• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• 제34권3호
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• pp.227-236
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• 2010

The objective of this study was to evaluate the potential use of ginseng leaf as a cosmetic material. In this research, we employed enzymatic treated ginseng leaf by using Ultraflo L to improve the recovery of ginsenosides from the ginseng leaf and studied the biological activities and skin safety of the enzymatic treated ginseng leaf for use as a cosmetic material. The total ginsenoside contents of the non-enzymatic treated ginseng leaf (NEGL) and Ultraflo L treated ginseng leaf (UTGL) were 271 and 406 mg/g, respectively. The level of metabolite ginsenosides (sum of Rg2, Rg3, Rg5, Rk1, compound K, Rh1, Rh2, and F2) was higher in UTGL (93.1 mg) compared to NEGL (62.4 mg) in one gram ginseng leaf extract. The increase in amounts of ginsenoside types in UTGL compared to NEGL was generally 140% to 157%. UTGL exhibited relatively higher 2,2-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl hydrate ($IC_{50}$, 2.8 mg/mL) and 2,2'-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) diammonium salt ($IC_{50}$, 1.6 mg/mL) radical scavenging activities compared to NEGL (4.8 mg/mL and 2.2 mg/mL). The UTGL group showed normalized hydrogen peroxide, lipid peroxidation and visual wrinkling grade induced-UVB exposure. The UTGL did not induce any adverse reactions such as erythema and edema on intact skin sites; however, some guinea pigs treated with UTGL on abraded skin sites showed very slight erythema. The primary irritation index (PII) score of UTGL was 0.05 and it was classified as a practically non-irritating material (PII, 0 to 0.5). In skin sensitization tests with guinea pigs, UTGL had a positive rate of skin sensitization at 40%, and the mean evaluation score was 0.4.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• 제33권3호
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• pp.165-176
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• 2009

Korean ginseng, which contains ginsenosides and polysaccharides as its main constituents, is orally administered to humans. Ginsenosides and polysaccharides are not easily absorbed by the body through the intestines due to their hydrophilicity. Therefore, these constituents which include ginsenosides Rb1, Rb2, and Rc, inevitably come into contact with intestinal microflora in the alimentary tract and can be metabolized by intestinal microflora. Since most of the metabolites such as compound K and protopanaxatriol are nonpolar compared to the parental components, these metabolites are easily absorbed from the gastrointestinal tract. The absorbed metabolites may express pharmacological actions, such as antitumor, antidiabetic, anti-inflammatory, anti-allergic, and neuroprotective effects. However, the activities that metabolize these constituents to bioactive compounds differ significantly between individuals because all individuals possess characteristic indigenous strains of intestinal bacteria. Recently, ginseng has been fermented with enzymes or microbes to develop ginsengs that contain these metabolites. However, before using these enzymes and probiotics, their safety and biotransforming activity should be assessed. Intestinal microflora play an important role in the pharmacological action of orally administered ginseng.

• Archives of Pharmacal Research
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• 제18권6호
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• pp.454-457
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• 1995

To improve the yield of genuine aglycones from glycosides, the conditions of alkaline hydrolysis were investigated, and a modified method was established. The modified method empolyed pyridine as an aprotic solvent. To complete the hydrolysis and obtain 20(S)-protopanaxadiol (1) and 20(S)-protopanaxatriol(2), which are the genuine aglycones of ginsenosides, total ginsenosides were refluxed with sodium methoxide in pyridine. Addition of methanol, a protic polar solvent to the reaction miuxture, led partial hydrolysis yielding a mixture of the genuine prosapogenols. Of the prosapogenols compound 3 and 6 characteristically possessed D-glucopyranosyl moiety attached at the sterically hindered C-20 hydroxyl group. 3 and 6 were not obtaijned by other hydrolysisw methods except by the soil bacterial hydrolysis.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• 제36권1호
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• pp.1-15
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• 2012

The major commercial ginsengs are Panax ginseng Meyer (Korean ginseng), P. quinquifolium L. (American ginseng), and P. notoginseng (Burk.) FH Chen (Notoginseng). P. ginseng is the most commonly used as an adaptogenic agent and has been shown to enhance physical performance, promote vitality, increase resistance to stress and aging, and have immunomodulatory activity. These ginsengs contain saponins, which can be classified as dammarane-type, ocotillol-type and oleanane-type oligoglycosides, and polysaccharides as main constituents. Dammarane ginsenosides are transformed into compounds such as the ginsenosides $Rg_3$, $Rg_5$, and $Rk_1$ by steaming and heating and are metabolized into metabolites such as compound K, ginsenoside $Rh_1$, proto- and panaxatriol by intestinal microflora. These metabolites are nonpolar, pharmacologically active and easily absorbed from the gastrointestinal tract. However, the activities metabolizing these constituents into bioactive compounds differ significantly among individuals because all individuals possess characteristic indigenous strains of intestinal bacteria. To overcome this difference, ginsengs fermented with enzymes or microbes have been developed.

• 한국자원식물학회:학술대회논문집
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• 한국자원식물학회 2010년도 정기총회 및 춘계학술발표회
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• pp.16-16
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• 2010

Ginseng(Panax ginseng C.A. Meyer) is reported to have many pharmaceutical activities. The minor ginsenosides(Rd, Rg3, Rh2 and compound K) display pharmaceutical properties superior to those of the major ginsenosides. These minor ginsenosides, which contribute a very small percentage, are produced by hydrolysis of the sugar moieties of the major ginsenosides. The pH of red ginseng extracts fermented with S. cerevisiae and S. carlsbergensis decreased rapidly during 3 days of fermentation, with no further significant change thereafter. After 20 days of fermentation, a relatively small difference remained in the acidity of extracts fermented with S. cerevisiae (0.54%) and S. carlsbergensis (0.58%). Reducing sugar in the S. cerevisiae and S. carlsbergensis extracts decreased from 25.86 to 4.54 mg/ml and 4.32 mg/ml glucose equivalents, respectively; and ethanol contents increased from 1.5% at day 0 to 16.0 and 15.0%, respectively, at 20 days. Ginsenosides Rb1, Rb2, Rc, Re, Rf, and Rg1 decreased during the fermentation with S. cerevisiae, but Rd and Rg3 increased by 12 days. Ginsenosides Rb1, Rb2, Rc, Re and Rg1 decreased gradually in the extract with S. carlsbergensis, but Rd and Rg3 were increased at 6 days and 9 days.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• 제44권5호
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• pp.725-737
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• 2020

Background: T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (T-ALL) is a kind of aggressive hematological cancer, and the PI3K/Akt/mTOR signaling pathway is activated in most patients with T-ALL and responsible for poor prognosis. 20(S)-Ginsenoside Rh2 (20(S)-GRh2) is a major active compound extracted from ginseng, which exhibits anti-cancer effects. However, the underlying anticancer mechanisms of 20(S)-GRh2 targeting the PI3K/Akt/mTOR pathway in T-ALL have not been explored. Methods: Cell growth and cell cycle were determined to investigate the effect of 20(S)-GRh2 on ALL cells. PI3K/Akt/mTOR pathway-related proteins were detected in 20(S)-GRh2-treated Jurkat cells by immunoblotting. Antitumor effect of 20(S)-GRh2 against T-ALL was investigated in xenograft mice. The mechanisms of 20(S)-GRh2 against T-ALL were examined by cell proliferation, apoptosis, and autophagy. Results: In the present study, the results showed that 20(S)-GRh2 decreased cell growth and arrested cell cycle at the G1 phase in ALL cells. 20(S)-GRh2 induced apoptosis through enhancing reactive oxygen species generation and upregulating apoptosis-related proteins. 20(S)-GRh2 significantly elevated the levels of pEGFP-LC3 and autophagy-related proteins in Jurkat cells. Furthermore, the PI3K/Akt/mTOR signaling pathway was effectively blocked by 20(S)-GRh2. 20(S)-GRh2 suppressed cell proliferation and promoted apoptosis and autophagy by suppressing the PI3K/Akt/mTOR pathway in Jurkat cells. Finally, 20(S)-GRh2 alleviated symptoms of leukemia and reduced the number of white blood cells and CD3 staining in the spleen of xenograft mice, indicating antitumor effects against T-ALL in vivo. Conclusion: These findings indicate that 20(S)-GRh2 exhibits beneficial effects against T-ALL through the PI3K/Akt/mTOR pathway and could be a natural product of novel target for T-ALL therapy.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• 제47권6호
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• pp.706-713
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• 2023

Background and objective: The ability to inhibit aggregation has been demonstrated with synthetically derived ginsenoside compounds G-Rp (1, 3, and 4) and ginsenosides naturally found in Panax ginseng 20(S)-Rg3, Rg6, F4, and Ro. Among these compounds, Rk3 (G-Rk3) from Panax ginseng needs to be further explored in order to reveal the mechanisms of action during inhibition. Methodology: Our study focused to investigate the action of G-Rk3 on agonist-stimulated human platelet aggregation, inhibition of platelet signaling molecules such as fibrinogen binding with integrin α_IIbβ₃ using flow cytometry, intracellular calcium mobilization, dense granule secretion, and thromboxane B₂ secretion. In addition, we checked the regulation of phosphorylation on PI3K/MAPK pathway, and thrombin-induced clot retraction was also observed in platelets rich plasma. Key Results: G-Rk3 significantly increased amounts of cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) and led to significant phosphorylation of cAMP-dependent kinase substrates vasodilator-stimulated phosphoprotein (VASP) and inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate receptor (IP₃R). In the presence of G-Rk3, dense tubular system Ca²⁺ was inhibited, and platelet activity was lowered by inactivating the integrin αIIb/β₃ and reducing the binding of fibrinogen. Furthermore, the effect of G-Rk3 extended to the inhibition of MAPK and PI3K/Akt phosphorylation resulting in the reduced secretion of intracellular granules and reduced production of TXA₂. Lastly, G-Rk3 inhibited platelet aggregation and thrombus formation via fibrin clot. Conclusions and implications: These results suggest that when dealing with cardiovascular diseases brought upon by faulty aggregation among platelets or through the formation of a thrombus, the G-Rk3 compound can play a role as an effective prophylactic or therapeutic agent.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• 제42권3호
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• pp.264-269
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• 2018

Panax ginseng, also called Asian or Korean ginseng, has long been traditionally used in Korea and China to treat various diseases. The major active ingredients of P. ginseng are ginsenosides, which have been shown to have a variety of therapeutic effects, including antioxidation, anti-inflammatory, vasorelaxation, antiallergic, antidiabetic, and anticancer. To date, approximately 40 ginsenoside components have been reported. Current research is concentrating on using a single ginseng compound, one of the ginsenosides, instead of the total ginseng compounds, to determine the mechanisms of ginseng and ginsenosides. Recent in vitro and in vivo results show that ginseng has beneficial effects on cardiac and vascular diseases through efficacy, including antioxidation, control of vasomotor function, modulation of ion channels and signal transduction, improvement of lipid profiles, adjustment of blood pressure, improvement in cardiac function, and reduction in platelet adhesion. This review aims to provide valuable information on the traditional uses of ginseng and ginsenosides, their therapeutic applications in animal models and humans, and the pharmacological action of ginseng and ginsenosides.

• 한국식품영양학회지
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• 제25권1호
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• pp.83-89
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• 2012

본 연구에서는 유산균 혼합물(Lactobacillus casei와 Bifidobacteriumlogum 1:1)을 이용하여 발효홍삼을 제조하여 강화된 기능성 성분을 확인하였다. 유산균 혼합물에 의한 발효로 인해 발효홍삼의 전자공여능(EDA%)는 6.11~3.22 mg/g의 범위로 감소하여 홍삼($16.32{\pm}0.29$ mg/g)에 비해 항산화활성이 우수한 것으로 나타났다. 홍삼 및 발효홍삼의 ginsenosides의 함량 차이를 분석한 결과, ginsenoside$-Rb_1$, $-Rb_2$, -Rc 등의 사포닌 함량은 홍삼이 발효홍삼에 비해 높게 나타났으나, 발효홍삼에서는 항암활성이 우수한 대사산물인 20(S)$-Rg_3$, 20(R)$-Rg_3$, Compound K 함량이 홍삼에 비해 높게 나타났다. 그리고 노인 건강증진 식품을 제조하고자 발효홍삼 농축액 첨가비율(0%, 5%, 10%, 15%, 20%)을 달리하여 발효홍삼 양갱을 제조하고 그 품질특성을 평가하였다. 발효홍삼 첨가 수준별 색도 측정 결과, L값과 b값은 발효홍삼 농축액 첨가 비율이 증가할수록 유의적으로 감소하였다(p<0.05). 관능 평가결과, 홍삼농축액 10% 첨가 양갱의 맛, 색, 향, 질감 등이 다른 군들에 비해 우수하게 나타났다. 따라서 발효홍삼의 기능성과 기호적인 면을 함께 고려해 볼 때 10% 첨가가 바람직하다고 생각된다. 차후 본 자료를 기초로 하여 발효홍삼을 이용하여 제조한 제품에 대한 기능성을 효과적으로 평가할 수 있는 후속 연구를 기대한다.

• 한국약용작물학회지
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• 제17권6호
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• pp.397-406
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• 2009

The low quality fresh ginseng was extracted by water at $80^{\circ}C$ and 240 bar for 20 min (HPE, High pressure extraction process). The cytotoxicity on human normal kidney cell (HEK293) and human normal lung cell (HEL299) of the extracts from HPE showed 28.43% and 21.78% lower than that from conventional water extraction at $100^{\circ}C$ in adding the maximum concentration of $1.0\;mg/m{\ell}$. The human breast carcinoma cell and lung adenocarcinoma cell growth were inhibited up to about 86%, in adding $1.0\;mg/m{\ell}$ of extracts from HPE. This values were 9-12% higher than those from conventional water extraction. On in vivo experiment using ICR mice, the variation of body weight of mice group treated fresh ginseng extracts from HPE of 100 mg/kg/day concentration was very lower than control and other group. The extracts from HPE was showed longer survival times as 35.65% than that of the control group, and showed the highest tumor inhibition activities compared with other group, which were 70.64% on Sarcoma-180 solid tumor cells. On the high performance liquid chromatogram (HPLC), amount of ginsenoside-$Rg_2$, $Rg_3$, $Rh_1$ and $Rh_2$ on fresh ginseng were increased up to 43-183% by HPE, compared with conventional water extracts. These data indicate that HPE definitely plays an important role in effectively extracting ginsenoside, which could result in improving anticancer activities. It can be concluded that low quality fresh ginseng associated with this process has more biologically compound and better anticancer activities than that from normal extraction process.