• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.43 no.4
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• pp.413-418
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• 2011

This survey was conducted to monitor the safety of red ginseng products in Gwangju, in 2010. Among 100 samples, 37 were beverages, 5 were functional health foods on the market, and 58 were beverages from a tailor-made shop. All samples were negative for coliform bacteria. Aerobic plate counts were detected from 13 samples in the 58 tailor-made products but not detected in the other types of products. Benzoic acid was detected in 5 samples (range, 19.2-543.0 mg/kg). Among heavy metals, lead was detected, ranging from 28.8-62.3 ${\mu}g/kg$, cadmium, from 1.15-4.18 ${\mu}g/kg$, and mercury from 0.10-0.18 ${\mu}g/kg$. Benzopyrene was not detected in any samples. Ginsenoside Rg1 and Rb1 were detected in 0.1-23.4 mg/90 mL of beverages and 12.1-66.8 mg/90 mL of functional health foods. These results indicate that red ginseng products are safe in terms of microbial contaminants and hazardous chemical compounds such as heavy metals and benzopyrene.

• Proceedings of the Ginseng society Conference
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• 2004.12a
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• pp.56-56
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• 2004

• Proceedings of the Ginseng society Conference
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• 2004.12a
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• pp.55-55
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• 2004

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.20 no.1
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• pp.54-59
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• 1996

Red Ginseng extracts sol'n was sterilized at 85f for 20 mins and/or stored at 4$0^{\circ}C$ for 6 months and centrifuged for 20 mins at 8,500xg in order to investigate the changes in chemical components of supernatants and the properties of precipitates. Contents of crude saponin and ginsenoside-$Rb_1$, -$Rg_1$, -Re were partially decreased during heating and storage. Starch contents were decreased from 26.81% in red ginseng extracts to 17.50-8.81% in supernatants, whereas free sugar contents were increased from 15.50% to 20.29~21.35% by heating and storage. The contents of protein and minerals in supernatants were decreased, but acidic polysaccharides and polyphenol compounds were not changed. pH values of supernatants and precipitates were decreased. The absorbances of brown color precursor and brown pigment in precipitates, detected at 285 nm and 440 nm were remarkably increased. The Overa11 data suggest that precipitates in red ginseng extracts sol'n formed during steilization and storage are provably the brown pigments resulting from Maillard reaction of amino compounds with reducing sugar which could be released from starch and protein matrix and $Cu^+$, $Ca^{2+}$ and $Fe^{3+}$ ions are implicated with the reaction incorporated.

• Korean Journal of Pharmacognosy
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• v.16 no.3
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• pp.171-174
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• 1985

Panax ginseng root has been widely used as an important drug for thousands years in China, Korea and Japan. The main effective components of ginseng have been believed to be saponins. However, ginseng cultivation is very difficult and needs many years for growth. It has already been shown that Panax ginseng callus produces a considerable amount of the same kinds of saponins as in intact plants. Various culture conditions were examined for increased production of ginseng saponins by cell culture. The saponin contents and the growth rates in two cell lines of ginseng callus were compared in static and suspension cultures, rotary and reciprocal shaking cultures. It was shown that the growth rate in rotary shaking cultures of D5-B2K-B2K callus was the highest and ginseng saponin production was most effective in reciprocal cultures of D5-B2K-B2K callus. The saponin content per fresh weight of the culture was 1.03 times higher than that of the fresh ginseng root.

• The Korean Journal of Food And Nutrition
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.196-202
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• 2010

The principal objective of this study was to evaluate the quality characteristics of black ginseng jelly prepared with different 5 levels(0, 0.5, 1.0, 1.5, and 2.0%) of black ginseng extract. We assessed the ginsenosides level of white and black ginseng for comparison between white and black ginseng. And we conducted the pH, sugar content, Hunter's color values, the mechanical characteristics and sensory evaluation of black ginseng jelly samples. The levels of ginsenoside $Rg_3,\;Rh_1$, and $Rh_2$ of black ginseng were higher than those of white ginseng. The more black ginseng extract was increased, the sugar contents of black ginseng jelly were significantly increased(p<0.05). We noted that the luminance and Hunter's b values of jelly samples were decreased according to black ginseng extract was increased, but in Hunter's a values 0.5% black ginseng jelly was the highest of the all. With regard to the mechanical properties of the black ginseng jelly samples, the score of hardness, gumminess and chewiness were significantly increased. In color, taste and overall quality, the score of jelly with 1.0% black ginseng extract was significantly increased than those of the all.

• Proceedings of the Ginseng society Conference
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• 2002.10a
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• pp.545-555
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• 2002

Ginsenosides of 20(S)-protopanaxadiol and 20(S)-protopanaxatriol classification including the aglycones, PD, PI and ginsenosides Rh2, Rhl were shown to posses characteristic effects on proliferation of THP-l human leukaemia cells. A similar result was not apparent for ginsenoside Rg3 or dexamathasone. The concentration to inhibit $50\%$ of cells $(LC_{50})$ for PD, Rh2, PI and Rhl were 13 ${\mu}g/mL,\;15{\mu}g/mL,\;19{\mu}g/mL\;and\;210\;{\mu}g/mL$ respectively. Cell cycle analysis showed apoptosis with PD and PI treatment of THP-1 cells resulting in a build up of sub-G1 cells after 24, 48 and 72 hours of treatment. Rh2, and dexamathasone treatments also increased apoptotic cells after 24 hours, where as Rhl did not. After 48 and 72 hours Rh2, Rhl and dexamathasone similarly increased apoptosis, but these effects were significantly (P<0.05) lower than observed for both PD and PI treatments. Furthermore, treatments that produced the largest build up of apoptotic cells were also found to have the largest release of lactate dehydrogenase (LDH). It can be concluded from these studies that the presence of sugars to PD and PI aglycone structure reduces the potency to induce apoptosis, and alternately alter membrane integrity. These cytotoxic effects to THP-l cells were different from dexamethasone.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.47 no.6
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• pp.694-705
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• 2023

Panax ginseng Meyer is a traditional Chinese medicine that is widely used as tonic in Asia. The main pharmacologically active components of ginseng are the dammarane-type ginsenosides, which have been shown to have anti-cancer, anti-inflammatory, immunoregulatory, neuroprotective, and metabolic regulatory activities. Moreover, some of ginsenosides (eg, Rh2 and Rg3) have been developed into nutraceuticals. However, the utilization of ginsenosides in clinic is restrictive due to poor permeability in cells and low bioavailability in human body. Obviously, the dammarane skeleton and glycosyls of ginsenosides are responsible for these limitations. Therefore, improving the oral bioavailability of ginsenosides has become a pressing issue. Here, based on the structures of ginsenosides, we summarized the understanding of the factors affecting the oral bioavailability of ginsenosides, introduced the methods to enhance the oral bioavailability and proposed the future perspectives on improving the oral bioavailability of ginsenosides.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.23 no.1 s.53
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• pp.13-20
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• 1999

We previously reported that Korean red ginseng (KRG) has a relaxation effect on the smooth muscles of corpus cavernosum via nitric oxide (NO) pathway and calcium and potassium channels. However, it is suggested that the active ingredients of KRG might be different depending on the sources of preparation, and there might be differences in actions for different compositions. We first investigated the composition of KRG saponins according to the extractions of the various sources of KRG, then with these extractions the relaxation effects were evaluated in vitro and hemodynamical in vivo using New Zealand white rabbit and rat corpus cavernosum. The total compositions of ginsenoside $(G-Rb_1,\;-Rb_2,\;-Rc,\;-Rd,\;G-Re,\;-Rf,\;-Rg_1)$ in fractionated KRG saponin designated as TS-1, TS-2, TS-3 were $41\%,\;40\%,\;and\;62\%,$ respectively, and the ratios of PD saponin and PT saponin (PD/PT) were 1,55, 1.72, 2.25, and 2.61, the values of which were statistically significant. In vitro studies using the rabbit corpus cavernosal muscle strips, the KRG saponin relaxed cavernosal strips in a dose-dependent manner, and same results were observed in in vivo studies, that KRG saponin increased the intracavernosal pressure in the rat. There was difference in the efficacy according to fractionation techniques. The differences in the total contents of ginsenosides did not affect relaxation, rather PT saponin content was statistically related to the degree of cavernosal relaxation, and this action presumed to be mediated by NO pathway and calcium and potassium channels. In conclusion, KRG exerts relaxation which is a key step in erection via combination of effects on NO system or calcium and potassium channels. The efficacy of this action is different to the sources of ginseng, which is affected by the different composition of ginsenosides $(G-Rb_1,\;-Rb_2,\;-Rc,\;-Rd,\;G-Re,\;-Rf,\;-Rg_1).$ Thus the further studies on the active ingredients such as minor ginsenosides and non-saponin components of red ginseng with maximum potency should be sought.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.32 no.2
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• pp.120-126
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• 2008

This study was carried out to investigate the some physicochemical properties of Korean red ginseng (Panax ginseng C.A. Meyer) water extract (RGWE) after heated with high temperatures above $100^{\circ}C$ for 2 hours. RGWEs were heated at 100, 110 and $120^{\circ}C$ for 2 hours by using autoclave. After RGWEs were heated at high temperature for 2 hours without not adjustment of pH, the changes of saponin, free sugars, mineral and color in the RGWEs were investigated. Total ginsenoside content in control was 1.99%, while those of RGWE were 1.65, 1.49 and 1.29% when treated at 100, 110 and $120^{\circ}C$, respectively. The contents of total ginsenoside showed decreased tendency as heating temperatures were increased. The ginsenoside-$Rh_{2}$ and $-Rg_{3}$, which have been reported as very stable red ginseng ginsenosides, showed relatively strong spots on TLC when RGWEs were heated at 110 and $120^{\circ}C$. In case of free sugars in RGWEs, fructose, glucose and maltose showed high contents when compared with control, while Fe, Ca and Mg ions showed very low contents. Value of L in RGWE treated with high temperature was almost the same with control, while values of a and b were increased. Values of a were increased from -0.86 of control to +0.04, +0.05 and +1.14 when treated with 100, 110 and $120^{\circ}C$, respectively. Values of b also were increased from 27.68 of control to 33.61, 33.61 and 37.42 when treated with 100, 110 and $120^{\circ}C$, respectively. Values of total color in RGWEs treated with high temperatures, E, were finally increased by values of a and b.