• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.33 no.2
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• pp.93-98
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• 2009

To understand the anti-allergic mechanism of compound K, which is a metabolite of ginsenoside Rb1, a main constituent of the root of Panax ginseng C.A. Meyer (family Araliaceae), its inhibitory effect against IgE-antigen complex IAC)-induced passive cutaneous anaphylaxis (PCA) reaction in mice and mRNA and protein expressions of allergic cytokines in lAC-stimulated RBL-2H3 cells were investigated. Orally administered ginsenoside Rb1 more potently inhibited PCA reaction when administered at 5 h prior to the lAC treatment than when administered at I h before. However, compound K orally administered 1 h before lAC treatment showed a more potent anti-PCA reaction effect than when treated at 5 h before. Orally administered ginsenoside Rb1 more potently inhibited PCA reaction induced by lAC in mice than intraperitoneally treated one, apart from orally administered its metabolite, compound K, which was more potent than the orally administered one. The compound K, a metabolite of ginsenoside Rb1, inhibited mRNA and protein expressions of IL-4 and TNF-${\alpha}$ and the activation of their transcription factor NF-$\kappa$B and MAPK in lAC-stimulated RBL-2H3 cells. These findings suggest that orally administered ginsenoside Rb1 may be dependent on its metabolism by intestinal microflora in the intestine and the compound K may improve allergic diseases by the inhibition of IL-4 and TNF-${\alpha}$ expresseion.

• Preventive Nutrition and Food Science
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• v.21 no.4
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• pp.389-392
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• 2016

The present study was conducted to investigate the ginsenoside profiles of the main root, root hair, and leaf of ginseng in order to demonstrate their possible application in medicine. The total ginsenoside content of the leaf was up to 12 times than that in the main root, and the content of protopanaxadiol groups was higher than that of protopanaxatriol groups in all the samples. The leaf was shown to contain high amounts of ginsenosides Rb3 and Rh1, whereas the main root contained large amounts of ginsenosides Rb1 and Rc. Moreover, Rb2, Rb3, and Rg1 were only detected in the root hair, leaf, and main root, respectively. The ginsenoside Re content of Panax ginseng leaf and root hair was 2.6~4 times higher than that of the main root. Therefore, the results indicate that the ginsenoside content of Panax ginseng is higher in the leaf and root hair, and lower in the main root.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.20 no.2
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• pp.173-178
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• 1996

Aerobic cells are normally protected from the damage of free radicals by antioxidative on , zymes such as superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase, glutathione (GSH) peroxidase, GSH S- transferase and GSH reductase which scavenge free radicals as well as nonenzymatic antioxidants such as ceruloplasmin, albumin and nonprotein-SH including GSH. The effects of each component (ginsenoside $Rb_1$, $Rb_2$, Rc, Rd, Re, $Rb_1$, Rf, $Rh_1$ and $Rh_2$) of red ginseng on the antioxidative enzyme activities were investigated in the liver in order to screen antioxidative components of red ginseng. Ginsenoside $Rb_1$ and Rc showed a tendency to increase GSH peroxidase activity, while ginsenoside Rc significantly decreased Cu,Zn-SOD activity. Especially, ginsenoside $Rh_2$ significantly increased catalase activity. These results suggest that ginsenoside $Rh_2$ is an important active component among total saponins of red ginseng.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.23 no.12
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• pp.1802-1805
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• 2013

Ginsenosides are the most important ingredient of ginseng and are known to possess many pharmacological and biological effects. Rb1, a major protopanaxadiol ginsenoside, is the most abundant ginsenoside in Panax ginseng C.A Meyer and can be hydrolyzed into more pharmaceutically potent minor ginsenosides. To identify a microorganism that is capable of converting Rb1 into other ginsenosides, we screened 12 Microbacterium spp., and M. trichothecenolyticum was identified as a likely candidate. M. trichothecenolyticum converted Rb1 into Rd and then into Rh2 based on TLC and HPLC analyses of reaction products. This biotransformation method can be easily applied for mass production of Rd and Rh2 by using Rb1.

• Journal of the Society of Cosmetic Scientists of Korea
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• v.41 no.4
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• pp.375-382
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• 2015

Ginsenosides (ginseng saponin) as the one of important pharmaceutical compounds of ginseng and is responsible for the pharmacological and biological activities. These ginsenoside produces diverse small molecules ginsenoside which have more pharmacological activities including anti-wrinkle, anti-cancer and anti-oxidant effects. In the present study, we isolated bacteria using esculin agar, to produce ${\beta}$-glucosidase, and we focused on the bio-transformation of ginsenoside. Phylogenetic tree analysis was performed by comparing the 16S rRNA sequences; we identified the strain as Stenotrophomonas rhizopilae strain GFC09. In order to determine the optimal conditions for enzyme activity, the crude enzyme was incubated with 1 mM ginsenoside $Rb_1$. Bioconversion of ginsenoside $Rb_1$ were analyzed using TLC and HPLC. The crude enzyme hydrolyzed the ginsenoside $Rb_1$ along the following pathway: LB: $Rb_1{\rightarrow}Rd{\rightarrow}F_2$ into compound K, TSB: $Rb_1{\rightarrow}Rd{\rightarrow}F_2$. The structure of the hydrolyzed metabolites were identified by NMR. The activity screening tests showed that the conversion product induced the production of type I procollagen in a dose-dependent manner. These results suggested that hydrolyzed ginseng product containing the ginsenoside $F_2$ and compound K could be useful as an active ingredient for wrinkle-care cosmetics.

• Molecular & Cellular Toxicology
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• v.5 no.2
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• pp.126-132
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• 2009

The usage and types of chemicals are advancing, specializing, large-scaled increasing, and new chemical exposed workers are concerning to occupational disease. The generation of reactive oxygen in the body from carcinogen, mutation and DNA damage in cancer is protected by natural antioxidants (phytochemicals) with antimutagenic effect. There were many reports of ginsenoside Rb$_1$, Rg$_1$ grievances of the genetic mutation to suppress the effect confirm the genetic toxicity test with chromosomal aberration test and the Comet (SCGE) assay confirmed the suppression effect occurring chromosomal DNA damage. We had wanted to evaluate the compatibility and sensitivity between the chromosomal aberration (CA) test and the Comet assay. We used the CA test and Comet assay to evaluate the anti-genotoxicity of ginsenoside Rb$_1$ and Rg$_1$, in CHO-K1 (Chinese hamster ovary fibroblast) cell in vitro, composed negative control (solvent), positive control (benzo[a]pyrene), test group (carcinogen+variety concentration of ginsenoside) group. The positive control was benzo[a]pyrene (50 $\mu$M), well-known carcinogen, and the negative control was the 1 % DMSO solvent. The test group was a variety concentration of ginsenoside Rb$_1$, Rg$_1$ with 10$^{-8}$%, 10$^{-6}$%, 10$^{-4}$%, 10$^{-2}$%, 1%, 10%. In chromo-somal aberration test, we measured the number of cells with abnormally structured chromosome. In Comet assay, the Olive tail moment (OTM) and Tail length (TL) values were measured. The ratio of cell proliferation was increased 8.3% in 10$^{-8}$%, 10$^{-6}$%, 10$^{-4}$%, 10$^{-2}$%, 1%, 10% Rb$_1$ treated groups, and increased 10.4% in 10$^{-10}$%, 10$^{-8}$%, 10$^{-6}$%, 10$^{-4}$%, 10$^{-2}$%, 1% Rg$_1$ treated groups. In the CA test, the number of chromosomal aberration was decreased all the Rb$_1$ and Rg$_1$ treated groups. In the Comet assay, the OTM values were decreased in all the Rb$_1$ and Rg$_1$ treated groups. To evaluate the compatibility between CA and Comet assay, we compared the reducing ratio of chromosomal abnormalities with its OTM values, it was identified the antimutagenicity of ginsenoside, but it was more sensitive the CA test than the Comet assay. Ginsenoside Rb$_1$ and Rg$_1$ significantly decrease the number of cells with chromosomal aberration, and decrease the extent of DNA migration. Therefore, ginsenoside Rb$_1$, Rg$_1$ are thought as an antioxidant phytochemicals to protect mutagenicity. The in vitro Comet assay seems to be less sensitive than the in vitro chromosomal aberration test.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.16 no.3
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• pp.277-285
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• 2008

Panax ginseng C.A. Mayer (Araliaceae, P. ginseng) has been used for the enhancement of vascular and immune functions in Korea and Japan for a long time. Ginsenoside $Rb_1$ and $Rg_3$ isolated from P. ginseng head-part butanolic extract (PGHB) were investigated for anti-inflammatory activity. Ginsenosides and PGHB did not affect the cell viability within $0\;-\;100\;{\mu}g/ml$ concentration to RAW 264.7 murine macrophage cells. Ginsenosides and PGHB inhibited partly lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced nitrite production in a dose-dependent manner. The ginsenosides and PGHB showed partially chemical nitric oxide (NO) quenching (maximum 40%) in the cell-free system. Also, ginsenoside $Rb_1$ and $Rg_3$ inhibited markedly approximately 74 and 54% of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) mRNA transcription from LPS-induced RAW 264.7 cells. Taken together, the inhibitory effect of ginsenosides and PGHB on NO production did not occur as a result of cell viability, but was caused by both the chemical NO quenching and the regulation of iNOS. Additionally, the ginsenoside $Rb_1$ and PGHB inhibited prostaglandin $E_2$ ($PGE_2$) synthesis in a concentration-dependent manner, showed approximately 70-98% inhibition at $100\;{\mu}g/ml$ concentration. And the treatment with ginsenosides and PGHB attenuated partially LPS-upregulated cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) gene transcription. Ginsenoside $Rg_3$ suppressed LPS-stimulated interleukin-6 (IL-6) level to the basal in RAW 264.7 cells. From these results, ginsenoside $Rb_1,\;Rg_3$, and PGHB may be useful for the relief and retardation of immunological inflammatory responses and its action may occur through the reduction of inflammatory mediators, including NO, $PGE_2$, and IL-6 production.

• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
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• v.42 no.4
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• pp.347-353
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• 2014

${\beta}$-Glucosidase from Aspergillus usamii KCTC 6954 was used to convert ginsenoside Rb1 to compound K, which has a high bio-functional activity. The enzymatic activities during culturing for 15 days were determined using ${\rho}$-nitrophenyl-${\beta}$-glucopyranoside. The growth rate of the strain and the enzymatic activity were maximized after 6 days (IU; $175.93{\mu}M\;ml^{-1}\;min^{-1}$). The activities were maximized at $60^{\circ}C$ in pH 6.0. During culturing, Rb1 was converted to Rd after 9 d and then finally converted to compound K at 15 d. In the enzymatic reaction, Rb1 was converted to the ginsenoside Rd within 1 h of reaction time and compound K could be detected after 8 h. As a result, this study demonstrates that $Rb1{\rightarrow}Rd{\rightarrow}F2{\rightarrow}$compound K is the main metabolic pathway catalyzed by ${\beta}$-glucosidase and that ${\beta}$-glucosidase is a feasible option for the development of specific bioconversion processes to obtain minor ginsenosides such as Rd and compound K.

• Korean Journal of Biological Psychiatry
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• v.12 no.1
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• pp.42-61
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• 2005

Objectives:The ginsenoside Rg1 and Rb1, the major components of ginseng saponin, have neurotrophic and neuroprotective effects including promotion of neuronal survival and proliferation, facilitation of learning and memory, and protection from ischemic injury and apoptosis. In this study, to investigate the molecular basis of the effects of ginsenoside on neuron, we analyzed gene expression profiling of SH-SY5Y human neuroblastoma cells treated with ginsenoside Rg1 or Rb1. Methods:SH-SY5Y cells were cultured and treated in triplicate with ginsenoside Rg1 or Rb1($80{\mu}M$, $40{\mu}M$, $20{\mu}M$). The proliferation rates of SH-SY5Y cells were determined by MTT assay and microscopic examination. We used a high density cDNA microarray chip that contained 8K human genes to analyze the gene expression profiles in SH-SY5Y cells. We analyzed using the Significance Analysis of Microarray(SAM) method for identifying genes on a microarray with statistically significant changes in expression. Results:Treatment of SH-SY5Y cells with $80{\mu}M$ ginsenoside Rg1 or Rb1 for 36h showed maximal proliferation compared with other concentrations or control. The results of the microarray experiment yielded 96 genes were upregulated(${\geq}$3 fold) in Rg1 treated cells and 40 genes were up-regulated(${\geq}$2 fold) in Rb1 treated cells. Treatment with ginsenoside Rg1 for 36h induced the expression of some genes associated with protein biosynthesis, regulation of transcription or translation, cell proliferation and growth, neurogenesis and differentiation, regulation of cell cycle, energy transport and others. Genes associated with neurogenesis and neuronal differentiation such as SCG10 and MLP increased in ginsenoside Rg1 treated cells, but such changes did not occur in Rb1-group. Conclusion:Our data provide novel insights into the gene mechanisms involved in possible role for ginsenoside Rg1 or Rb1 in mediating neuronal proliferation or cell viability, which can elicit distinct patterns of gene expression in neuronal cell line. Ginsenoside Rg1 have more broad and strong effects than ginsenoside Rb1 in gene expression and related cellular physiology. In addition, we suggest that SCG10 gene, which is known to be expressed in neuronal differentiation during development and neuronal regeneration during adulthood, may have a role in enhancement of activity dependent synaptic plasticity or cytoskeletal regulation following treatment of ginsenoside Rg1. Further, ginsenoside Rg1 may have a possible role in regeneration of injured neuron, promotion of memory, and prevention from aging or neuronal degeneration.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.36 no.2
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• pp.161-168
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• 2012

The abnormal maturation and ossification of articular chondrocytes play a central role in the pathogenesis of osteoarthritis (OA). Inhibiting the enzymatic degradation of the extracellular matrix and maintaining the cellular phenotype are two of the major goals of interest in managing OA. Ginseng is frequently taken orally, as a crude substance, as a traditional medicine in Asian countries. Ginsenoside $Rb_1$, a major component of ginseng that contains an aglycone with a dammarane skeleton, has been reported to exhibit various biological activities, including anti-inflammatory and anti-tumor effects. However, a chondroprotective effect of ginsenoside $Rb_1$ related to OA has not yet been reported. The purpose of this study was to demonstrate the chondroprotective effect of ginsenoside $Rb_1$ on the regulation of pro-inflammatory factors and chondrogenic genes. Cultured rat articular chondrocytes were treated with 100 ${\mu}M$ ginsenoside $Rb_1$ and/or 500 ${\mu}M$ hydrogen peroxide ($H_2O_2$) and assessed for viability, reactive oxygen species production, nitric oxide (NO) release, and chondrogenic gene expression. Ginsenoside $Rb_1$ treatment resulted in reductions in the levels of pro-inflammatory cytokine and NO in $H_2O_2$-treated chondrocytes. The expression levels of chondrogenic genes, such as type II collagen and SOX9, were increased in the presence of ginsenoside $Rb_1$, whereas the expression levels of inflammatory genes related to chondrocytes, such as MMP1 and MMP13, were reduced by approximately 50%. These results suggest that ginsenoside $Rb_1$ has potential for use as a therapeutic agent in OA patients.