• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.22 no.4
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• pp.535-540
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• 2012

${\beta}$-D-Xylosidase (E.C. 3.2.1.37) from Bifidobacterium breve K-110, which hydrolyzes ginsenoside Ra1 to ginsenoside Rb2, was cloned and expressed in Escherichia coli. The ($His_6$)-tagged recombinant enzyme, designated as XlyBK-110, was efficiently purified using $Ni^{2+}$-affinity chromatography (109.9-fold, 84% yield). The molecular mass of XylBK-100 was found to be 55.7 kDa by SDS-PAGE. Its sequence revealed a 1,347 bp open reading frame (ORF) encoding a protein containing 448 amino acids, which showed 82% identity (DNA) to the previously reported glycosyl hydrolase family 30 of Bifidobacterium adolescentis ATCC 15703. The $K_m$ and $V_{max}$ values toward p-nitrophenyl-${\beta}$-D-xylopyranoside (pNPX) were 1.45mM and 10.75 ${\mu}mol/min/mg$, respectively. This enzyme had pH and temperature optima at 6.0 and $45^{\circ}C$, respectively. XylBK-110 acted to the greatest extent on xyloglucosyl kakkalide, followed by pNPX and ginsenoside Ra1, but did not act on p-nitrophenyl-${\alpha}$-L-arabinofuranoside, p-nitrophenyl-${\beta}$-D-glucopyranoside, or p-nitrophenyl-${\beta}$-D-fucopyranoside. In conclusion, this is the first report on the cloning and expression of ${\beta}$-D-xylosidase-hydrolyzing ginsenoside Ra1 and kakkalide from human intestinal microflora.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.40 no.4
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• pp.344-350
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• 2016

Background: Mountain-cultivated ginseng (MCG) and cultivated ginseng (CG) both belong to Panax ginseng and have similar ingredients. However, their pharmacological activities are different due to their significantly different growth environments. Methods: An ultra-performance liquid chromatography/quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry (UPLC-QTOF-MS/MS)-based approach was developed to distinguish MCG and CG. Multivariate statistical methods, such as principal component analysis and supervised orthogonal partial-least-squares discrimination analysis were used to select the influential components. Results: Under optimized UPLC-QTOF-MS/MS conditions, 40 ginsenosides in both MCG and CG were unambiguously identified and tentatively assigned. The results showed that the characteristic components of CG and MCG included ginsenoside Ra3/isomer, gypenoside XVII, quinquenoside R1, ginsenoside Ra7, notoginsenoside Fe, ginsenoside Ra2, ginsenoside Rs6/Rs7, malonyl ginsenoside Rc, malonyl ginsenoside Rb1, malonyl ginsenoside Rb2, palmitoleic acid, and ethyl linoleate. The malony ginsenosides are abundant in CG, but higher levels of the minor ginsenosides were detected in MCG. Conclusion: This is the first time that the differences between CG and MCG have been observed systematically at the chemical level. Our results suggested that using the identified characteristic components as chemical markers to identify different ginseng products is effective and viable.

• Korean Journal of Medicinal Crop Science
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• v.22 no.1
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• pp.23-31
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• 2014

This study was carried out to investigate change of ginsenoside contents in red and fresh ginseng according to root part and age by hydrolysis. Neutral total ginsenoside contents by hydrolysis in 6-year main root and lateral root were significantly increased than those by non-hydrolysis, as 41.6 and 32.8%, respectively. However, there was no significant difference in red ginseng. In fresh ginseng, ginsenoside contents of the protopanaxatriol group such as Re, Rf, $Rg_1$, $Rg_2$, and $Rh_1$ were not significantly different, but $Rb_1$, $Rb_2$, $Rb_3$, Rc, and Rd showed significant difference. The increase rate of neutral total ginsenoside content by hydrolysis was higher in epidermis-cortex than stele. Also, the neutral total ginsenoside content was fine root > rhizome > lateral root > main root, respectively. While there was no tendency towards the increase of ginsenoside by hydrolysis with the increase of root age in fine root and rhizome, there was significant decrease in main root and lateral root.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.43 no.2
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• pp.319-325
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• 2019

Background: Ginsenoside Rf is a ginseng saponin found only in Panax ginseng that affects lipid metabolism. It also has neuroprotective and antiinflammatory properties. We previously showed that Korean Red Ginseng (KRG) inhibited the expression of cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) by hypoxia via peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma ($PPAR{\gamma}$). The aim of the current study was to evaluate the possibility of ginsenoside Rf as an active ingredient of KRG in the inhibition of hypoxia-induced COX-2 via $PPAR{\gamma}$. Methods: The effects of ginsenoside Rf on the upregulation of COX-2 by hypoxia and its antimigration effects were evaluated in A549 cells. Docking of ginsenoside Rf was performed with the $PPAR{\gamma}$ structure using Surflex-Dock in Sybyl-X 2.1.1. Results: $PPAR{\gamma}$ protein levels and peroxisome proliferator response element promoter activities were promoted by ginsenoside Rf. Inhibition of COX-2 expression by ginsenoside Rf was blocked by the $PPAR{\gamma}-specific$ inhibitor, T0070907. The $PPAR{\gamma}$ inhibitor also blocked the ability of ginsenoside Rf to suppress cell migration under hypoxia. The docking simulation results indicate that ginsenoside Rf binds to the active site of $PPAR{\gamma}$. Conclusions: Our results demonstrate that ginsenoside Rf inhibits hypoxia induced-COX-2 expression and cellular migration, which are dependent on $PPAR{\gamma}$ activation. These results suggest that ginsenoside Rf has an antiinflammatory effect under hypoxic conditions. Moreover, docking analysis of ginsenoside Rf into the active site of $PPAR{\gamma}$ suggests that the compound binds to $PPAR{\gamma}$ in a position similar to that of known agonists.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
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• v.44 no.2
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• pp.179-184
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• 2004

The purpose of the study was to investigate the effect of ginseng saponins (panaxadiol, ginsenoside $Rb_1$, $Rb_2$, Rc, Rd) on jejunal crypt survival, endogenous spleen colony formation and apoptosis in jejunal crypt cells of mice irradiated with gamma-ray. ICR mice were given each saponin (i.p. 50 mg/kg of body weight) at 24 hours before irradiation. The radioprotective effects of saponins were compared with the irradiation control respectively. The jejunal crypts were protected by pretreatment with ginsenoside Rc (p<0.05) and Rd (p<0.05). The spleen colony was increased by pretreatment with panaxadiol (p<0.05) and ginsenoside Rd (p<0.05). And the frequency of radiation induced apoptosis was significantly reduced by pretreatment with panaxadiol (p<0.05), ginsenoside Rb2 (p<0.05), Rc (p<0.05) and Rd (p<0.01). These results suggest that ginsenoside Rc, Rd might have a major radioprotective effect.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.10 no.1
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• pp.66-75
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• 1986

Influnces of Fuiarium solani and Phytophthora cactorum infection on the changes in saponin components of Korean ginseng (Panax ginseng C.A. Meyer)roots and some of the biology of those fungi in relation to ginseng root were investigated. Mycelial growth of F. solani was decreased as increasing concentration of the water extracts of fresh ginseng roots, while that of P. cactorum was increased as increasing the concentration of the water extracts and crude saponin. Mycelial growth of F. solani, however, was increased as increasing concentration of crude ginseng saponin upto 20 ppm, while it was tended to be decreased when the concentration was higher than 50 ppm. Nystatin also suppresed the growth of F. solani as increasing its concentration, but it did not affected on the growth of p. cactorum. Ginsenoside Ra and Ro components were not detected in ginseng roots inoculated with F. solani or P. cactorum. Panaxadiol gisenosides were increased by 3.0%, whereas panaxatriol ginsenosides were decreased by 34.9% in ginseng roots inoculated with F. iolani. In ginseng roots inoculated with P. cactorum panaxadiol ginsenosides were increased by 21.1%, but panaxatriol ginsenosides were decreased by 23.5%. PD/PT ratio in ginseng roots inoculated with F. solani or P. cactorum were equally increased by 58.4% in spite of differences in the change of panaxadiol and panaxatriol ginsenosides. The total saponin components of ginseng roots inoculated with F. solani or P. cactorum were decreased by 17.8% and 2.5%, respectively.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.40 no.3
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• pp.237-244
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• 2016

Background: Ginsenoside Rg3 and arginine-fructose (Arg-Fru) are known as the hypotensive compounds of Panax ginseng; however, their efficacy on antihypertension has not been reported yet to our best knowledge. Thus, hypotensive components-enriched fraction of red ginseng (HCEF-RG) was prepared from fine root concentrate (FR) and their antihypertensive effects were investigated in spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR). Methods: Male SHRs were divided into six groups: control (Wistar Kyoto, SHR); FR 500; FR 1,000; HCEF-RG 500; and HCEF-RG 1,000; samples (mg/kg body weight) were orally administered every day for 8 wk. Blood pressure was monitored at 1 wk, 2 wk, 3 wk, 4 wk, 6 wk, and 8 wk by tail cuff method. At 8 wk after samples administration, mice were killed for the measurement of renin activity (RA), angiotensin-I converting enzyme inhibition, angiotensin II, and nitric oxide (NO) levels in plasma. Results: HCEF-RG with four-fold more Rg3 and 24-fold more Arg-Fru contents was successfully prepared from reacted mixtures of FR and persimmon vinegar (12 times against FR, v/v) at $80^{\circ}C$ for 18 h. Both FR 1,000 and HCEF-RG 1,000 showed lowered systolic blood pressure than SHR control group and HCEF-RG 1,000 group exhibited a significant decrease in diastolic blood pressure. RA was significantly lowered in all treated groups, while angiotensin II did not affect by FR and HCEF-RG treatment. However, angiotensin-I converting enzyme inhibition and NO in FR 1,000 and HCEF-RG 1,000 were significantly increased compared with SHR control group. Conclusion: HCEF-RG is more effective and useful for alleviating hypertension than FR, implying the health benefit of Rg3 and Arg-Fru.

• KOREAN JOURNAL OF CROP SCIENCE
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• v.29 no.4
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• pp.342-349
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• 1984

In order to obtain the basic information for the development of ginseng varieties with high saponin contents. saponin contents and ginsenosides of Panax ginseng (Korean ginseng) and Panax quinquefolium (American ginseng) grown under the same environmental conditions were analysed. Crude saponin contents of root and aerial parts were more in Panax quinquefolium than in Panax ginseng, and aerial parts had more saponin contents in comparison with a root. Protopanaxatriol saponin was greatly more in the aerial parts of ginseng while more amount of protopanaxadiol saponins were detected in the root. As for the ginsenosides, the patterns of ginsenosides detected in total saponin of the aerial parts were not different between two species, Panax ginseng and Panax quinquefolium, but the root ginsenoside patterns were quite different. Ginsenosides such as Rg$_2$, R$_{f}$. R$_{a}$ and R$_{o}$ were not detected in the root of Panax quinquefolium (American ginseng).).).).

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.34 no.4
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• pp.348-354
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• 2010

Black ginseng and white ginseng were extracted with 80% ethanol and evaluated for relative ginsenoside composition, acetylcholinesterase (AChE) and butyrylcholinesterase (BChE) inhibitory activities, and antioxidant properties. As analyzed by HPLC, black ginseng contained a greater proportion of ginsenoside $Rg_3$ compared to white ginseng. White ginseng was characterized by undetectable ginsenoside $Rg_3$ but it contained more total ginsenosides than black ginseng. Black ginseng extract exhibited higher (p<0.05) free radical-scavenging activity, as well as higher antioxidant activities than white ginseng against 2,2-diphenyl-1-picryl-hydrazyl, superoxide dismutase, and xanthine oxidase, despite the fact that the total saponin content was higher in white ginseng than black ginseng. In addition, the black ginseng extract displayed greater AChE and BChE inhibitory activities. These results suggest that black ginseng has stronger effects on anti-oxidation and AChE and BChE inhibition than white ginseng.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.19 no.3
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• pp.254-259
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• 1995

The content and composition of saponin compounds of Panax species were analyzed according to their species, region and processing type of red and white ginseng. The species employed were Korean-, Chinese-, Japanese red ginsengs, and Korean white ginseng of Panax ginseng, American- and Canadian ginsengs of Panax quinquefolium, and Panax notoinseng. Twelve main saponin components in the ginseng were identified and quantified using TLC and HPLC. All three species had remarkably different content and composition. However, within each species they were similar. Twelve major ginsenosides were determined in P. ginseng, eight in p. quinquefolium, and six in P. notoginseng. Of the components of P ginseng Rf, $Rh_1$, $Rh_2$ and Ra were not detected in P quinquefolium, and $Rb_2$, Rc, Rf, $Rh_2$, Ra and Ro not detected in P. notoinseam. Crude saponin content and protopanaxadiol/protopanaxatriol saponin ratio were compared. They were 4.81~5.24% and 1.27~ 1.45 in p. ginsengs, 7.01~7.25% and 2.12~ 2.15 in p. quinquefolium, 9.80% and 0.99 in P. notoineng. The prosapogenin and sapogenin content were different among the Panax species.