generation rate of ginsenoside Rg3, Rk1 and Rg5 was highest when ginseng treated with 3% citric acid at l60$^{\circ}C$ for 20 minutes. In addition, total saponin amount of ginseng treated with 3% citric acid at 160$^{\circ}C$ for 20 minutes was about 11% higher than ginseng heated at 120$^{\circ}C$ for 3 hours. These results indicated that our exclusion molding process more effective, compared to traditional red ginseng manufacturing process.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.13 no.1
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• pp.60-65
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• 1989

The Quality characteristics of pH, ginsenosides, fatty acid, phenolic compounds were studied for their changes during growth of Candia parapsilosis. The yeast growth not only scarcely affected the total amount of saponins and ginsenosidvs of recd ginseng tail root extract, but also was not affected by the saponin C. pnrapsilosis did not utilize the ginsenosides as a carbon source. Glucose, fructose and free sugars were utilized in the initial phase of growth, whereas sucrose and maltose were used as the growth continued and completely redured after 43 hours of incubation. Unsaturated fatty acids were significantly reduced with cell growth, showing a relationship between unsaturated fatty acid content and the yeast growth, whereas the amount of saturate[1 tatty acids in red ginseng extract was not affected by the yeast growth. Generally, there were no changes in major organic acids and phenolic compounds (vanillie acid , m-coumaric acid) except the 50% reduction in maltol and ferulic acid in the ginseng extract. The amounts of amlno acids were gradually decreased, but that of arginine was remarkably reduced.