• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.17 no.3
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• pp.187-195
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• 1993

We have examined the functional role of central dopaminergic processes on the behavioral pharmacological effects induced by psychotropics and red ginseng saponins of normal rats and compared with that of brain damaged rats. Desipramine and clomipramine produced, a significant depression of the locomotor activity in normal rats, but in brain damaged rats, they did not have any effect throughout the experimental period of 4 hours. Total saponin (50~200 mg/kg), PT (25~50 mg/kg), PD (25~50 mg/kg), $Rg_1$(12.5~25 mg/kg), $Rb_1$ (12.5~50 mg/kg) did not change, and high concentrations of PT (100 mg/kg), PD (100 mg/kg) and $Rg_1$ (50 mg/kg) showed a significant decrease in the locomotor activity of one hour after administration but total saponin (100 mg/kg), PD (25~50 mg/kg), Rgl (12.5 mg/kg), $Rb_1$ (12.5 mg/kg) markedly increased the locomotor activity of four hour after administration in normal rats. On the other hand, total saponin (50 mg/kg), PT (100 mg/kg) and PD (100 mg/kg) Produced a prominent stimulation of the locomotor activity in brain damaged rats. These results suggest that the inhibition of the locomotor activity induced by antidepressants was not affected by the sensitivity of cerebral DA system, whereas red ginseng saponin showed antifatigue effect and also the stimulation of the locomotor activity induced by red ginseng saponin was mediated by the inhibition of cerebral DA system. These psychotropic action of red ginseng saponins could be responsible for the beneficial effects on conditions of fatigue and decreased alertness.

• Journal of Korean Medicine for Obesity Research
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• v.22 no.1
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• pp.21-29
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• 2022

Objectives: This study aimed to examine the changes in ingredients according to its cultivation method by examining the content of saponin and non-saponin components of ginseng. Methods: Ginseng saponin component analysis was compared and reviewed using the high-performance liquid chromatography method, and acidic polysaccharide component was measured using the carbazole sulfuric acid method. Results: The comparative analysis of ginseng saponin content of 4 and 6 years old fresh ginseng showed the following results. According to the cultivation method, upland field cultivation fresh ginseng showed higher average content of crude saponin than paddy field cultivation fresh ginseng. Whereas, paddy field cultivation fresh ginseng showed higher average content of total saponin than upland field cultivation fresh ginseng. Ginsenoside Rb1 showed higher content of paddy field cultivation fresh ginseng than upland field cultivation fresh ginseng in 6 years old ginseng. However, it showed higher content of upland field cultivation fresh ginseng than paddy field cultivation fresh ginseng in 4 years old ginseng. Additionally, ginsenoside Rg1 showed higher content of paddy field cultivation fresh ginseng than upland field cultivation fresh ginseng in 6 years old ginseng, whereas upland field cultivation fresh ginseng showed higher content of paddy field cultivation fresh ginseng in 4 years old ginseng. The effect on the content of ginseng saponins and acidic polysaccharides according to paddy field and upland field cultivation methods is considered to be small. Conclusions: The paddy field cultivation method, which is more efficient in production cost due to depletion of farmland and long-distance cultivation, is considered to be an economical cultivation method.

• YAKHAK HOEJI
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• v.24 no.3_4
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• pp.143-150
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• 1980

The effect of ginseng saponin on chick embryonic dorsal root ganglia organ culture and brain, spinal cord, muscle dissociation cultures was studied. The fiber outgrowth in explanted chick embryonic dorsal root ganglia was markedly induced by water and alcohol extracts of ginseng, total ginseng saponin, protopanaxadiol and protopanaxatriol glycosides as well as ginsenosides R/sub b1/, R/sub d/, R/sub 0/+R/sub a/+R/sub b1/, and R/sub b2/+R/sub c/+R/sub e/ mixtures. The life span of the cultured chick embryonic dorsal root ganglia and potentiation of nerve cell density were also observed with all of these ginseng saponins. The effect of ginseng saponin on chick embryonic dorsal root ganglia organ culture was more marked in the absence of the chick embryonic extract which was known to contain nerve growth factor-like material in the culture media. However, the ginseng saponin did not influence the cultured central nervous system such as brain and spinal cord cells and cultured skeletal muscle cells with respect to the morphological changes, maturation and life span of these cells.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.34 no.4
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• pp.327-335
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• 2010

We reported previously that the administration of Korean red ginseng water extract (KRG-WE) protected the guinea pig testis against damage induced by 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (a potent endocrine disruptor). We also found that crude saponin from ginseng was the active ingredient responsible for this protection. Here, we examined the biological role of KRG-WE in an animal model of age-induced dysfunction of spermatogenesis. Twenty-four male Sprague-Dawley (six 2-month-old and eighteen 12-month-old) rats were used. The young and old control groups received only vehicle. The ginseng saponin (GS)- and KRG-WE-treated groups received GS (40 mg/kg body weight/day) and KRG-WE (200 mg/kg body weight/day), respectively, for 4 months. The number of cells, Sertoli cell index, Johnsen's score, and sex hormone levels decreased significantly with age. However, the administration of KRG-WE and GS markedly improved the number of germ cells, seminiferous tubular size, and Johnsen's score in the old rats. Ginseng produced a distinct testicular histological improvement in old rats. KRG-WE and GS elevated testosterone levels, while attenuating the aberrant increase in follicle stimulating hormone and luteinizing hormone levels. Sperm kinematics evaluated by a computer-assisted sperm analyzer demonstrated improvement in the percentage of motile sperm, progressive sperm motility, and curvilinear velocity associated with sperm quality, supporting the beneficial role of red ginseng in senile spermatogenesis. Overall, the total water extract had a more potent effect than the corresponding saponin fraction. In conclusion, Korean red ginseng rejuvenated age-induced testicular dysfunction. Additionally, the total water extract was more potent than the corresponding saponin fraction.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.21 no.2
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• pp.109-114
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• 1997

The effect of total saponin fraction of Ginseng injected intrathecally (i.1.) or in- tracerebroventricularly (i.c.v.) on the antinociception induced by D-$Pen^{2,5}$- enkephalin (DPDPE) ad ministered i.c.v. was studied in ICR mice in the present study. The antinociception was assessed by the tail-flick test. Total saponin fraction at doses 0.1 to 1.0 $\mu\textrm{g}$, which administered i.t. Alone did not affect the latencies of tail-flick threshold, attenuated dose-dependently the inhibition of the tail-flick response induced by i.c.v. administered DPDPE (10 $\mu\textrm{g}$). However, total saponin fraction at doses 1 to 20 $\mu\textrm{g}$, which administered i.c.v. Alone did not affect the latencies of the tail-flick response, did not affect i.c.v. administered DPDPE (10 $\mu\textrm{g}$)-induced antinociception. The duration of antagonistic action of total saponin fraction against DPDPE-induced antlnociception was lasted at least for 6 hrs. Various doses of ginsenosides Rd, but not $\Rb_2$, Rc, Rg1, and $\Rb_1$ and Re, injected i.t. Dose-dependently attenuated antinociception induced by DPDPE administered i.c.v. Our results indicate that total saponin fraction injected spinally appears to have antagonistic action against the antinociception induced by supraspinally applied DPDPE. Ginsenoside Rd appears to be responsible for blocking j.c.v. administered DPDPE-induced antinociception. On the other hand, total ginseng fraction, at supraspinal sites, may not have an antagonistic action against the antinociception induced by DPDPE.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.29 no.2
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• pp.288-293
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• 2000

This study was carried out to investigate the effect of crude saponin fracton from Korean red ginseng on physiological events of ovariectomized rats. The saponin fractions was prepared by Diaion HP-20 adsorption chromatography and spirit. Total 50 rats were divided into 5 groups : normal control (NC), sham-ovariectomized (SO), ovariectomized (OR), ovariectomized and saponin treated (OS), and normal control treated with saponin (NS). Saponin was intraperitonally administered for 8 weeks. Ovariectomy was carried out at 1 st and 2nd weeks of experiment. Right-side ovary of rat was removed at 1st week, the otehr was done at 2nd week. The body weights fo ovariectomized rats showed no significant changes but that of NS group showed significant increase (p<0.05) compared with NC group. Ovariectomy of rats reduced the weights of femur by 6 to 8% compared with that of NC group. In addition, femur weight of NS group was 5 to 6% higher than that of NC. Uterus weight showed no significant differences by saponin treatment or ovariectomy. Serum testosterone level of ovariectomized rats increased by 60 times compared with that of NC. However, administration of crude saponin to ovariectomized rat attenuated testosterone level to almost that of NC. These results suggest that Korean red ginseng saponin attenuates physiological disorders induced by malfunction of ovary.

• YAKHAK HOEJI
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• v.45 no.5
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• pp.545-556
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• 2001

Crude saponin fractions were isolated using non-ionic resin chromatography from Ginseng Radix Alba (PG) and Gynostemmae Herba+ (GP). These saponin fractions were orally administered to strep- tozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic rats for 2 weeks and to high-fat diet-induced obese rats for 4 weeks. Treatment with either PG saponin or GP saponin at a dose of 1 mg/kg significantly decreased the plasma glucose level to that of glibenclamide treated or normal groups. The increased plasma triglyceride (TG) level in diabetic rats was decreased by 50% with PG or GP saponin treatment. Combined administration of PG and GP saponins with different ratios (total dose of 1 mg/kg) also had the similar effects on the blood glucose and TG levels with that of PG or GP alone. Treatments with GP (1 mg/kg) or GP (0.5 mg/kg) and PG (0.5 mg/kg) together significantly suppressed the rise in TG levels induced by high-fat diet whereas slightly suppressed the rise in the total cholesterol level. The body weight gain was also decreased both in the two saponin treated groups. These results demonstrate that either alone or mixture of PG and GP have similar degree of effects on hyperglycemia and hyperlipidemia.

• YAKHAK HOEJI
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• v.30 no.4
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• pp.174-179
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• 1986

The thymus weight of the mouse was 54.1% in protein malnutritive diet group and 39.2% in group treated with saponin fraction of Panax ginseng in comparison to normal diet group. This decreasing effects of protein malnutritive diet and saponin fraction on the thymus weight practically disappeared after four weeks. The saponin fraction showed no effect on the spleen weight of the mouse. The supplement of the saponin fraction enhanced total peritoneal exudate cells, content of total serum protein and albumin content of the mouse, each 45, 8 and 10% respectively in comparision to that of normal diet group. And these values in protein malnutritive diet group were 61.2, 83.6 and 87.0% respectively in comparision to that of normal diet group, and recovered to the level of normal diet group by the supplement of the saponin fraction. The electrophoregram of the serum protein of the mouse fed with protein malnutritive diet was different from that of the mouse fed with normal diet, but this difference practically disappeared by the supplement of the saponin fraction.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Applied Pharmacology
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• 1998.11a
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• pp.146-146
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• 1998

The present study was designed to examine the effect of total ginseng saponin on contractile responses of vasoconstrictors in the rat aorta. Phenylephrine (an adrenergic ${\alpha}$$_1$-receptor agonist) and high potassium (a membrane depolarizing agent) caused greatly contractile responses in the rat aorta, respectively. However, in the presence of total ginseng saponin (600 $\mu\textrm{g}$/$m\ell$), the contractile responses of phenylephrine (10$\^$-5/ and 10$\^$-7/ M) and high potassium (3.5 ${\times}$ 10$\^$-2/ and 5.6 ${\times}$ 10$\^$-2/ M) were markedly potentiated whereas prostaglandin F$\sub$2${\alpha}$/ (5 ${\times}$ 10$\^$-6/ M)-induced contractile response was not affected. The contractile responses induced by phenylephrine (10$\^$-5/ M) and high potassium (3.5 ${\times}$ 10$\^$-2/ M) even in the presence of total ginseng saponin (600 $\mu\textrm{g}$/$m\ell$) were greatly inhibited by the pretreatment of nicardipine (10$\^$-6/ M), a calcium channel blocker. Taken together, these experimental results suggest that total ginseng saponin can enhance the contractile responses evoked by stimulation of adrenergic ${\alpha}$$_1$-receptor and the membrane depolarization in the rat aorta, which seems to be associated to calcium influx.

• 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.