• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.29 no.6
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• pp.1327-1329
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• 1997

A new rapid saponin extraction method was developed with using of organic solvent and waring blonder. There was a good correlation between previous distillation method and this method in f major ginsenosides ($Rb_1$, $Rb_2$, Rc, Rd, Re, Rg1) contents. When the ratio of methanol and chloroform was 7:3, this method showed similar saponin contents (total major. ginsenosides contents) comparing with distillation method. Contents of total major ginsenosides were 2.41% in this method and 2.54% in distillation method. However, crude saponin content of this method was higher than that of distillation method.

• Journal of the Korea Convergence Society
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• v.8 no.12
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• pp.1-7
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• 2017

This study was conducted to investigate changes in ginsenoside by continuously treating fine bubble, which are mainly used for environmental purification, in 2-year-old ginseng. The ginsenoside content and composition of ginseng leaves and roots were analyzed for 4 months (120 days) after application of Fine bubble. As a result of treatment with common water in leaves, only Re of protopanaxatriol was significantly higher and As a result of treatment with fine buble, it was confirmed that protopanaxadiol Rb1, RC, Rb2 and Rd components were also increased. Especially, the increase of Re and Rb1 resulted in an increase of total ginsenoside. The ratio of PD / PT to ginseng was 0.811 in finebubble treated leaves and 1.28 in root. The fine bubble treatment induced the synthesis of ginsenoside from the roots and resulted in a PD / PT ratio of close to 1. Therefore, this study suggests a method of cultivating high quality ginseng using fine bubble water and suggests possibility of using it as a functional food material which can be used with leaves as well as roots.

• Applied Biological Chemistry
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• v.29 no.1
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• pp.78-82
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• 1986

Panax ginseng seedlings were grown in vermiculite with nutrient solution different in nitrogen, phosphorus ana potassium level. Ginsenoside contents of root were investigated by high performance liquid chromatogram. Elimination or increase of one of N.P.K. increased or decreased total saponin content. Nitrogen was most effective (15.5% for-N to 8.9% for 3N) and potassium least. Similar trend was shown in each ginsenoside. According to coefficient of variation in one nutrient treatment or among all nutrient treatments ginsenoside Re was most insensitive to nutrient change and also other environmental factors and Rd most sensitive. Diol content (PD) was more variable than triol (PT) and variation of PT/PD was about half of them. Variation of ginsenoside content by nutrient change had no relation with the ginsenoside content. Similarity of ginsenoside pattern slightly decreased with the difference of saponin content by nutrient change. Root weight was significantly small only in tap water plot.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.41 no.1
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• pp.36-42
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• 2017

Background: Some differences have been reported in the biotransformation of ginsenosides, probably due to the types of materials used such as ginseng, enzymes, and microorganisms. Moreover, most microorganisms used for transforming ginsenosides do not meet food-grade standards. We investigated the statistical conversion rate of major ginsenosides in ginsenosides model culture during fermentation by lactic acid bacteria (LAB) to estimate possible pathways. Methods: Ginsenosides standard mix was used as a model culture to facilitate clear identification of the metabolic changes. Changes in eight ginsenosides (Rb1, Rb2, Rc, Rd, Re, Rf, Rg1, and Rg2) during fermentation with six strains of LAB were investigated. Results: In most cases, the residual ginsenoside level decreased by 5.9-36.8% compared with the initial ginsenoside level. Ginsenosides Rb1, Rb2, Rc, and Re continuously decreased during fermentation. By contrast, Rd was maintained or slightly increased after 1 d of fermentation. Rg1 and Rg2 reached their lowest values after 1-2 d of fermentation, and then began to increase gradually. The conversion of Rd, Rg1, and Rg2 into smaller deglycosylated forms was more rapid than that of Rd from Rb1, Rb2, and Rc, as well as that of Rg1 and Rg2 from Re during the first 2 d of fermentation with LAB. Conclusion: Ginsenosides Rb1, Rb2, Rc, and Re continuously decreased, whereas ginsenosides Rd, Rg1, and Rg2 increased after 1-2 d of fermentation. This study may provide new insights into the metabolism of ginsenosides and can clarify the metabolic changes in ginsenosides biotransformed by LAB.

• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.126-130
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• 1989

In 14 kinds of ginsenosides in ginseng saponin, ginsenoside Rbr is contained the most abundantly. But ginsenoside Rd which is similar to ginsenoside R $b_1$in structure, was known to be superior to ginsenoside R $b_1$pharmaceutically. The convertible enzyme which can transform ginsenoside R $b_1$to Binsenoside Rd specifically among ginseng saponin, was purified homogeneously from Rhizopus japonicus. The optimal pH for the action of the enzyme was pH 4.8 to 5.0, and optimal temperature was 45$^{\circ}C$. The enzyme was stable in the range of pH 4.0 to 9.0, and the half activity of enzyme was remained by the thermal treatment at 6$0^{\circ}C$ for 2 hours. The enzyme activity was enhanced by addition of M $n^{++}$ or Fe, though inhibited by EDTA or o-phenanthroline. On the substrate specificity, the enzyme was. able to hydrolyze gentiobiose, cellobiose, amygdalin and prunasin, but not to hydrolyze any other kinds of Binsenosides besides Binsenoside R $b_1$. Km values of the enzyme for ginsenoside R $b_1$, gentiobiose and amygdalin were 5.0mM, 4.8mM and 3.7mM, respectively.3.7mM, respectively.y.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.40 no.2
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• pp.105-112
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• 2016

Background: Minor saponins or human intestinal bacterial metabolites, such as ginsenosides Rg3, F2, Rh2, and compound K, are more pharmacologically active than major saponins, such as ginsenosides Rb1, Rb2, and Rc. In this work, enzymatic hydrolysis of ginsenoside Rb1 was studied using enzyme preparations from cultured mycelia of mushrooms. Methods: Mycelia of Armillaria mellea, Ganoderma lucidum, Phellinus linteus, Elfvingia applanata, and Pleurotus ostreatus were cultivated in liquid media at $25^{\circ}C$ for 2 wk. Enzyme preparations from cultured mycelia of five mushrooms were obtained by mycelia separation from cultured broth, enzyme extraction, ammonium sulfate (30-80%) precipitation, dialysis, and freeze drying, respectively. The enzyme preparations were used for enzymatic hydrolysis of ginsenoside Rb1. Results: Among the mushrooms used in this study, the enzyme preparation from cultured mycelia of A. mellea (AMMEP) was found to convert ginsenoside Rb1 into compound K with a high yield, while those from G. lucidum, P. linteus, E. applanata, and P. ostreatus produced remarkable amounts of ginsenoside Rd from ginsenoside Rb1. The enzymatic hydrolysis pathway of ginsenoside Rb1 by AMMEP was $Rb1{\rightarrow}Rd{\rightarrow}F2{\rightarrow}$ compound K. The optimum reaction conditions for compound K formation from ginsenoside Rb1 were as follows: reaction time 72-96 h, pH 4.0-4.5, and temperature $45-55^{\circ}C$. Conclusion: AMMEP can be used to produce the human intestinal bacterial metabolite, compound K, from ginsenoside Rb1 with a high yield and without food safety issues.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.39 no.3
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• pp.221-229
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• 2015

Background: Minor ginsenosides, those having low content in ginseng, have higher pharmacological activities. To obtain minor ginsenosides, the biotransformation of American ginseng protopanaxadiol (PPD)-ginsenoside was studied using special ginsenosidase type-I from Aspergillus niger g.848. Methods: DEAE (diethylaminoethyl)-cellulose and polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis were used in enzyme purification, thin-layer chromatography and high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) were used in enzyme hydrolysis and kinetics; crude enzyme was used in minor ginsenoside preparation from PPD-ginsenoside; the products were separated with silica-gel-column, and recognized by HPLC and NMR (Nuclear Magnetic Resonance). Results: The enzyme molecular weight was 75 kDa; the enzyme firstly hydrolyzed the C-20 position 20-O-${\beta}$-D-Glc of ginsenoside Rb1, then the C-3 position 3-O-${\beta}$-D-Glc with the pathway $Rb1{\rightarrow}Rd{\rightarrow}F2{\rightarrow}C-K$. However, the enzyme firstly hydrolyzed C-3 position 3-O-${\beta}$-D-Glc of ginsenoside Rb2 and Rc, finally hydrolyzed 20-O-L-Ara with the pathway $Rb2{\rightarrow}C-O{\rightarrow}C-Y{\rightarrow}C-K$, and $Rc{\rightarrow}C-Mc1{\rightarrow}C-Mc{\rightarrow}C-K$. According to enzyme kinetics, $K_m$ and $V_{max}$ of Michaelis-Menten equation, the enzyme reaction velocities on ginsenosides were Rb1 > Rb2 > Rc > Rd. However, the pure enzyme yield was only 3.1%, so crude enzyme was used for minor ginsenoside preparation. When the crude enzyme was reacted in 3% American ginseng PPD-ginsenoside (containing Rb1, Rb2, Rc, and Rd) at $45^{\circ}C$ and pH 5.0 for 18 h, the main products were minor ginsenosides C-Mc, C-Y, F2, and C-K; average molar yields were 43.7% for C-Mc from Rc, 42.4% for C-Y from Rb2, and 69.5% for F2 and C-K from Rb1 and Rd. Conclusion: Four monomer minor ginsenosides were successfully produced (at low-cost) from the PPD-ginsenosides using crude enzyme.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.22 no.6
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• pp.1557-1561
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• 2008

Red ginseng possibly has new ingredients converted during steaming and dry process from fresh ginseng. Kujeungkupo method which means 9 repetitive steamings and dryings process was used for the production of red ginseng from 6-year old ginseng roots. Saponin was extracted from each red ginseng produced at the 1st, 3rd, 5th, 7th, and 9th during the steaming and drying treatment, and we analyzed saponin content with TLC. Minor saponins, such as ginsenoside-Rg3, -Rh2, compound K, and F2, increased as the process time of steaming and drying, but major saponins (ginsenoside-Rb1, -Rb2, -Rc, -Rd, -Re, -Rf, -Rg1) were decreased. Major saponins were yet observed almost at the 1st process, then degraded as the increasing time of steaming and drying process. Especially, ginsenoside-Re and -Rg were observed as considerable amount after the 1st treatment, but there were no trace of them after the 9th treatment. Ginsenoside-Rg1, -Rb2, and -Rb1 were also reduced remarkedly by 96.6%, 96%, and 92.3%, respectively. Minor saponins were increased significantly, especially for ginsenoside-Rg3 and ginsenoside-F2. These results suggest that Kujeungkupo method is the very useful method for the production of minor ginsenoside-Rg3 and -Rh2.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Culture
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• v.16 no.5
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• pp.478-482
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• 2001

This study was conducted to investigate the difference of general feature and ginsenoside content of 6 years old ginseng root among different grade of roots. Total weight of a 1st grade-6 years old ginseng root was 115.1g and weight, length, diameter and specific gravity of main root were 64.68g, 8.39cm, 3.31cm and 0.96, respectively. Main root of 1st grade ginseng root was larger in size and specific gravity and more heavy than that of End or 3rd grade of the roots. Though crude saponin contents were not so different among the different grade of roots, but ginsenoside Rb1, Rg1 and Re content were higher in 1st grade of root than that of 2nd or 3rd grade of root. Those ginsenosides were located mainly in periderm and cortex.

• Korean Journal of Medicinal Crop Science
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• v.13 no.5
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• pp.254-261
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• 2005

To evaluate the effects of cultivar, environment, age and cultivation times on ginsenoside content among 8 wild populations of American ginseng (Panax quinquefolium), the concentrations of 6 ginsenosides in root were determined at the time of collection (T0) of plants from the wild and 1 year after (T1) transplanting the roots to each of two different forest garden locations. Both location and population had significant effects on root and shoot growth. Overall, ginsenoside Rb1 was most abundant. The second most abundant ginsenoside were Re and Rg1, however the contents of them were not significantly different from each other. Concentrations of Rg1 and Re were inversely related. Ginsenoside Re was influenced by population and location. Ginsenoside Rg1, Rb1, Rc, Rb2 and Rd were influenced by population, location and age. Ginsenoside levels were consistently lower but growth was consistently higher at the more intensively managed garden location.