• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• 제38권2호
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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.

• 대한한방내과학회지
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• 제39권5호
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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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• 제4권1호
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• pp.72-87
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• 1980

Red ginseng tails were extracted with ethanol solutions over a range of concentrations and temperature conditions. Investigations were carried out to study the effects of treatments on yields, soluble solids, saponin and precipitate occured in red ginseng extract beverage during storage. It was found that: (1) Higher concentration of ethanol at low temperature resulted in less yield of crude extract (2) The amount of precipitate in the non-purified extract beverage were less with decrease in ethanol concentration used (3) The treatment for purification of extracts and storage of purified extract at 37$^{\circ}C$ for 6 months had no effect on HPLC chromatogram pattern of saponins (4) The amount of purified extract decreased by purification treatment and more decrease was found as the temperature and concentration of ethanol increased. For Preparation of red ginseng extract beverage, the treatment of extracts with ethanol at low temperature was found to be more effective to minimize precipitation in tile beverage.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• 제34권3호
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• pp.155-159
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• 2010

In the present review, the merit of ginseng in the improvement of insulin resistance has been introduced. Using the results in previous studies, we found that ginseng or ginsenoside Rh2 has the ability to reduce glucose-insulin index in rats with insulin resistance. Insulin resistance was induced by feeding of fructose-rich chow in rats. Insulin resistance was characterized by regular methods. Effectiveness of ginseng powder or extract Rh2 was identified in this animal model. Also, the application of ginseng for handling of diabetic disorders in China has been discussed. According to Chinese traditional medicine, ginseng is merit in the treatment of diabetic disorders named as Shiaw-Ker in Chinese. Therefore, it is no doubt that ginseng is helpful in the control of diabetic disorders either prevention or the treatment. Otherwise, the potential effect of ginseng on nervous functions shall be investigated in the future.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• 제42권4호
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• pp.532-539
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• 2018

Background: Heat treatments are applied to ginseng products in order to improve physiological activities through the conversion of ginsenosides, which are key bioactive components. During heat treatment, organic acids can affect ginsenoside conversion. Therefore, the influence of organic acids during heat treatment should be considered. Methods: Raw ginseng, crude saponin, and ginsenoside $Rb_1$ standard with different organic acids were treated at $130^{\circ}C$, and the chemical components, including ginsenosides and organic acids, were analyzed. Results: The organic acid content in raw ginseng was 5.55%. Organic acids were not detected in crude saponin that was not subjected to heat treatment, whereas organic acids were found in crude saponin subjected to heat treatment. Major ginsenosides ($Rb_1$, Re, and $Rg_1$) in ginseng and crude saponin were converted to minor ginsenosides at $130^{\circ}C$; the ginsenoside $Rb_1$ standard was very stable in the absence of organic acids and was converted into minor ginsenosides in the presence of organic acids at high temperatures. Conclusion: The major factor affecting ginsenoside conversion was organic acids in ginseng. Therefore, the organic acid content as well as ginsenoside content and processing conditions should be considered important factors affecting the quality of ginseng products.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• 제25권2호
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• pp.68-73
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• 2001

Studies were performed to determine the effect of red ginseng and white ginseng on jejunal crypt survival, endogenous spleen colony formation, and apoptosis of jejunal crypt cells in irradiated mice. The radioprotective effect of ginseng was compared with the effect of diethyldithocarbamate(D). Jejunal crypts were protected from irradiation by pretreatment of red ginseng (50 mg/kg B.W., I.P. at 36 and 12 hours before irradiation) and white ginseng (50 mg/kg B.W., I.P. at 36 and 12 hours before irradiation). Red ginseng administration before irradiation and both pretreatment and posttreatment (50 mg/kg B.W., I.P. at 30 minutes after irradiation) of white ginseng resulted in an increase of the formation of endogenous spleen colony. the frequency of radiation-induced apoptosis in intestinal crypt cells was also reduced by both pretreatment and posttreatment of red ginseng, and pretreatment of white ginseng. The radioprotective effect of DDC (1000 mg/kg B.W., I.P. at 30 minutes before irradiation) on jejunal crypt survival and apoptosis was similar to those of ginseng treatment. Treatment with DDC showed no significant modifying effects on formation of endogenous spleen colony. These results indicated that ginseng might be a useful radioprotector. Further studies are needed to characterize effective radioprotective components and mechanism of ginseng.

• Toxicological Research
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• 제11권2호
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• pp.261-266
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• 1995

Age-related change in the frequency of spontaneous sister chromatid exchange (SCE) and chromosornal aberrations were investigated in bone marrow cells of accelerated senescence-resistant mice (SAM R1) and senescence accelerated ones (SAM P1). And the effect of chronic treatment of ginseng extract (Panax ginseng C.A. Meyer) on these chromosomal abnormalities was tested in SAM P1. SCE frequency in the cells was progressively increased with age in both mice, but it was consistently higher in SAM P1 than in SAM R1 at all corresponding age. Chromosomal aberrations were, however, not significantly changed with age except that it was slightly increased in only aged SAM P1. Interestingly, the rate of these genetic instabilities in SAM P1 was remarkably retarded by long-term administration of ginseng water extract (0.05% in drinking water). These results suggest that frequency of spontaneous SCE in bone marrow cells increase in parallel with senescence of the mice, and SAM P1 is in the condition of being more exposed than SAM R1 to DNA damaging factors. These also indicate that long-term treatment of ginseng may reduce the genetic damage.

• 농업과학연구
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• 제38권2호
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• pp.205-212
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• 2011

The potential factors for quality loss of cleaned fresh ginseng and technology to be associated with the improvement of marketability through pre-packaging fumigation were examined. Major microorganisms isolated from fresh ginseng included Botrytis cinerea, and Erwinia sp. Others such as Cylindrocarpon sp., Fusarium spp., Pennicilium spp., Bacillus spp. were also found at relatively low frequency. The bacterial density of vacuum packaged fresh ginseng rapidly increased during simulated marketing. Little correlation between bacterial growth and package swelling was found. In order to improve packaging method of fresh ginseng, pre-packaging treatment of 2-phenylethyl alcohol (PE, 100 uL/L, 4 hr) was examined. The fumigation treatment effectively inhibited the growth of bacteria density and also effective on keeping firmness of ginseng root, especially in cortical portion. The internal gas compositions of plastic container packaged for ginseng were approximately ranged between 6 to 8% $O_2$and 3 to 4% $CO_2$. The $O_2$ level of fumigation treatment was lower than control whereas $CO_2$ level was higher. The upsurge of ethylene evolution I day after simulated marketing was found only in fumigation treatment but it returned to ordinary level at day 2. The sucrose content of 2-PE treatment was significantly reduced at 5 days after simulated marketing but reducing sugars like glucose and fructose remained at higher level. The difference in sugar levels was reduced after 10 days of simulated marketing. The decay of fresh ginseng began at the lateral or fine root, which is weak to physical damage, in general. The epidermis was more damaged. Plastic container packaging with PE fumigation could be an alternative to vacuum packaging, which allows an aerobic environment and prevents anaerobic respiration. Further study of pre-package fumigation is required to improve technology of fresh ginseng marketing.

• 한국식품영양과학회지
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• 제34권2호
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• pp.247-254
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• 2005

본 실험은 홍삼, 백삼, 압출성형 공정변수인 수분함량을 25%와 30%로 달리하여 제조한 압출성형수삼의 화학적 성분을 비교하였다. 조회분, 조지방, 총당의 경우 홍삼, 백삼, 압출성형수삼 간의 차이가 거의 나타나지 않았고, 환원당의 경우 백삼시료에서 다른 처리구보다 낮은 함량을 나타내었다. 아미노산은 수삼을 파쇄하여 7$0^{\circ}C$에서 건조한 수삼(A처리구)에서 낮은 함량을 나타내었고, 수분함량 25%, 배럴 11$0^{\circ}C$, 스크루 회전속도 200 rpm에서 압출성형한 수삼(B처리구)보다 수분함량 30%, 배럴 11$0^{\circ}C$, 스크루 회전속도 200 rpm에서 압출성형한 수삼(C처리구)이 높은 함량을 나타내었다. 조사포닌의 경우에는 A처리구가 4.02%, B와 C처리구가 4.77%, 4.12%이고, 수삼 표피를 제거하지 않은 피부백삼(D처리구)은 3.56%, 수삼 표피를 제거한 피부백삼(E처리구)의 경우는 3.25%, 홍삼(F처리구)은 4.02%로 조사되었다. 총 진세노사이드는 조사포닌의 경우와 유사한 결과를 나타내었다. 즉 A처리구가 6.031 mg/g, B와 C처리구가 8.108 mg/g, 6.876 mg/g으로 조사되었고, D처리구는 7.978 mg/g, E처리구의 경우는 5.591 mg/g, F처리구는 9.834 mg/g로 측정되었다. F처리구에서 홍삼특유 사포닌이라고 알려진 $R_{g3}$가 측정되었다. 말톨의 경우에는 홍삼과 압출성형수삼 처리구에서만 관찰되었다. 산성다당체는 압출성형에 의해 2∼3% 증가하였다. 결론적으로 압출성 형수삼은 홍삼의 성분과 유사한 결과를 나타내었으며, 압출성형공정변수의 변화를 통해 홍삼에 포함된 홍삼특유 사포닌인 $R_{g3}$도 전환될 수 있을 것으로 판단되었다.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• 제32권2호
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• pp.114-119
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• 2008

Terpene synthase plays a key role in biosynthesis of triterpene saponins (ginsenosides) and is intermediate in the biosynthesis of a number of secondary metabolites. A terpene synthase (PgTPS) cDNA was isolated and characterized from the root of Panax ginseng c.A. Meyer. The deduced amino acid sequence of PgTPS showed a similarity with A. deliciosa (AAX16121) 61%, V. vinifera (AAS66357) 61%, L. hirsutum (AAG41891) 55%, M. truncatula (AAV36464) 52%. And the segment of a terpene synthase gene was amplified by reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RTPCR). We studied expression of terpene synthase under stressful conditions like chilling, salt, UV, and heavy metal stress treatment. Expression of PgTPS was increased gradually after exposure to stresses such as chilling, salt, and UV illumination. But its transcription seems to be reduced by cadmium and copper treatment.