• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.37 no.4
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• pp.475-482
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• 2013

The main active components of Panax ginseng are ginsenosides. Ginsenoside Rb1 and Rg1 are accepted as marker substances for quality control worldwide. The analytical methods currently used to detect these two compounds unfairly penalize steamed and dried (red) P. ginseng preparations, because it has a lower content of those ginsenosides than white ginseng. To manufacture red ginseng products from fresh ginseng, the ginseng roots are exposed to high temperatures for many hours. This heating process converts the naturally occurring ginsenoside Rb1 and Rg1 into artifact ginsenosides such as ginsenoside Rg3, Rg5, Rh1, and Rh2, among others. This study highlights the absurdity of the current analytical practice by investigating the time-dependent changes in the crude saponin and the major natural and artifact ginsenosides contents during simmering. The results lead us to recommend (20S)- and (20R)-ginsenoside Rg3 as new reference materials to complement the current P. ginseng preparation reference materials ginsenoside Rb1 and Rg1. An attempt has also been made to establish validated qualitative and quantitative analytical procedures for these four compounds that meet International Conference of Harmonization (ICH) guidelines for specificity, linearity, range, accuracy, precision, detection limit, quantitation limit, robustness and system suitability. Based on these results, we suggest a validated analytical procedure which conforms to ICH guidelines and equally values the contents of ginsenosides in white and red ginseng preparations.

• Korean Journal of Medicinal Crop Science
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• v.15 no.3
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• pp.215-219
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• 2007

This study was conducted to analyze not only for the quality guaranteed of red ginseng but also for the minor ginsenosides. Although several studies have reported to analyze ginseng saponins, those were focused to major saponins, including 6 to 7 ginsenosides. As increase of interest in medicinal effect of ginseng products, anasis of various ginsenosides in both red and white ginseng are strongly demanded. To perform optital condition of 12 ginsenoside analysis, We controlled HPLC conditions, such as the gradient elution of the mobile phase. We found the adequate separation method for 12 ginse-nosides. The optimum condition was as following : H$_2$O/CH$_3$CN ratios were 82/18, 70/30, 55/45 and 50/50, respectively. Sol-vent flow rate was 1.00 ma/min. Column temperature was kept to 35$^{\circ}$C. UV detector was set to 203 nm.

• Korean Journal of Pharmacognosy
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• v.42 no.4
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• pp.361-365
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• 2011

The objective of this study is to provide basic information for developing a high-value ginseng product using ginseng saponin and prosapogenin. In order to achieve the proposed objective ginsenoside compositions of Black (BG) and Red (RG) ginseng extract with 95% ethyl alcohol were examined by means of HPLC. The crude saponin and ginsenoside composition of processed ginseng products were analyzed and compared, with BG topping the list with a crude saponin content of 7.53%, followed by RG (5.29%). Ginseng prosapogenin (ginsenosides $Rg_2$, $Rg_3$, $Rg_5$, $Rg_6$, $Rh_1$, $Rh_4$, $Rk_1$, $Rk_3$, $F_1$ and $F_4$) in BG was found to be contained almost 2.6 times as much as that in RG. Ginsenosides $Rg_3$, $Rg_5$, $Rk_1$, $Rh_4$ and $F_4$ in BG in particular were found to be almost 3 times as much as those in RG. $Rg_6$ and $Rk_3$ in BG were also found to be almost 4 times as much as those in RG.

• Preventive Nutrition and Food Science
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• v.18 no.4
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• pp.234-241
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• 2013

The aim of this study was to develop rice wine (Yakju) containing various amounts and particle sizes of ginseng powder and to analyze the physicochemical characteristics and content of ginsenosides in ginseng-Yakju. Soluble solid content, pH, ethanol concentration, acidity, amino acid content, and evaluation of preference showed no difference between four kinds of Yakju groups, regardless of ginseng supplementation and particle size of the ginseng powder. During fermentation of Yakju containing ginseng, the contents of ginsenosides Rb1, Rb2, Rb3, and Rc were decreased. Otherwise, the content of ginsenoside Rh1 was increased highly by brewing microorganisms in Yakju. Recovery ratios of ginsenosides in ginseng-Yakju were approximately 25.4% (coarse ginseng power) and 23.8% (fine ginseng powder), which were superior to the recovery ratio of ginsenosides in Yakju containing ginseng slices (5%).

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.37 no.4
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• pp.457-467
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• 2013

A quick and simple method for simultaneous determination of the 30 ginsenosides (ginsenoside Ro, Rb1, Rb2, Rc, Rd, Re, Rf, Rg1, 20(S)-Rg2, 20(R)-Rg2, 20(S)-Rg3, 20(R)-Rg3, 20(S)-Rh1, 20(S)-Rh2, 20(R)-Rh2, F1, F2, F4, Ra1, Rg6, Rh4, Rk3, Rg5, Rk1, Rb3, Rk2, Rh3, compound Y, compound K, and notoginsenoside R1) in Panax ginseng preparations was developed and validated by an ultra performance liquid chromatography photo diode array detector. The separation of the 30 ginsenosides was efficiently undertaken on the Acquity BEH C-18 column with gradient elution with phosphoric acids. Especially the chromatogram of the ginsenoside Ro was dramatically enhanced by adding phosphoric acid. Under optimized conditions, the detection limits were 0.4 to 1.7 mg/L and the calibration curves of the peak areas for the 30 ginsenosides were linear over three orders of magnitude with a correlation coefficients greater than 0.999. The accuracy of the method was tested by a recovery measurement of the spiked samples which yielded good results of 89% to 118%. From these overall results, the proposed method may be helpful in the development and quality of P. ginseng preparations because of its wide range of applications due to the simultaneous analysis of many kinds of ginsenosides.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.22 no.1
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• pp.22-31
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• 1998

Antiulcer effects of ginseng saponin, acidic polysaccharide and methanol extract of Panax ginseng in the patients and experimental animals were reported. Postulated action mechanisms of ginseng were histamine-Ht receptor blocking and increasing gastric blood flow In the present study, the effect of ginsenosides, the biologically active glycosides of ginseng, on gastric acid secretion was examined using gastric cells isolated from human and rabbit gastric mucosa. Ginseng saponin, ginsenoside $Rb_1$, $Rb_2$, $Rg_1$ and $Rh_2$ were tested in unstimulated as well as stimulated gastric cells. Histamine ($10^4$M) and 3-isobutyl-1-methylxanthine ($10^4$M) were used as secretagogues. To investigate the mechanism of ginsenosides on acid secretion, the levels of cAMP and cGMP were monitored in gastric cells. As a result, high concerltration(1mg/ml) of ginseng saponin showed 73-75% of stimulated acid secretion in control gastric cells. However, ginseng saponin had no effect on unstimulated acid secretion and the levels of cGMP and cAMP in gastric cells. Ginsenoside $Rb_1$, $Rb_2$ and $Rh_2$ significantly inhibited stimulated acid secretion. Gastric cGMP levels were increased by all ginsenosides tested while cAMP levels were increased by all ginsenosides in unstimulated state of gastric cells, but increased by ginsenosides ginsenoside $Rg_1$ and $Rh_2$in stimulated state of gastric cells. The results suggest that inhibition of ginseng saponin on gastric acid secretion represents a complex effect of individual ginsenosides, which produce a range of effect on acid secretion. The inhibition site of ginseng saponin on stimulated acid secretion is postulated as post cAMP levels in acid secretary pathway such as protein phosphorylation or proton pump. Nitric oxide may not be involved in the inhibitory effect of ginseng saponin on stimulated acid secretion.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.39 no.4
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• pp.322-330
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• 2015

Background: UV-irradiated keratinocytes secrete various proinflammatory cytokines. UV-induced skin damage is mediated by growth factors and proinflammatory cytokines such as granulocyte macrophage colony stimulating factor (GM-CSF). In a previous study, we found that the saponin of Korean Red Ginseng (SKRG) decreased the expression of GM-CSF in UVB-irradiated SP-1 keratinocytes. In this study, we attempted to find the inhibitory mechanism of SKRG on UVB-induced GM-CSF expression in SP-1 keratinocytes. Methods: We investigated the inhibitory mechanism of SKRG and ginsenosides from Panax ginseng on UVB-induced GM-CSF expression in SP-1 keratinocytes. Results: Treatment with SKRG decreased the expression of GM-CSF mRNA and protein induced by irradiation of UVB in SP-1 keratinocytes. The phosphorylation of ERK was induced by UVB at 10 min, and decreased with SKRG treatment in SP-1 keratinocytes. In addition, treatment with SKRG inhibited the UVB-induced phosphorylation of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), which is known to be an upstream signal of ERK. From these results, we found that the inhibition of GM-CSF expression by SKRG was derived from the decreased phosphorylation of EGFR. To identify the specific compound composing SKRG, we tested fifteen kinds of ginsenosides. Among these compounds, ginsenoside-Rh3 decreased the expression of GM-CSF protein and mRNA in SP-1 keratinocytes. Conclusion: Taken together, we found that treatment with SKRG decreased the phosphorylation of EGFR and ERK in UVB-irradiated SP-1 keratinocytes and subsequently inhibited the expression of GM-CSF. Furthermore, we identified ginsenoside-Rh3 as the active saponin in Korean Red Ginseng.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.19 no.2
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• pp.211-217
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• 2011

Panax ginseng CA Meyer, a herb from the Araliaceae, has traditionally been used as a medicinal plant in Asian countries. Ginseng extract fermented by ginsenoside-${\beta}$-glucosidase treatment is enriched in ginsenosides such as Rh2 and Rg3. Here we show that a fermented ginseng extract, BST204, has anti-proliferative and anti-invasive effects on HT-29 human colon cancer cells. Treatment of HT-29 cells with BST204 induced cell cycle arrest at $G_1$ phase without progression to apoptosis. This cell cycle arrest was accompanied by up-regulation of tumor suppressor proteins, p53 and p21$^{WAF1/Cip1}$, down-regulation of the cyclin-dependent kinase/cyclins, Cdk2, cyclin E, and cyclin D1 involved in $G_1$ or $G_1/S$ transition, and decrease in the phosphorylated form of retinoblastoma protein. In addition, BST204 suppressed the migration of HT-29 cells induced by 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate, which correlated with the inhibition of metalloproteinase-9 activity and extracellular signal-regulated kinase activity. The effects of BST204 on the proliferation and the invasiveness of HT-29 cells were similar to those of Rh2. Taken together, the results suggest that fermentation of ginseng extract with ginsenoside-${\beta}$-glucosidase enhanced the anti-proliferative and the anti-invasive activity against human colon cancer cells and these anti-tumor effects of BST204 might be mediated in part by enriched Rh2.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.33 no.3
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• pp.194-198
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• 2009

The changes that would occur in a content of five phenolic ingredients and eight ginsenosides in acid-treatedred ginseng extracts were measured in this study. Acid-treated-red ginseng was prepared by treating with 1 M ascorbic acid or citric acid for 20 min. As a result, the contents of esculetin and quercetin in citric acid-treated-red ginseng increased by 3.5 times and 2.0 times, respectively, compared with control red ginseng. However, all phenolic ingredients decreased after treatment with ascorbic acid. In addition, the contents of ginsenoside Rg$_3$, Rh$_2$, Rd increased but those of Rb$_1$, Rc, Re, Rf, Rg$_1$ decreased after acid treatment. Although these tendency of results are similar, the rate of change of ginsenosides in citric acid-treated-red ginseng was higher than in ascorbic acid-treated-red ginseng. These results indicated that citric acid is more effective in the conversion of ginseng ingredients than ascorbic acid.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.44 no.4
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• pp.563-569
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• 2020

Background: White ginseng consists of the roots and rhizomes of the Panax species, and red ginseng is made by steaming and drying white ginseng. While red ginseng has both polar and nonpolar ginsenosides, previous studies showed white ginseng to have only polar ginsenosides. Because nonpolar ginsenosides are formed through the manufacture of red ginseng from white ginseng, researchers have generally thought that nonpolar ginsenosides do not exist in white ginseng. Methods: We developed a simultaneous quantitative method for six nonpolar ginsenosides in white ginseng using reverse-phase high-performance liquid chromatography coupled with integrated pulsed amperometric detection. The nonpolar ginsenosides of white ginseng were extracted for 4 h under reflux with 50% methanol. Results: Using the gradient elution system, all target components were completely separated within 50 min. Nonpolar ginsenosides were determined in the rhizome head (RH), main root (MR), lateral root, and hairy root (HR) of 6-year-old white ginseng samples obtained from several regions (Geumsan, Punggi, and Kanghwa). The total content in the HR of white ginseng was 37.8-56.8% of that in the HR of red ginseng. The total content in the MR of white ginseng was 5.9-24.3% of that in the MR of red ginseng. In addition, the total content in the RH of white ginseng was 28.5-35.8% of that in the HR of red ginseng Conclusion: It was confirmed that nonpolar ginsenosides known to be specific components of red ginseng were present at substantial concentrations in the HR or RH of white ginseng.