• Journal of Ginseng Research
• /
• v.46 no.3
• /
• pp.496-504
• /
• 2022

Background: Cigarette smoke (CS) is considered a principal cause of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and is associated with mucus hypersecretion and airway inflammation. Ginsenoside compound K (CK), a product of ginsenoside metabolism, has various biological activities. Studies on the effects of CK for the treatment of COPD and mucus hypersecretion, including the underlying signaling mechanism, have not yet been conducted. Methods: To study the protective effects and molecular mechanism of CK, phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA)-induced human airway epithelial (NCI-H292) cells were used as a cellular model of airway inflammation. An experimental mouse COPD model was also established via CS inhalation and intranasal administration of lipopolysaccharide. Mucin 5AC (MUC5AC), monocyte chemoattractant protein-1, tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), and interleukin-6 secretion, as well as elastase activity and reactive oxygen species production, were determined through enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Inflammatory cell influx and mucus secretion in mouse lung tissues were estimated using hematoxylin and eosin and periodic acid-schiff staining, respectively. PKCδ and its downstream signaling molecules were analyzed via western blotting. Results: CK prevented the secretion of MUC5AC and TNF-α in PMA-stimulated NCI-H292 cells and exhibited a protective effect in COPD mice via the suppression of inflammatory mediators and mucus secretion. These effects were accompanied by an inactivation of PKCδ and related signaling in vitro and in vivo. Conclusion: CK suppressed pulmonary inflammation and mucus secretion in COPD mouse model through PKC regulation, highlighting the compound's potential as a useful adjuvant in the prevention and treatment of COPD.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
• /
• v.15 no.2
• /
• pp.124-130
• /
• 1991

This study was conducted to obtain basic information about the transformation of ginseng tissue, identification of opine compound and protein, and saponin production from ginseng callus transformed with Ti-plasmic of AW$.$obacterium tumefaiens C58. Ginseng crown gall callus induced by pTiC58 could be continuously cultured on the Phytohormone-free medium. The transformation was reconfirmed by the detection and identification of opine compound, from the gall callus. The transformed ginseng callus contained higher amounts of protein than normal callus and the protein pattern of transformed callus was quite different from that of normal callus. The xylose which is not detected in the normal callus and ginseng root was identified in gall callus. The saponin contents of gall callus of ginseng were three times higher than that of normal callus, and ginsenoside composition of the transformed callus was similar to that of the cultivated ginseng root, but quite different from that of normal callus.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
• /
• v.22 no.6
• /
• pp.1557-1561
• /
• 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 Ginseng Research
• /
• v.43 no.3
• /
• pp.452-459
• /
• 2019

Background: Ginsenoside compound K(C-K), a major metabolite of ginsenoside, exhibits anticancer activity in various cancer cells and animal models. A cell signaling study has shown that C-K inhibited nuclear factor-kappa B ($NF-{\kappa}B$) pathway in human astroglial cells and liver cancer cells. However, the molecular targets of C-K and the initiating events were not elucidated. Methods: Interaction between C-K and Annexin A2 was determined by molecular docking and thermal shift assay. HepG2 cells were treated with C-K, followed by a luciferase reporter assay for $NF-{\kappa}B$, immunofluorescence imaging for the subcellular localization of Annexin A2 and $NF-{\kappa}B$ p50 subunit, coimmunoprecipitation of Annexin A2 and $NF-{\kappa}B$ p50 subunit, and both cell viability assay and plate clone formation assay to determine the cell viability. Results: Both molecular docking and thermal shift assay positively confirmed the interaction between Annexin A2 and C-K. This interaction prevented the interaction between Annexin A2 and $NF-{\kappa}B$ p50 subunit and their nuclear colocalization, which attenuated the activation of $NF-{\kappa}B$ and the expression of its downstream genes, followed by the activation of caspase 9 and 3. In addition, the overexpression of Annexin A2-K320A, a C-K binding-deficient mutant of Annexin A2, rendered cells to resist C-K treatment, indicating that C-K exerts its cytotoxic activity mainly by targeting Annexin A2. Conclusion: This study for the first time revealed a cellular target of C-K and the molecular mechanism for its anticancer activity.

• Proceedings of the Ginseng society Conference
• /
• 2003.12a
• /
• pp.20-22
• /
• 2003

• Journal of Ginseng Research
• /
• v.39 no.2
• /
• pp.183-187
• /
• 2015

Background: Gut microflora play a crucial role in the biotransformation of ginsenosides to compound K (CK), which may affect the pharmacological effects of ginseng. Prebiotics, such as NUTRIOSE, could enhance the formation and consequent absorption of CK through the modulation of gut microbial metabolic activities. In this study, the effect of a prebiotic fiber (NUTRIOSE) on the pharmacokinetics of ginsenoside CK, a bioactive metabolite of ginsenosides, and its mechanism of action were investigated. Methods: Male Sprague-Dawley rats were given control or NUTRIOSE-containing diets (control diet + NUTRIOSE) for 2 wk, and ginseng extract or vehicle was then orally administered. Blood samples were collected to investigate the pharmacokinetics of CK using liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. Fecal activities that metabolize ginsenoside Rb1 to CK were assayed with fecal specimens or bacteria cultures. Results: When ginseng extract was orally administered to rats fed with 2.5%, 5%, or 10% NUTRIOSE containing diets, the maximum plasma concentration ($C_{max}$) and area under the plasma concentration-time curve values of CK significantly increased in a NUTRIOSE content-dependent manner. NUTRIOSE intake increased glycosidase activity and CK formation in rat intestinal contents. The CK-forming activities of intestinal microbiota cultured in vitro were significantly induced by NUTRIOSE. Conclusion: These results show that prebiotic diets, such as NUTRIOSE, may promote the metabolic conversion of ginsenosides to CK and the subsequent absorption of CK in the gastrointestinal tract and may potentiate the pharmacological effects of ginseng.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
• /
• v.41 no.4
• /
• pp.496-502
• /
• 2017

Background: Ginsenosides are the major components of Panax ginseng Meyer, an herbal medicine used for the treatment of various diseases. Different ginsenosides contribute to the biological properties of ginseng, such as antimicrobial, anticancer, and immunomodulatory properties. In this study, we investigated the antiviral effects of 15 ginsenosides and compound K on gammaherpesvirus. Methods: The antiviral activity of ginsenosides was examined using the plaque-forming assay and by analyzing the expression of the lytic gene. Results: 20(R)-Ginsenoside Rh2 inhibited the replication and proliferation of murine gammaherpesvirus 68 (MHV-68), and its half-maximal inhibitory concentration ($IC_{50} $) against MHV-68 was estimated to be $2.77{\mu}M$. In addition, 20(R)-ginsenoside Rh2 inhibited 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA)-induced lytic replication of human gammaherpesvirus in the Kaposi's sarcoma-associated herpesvirus (KSHV)-positive cell line BC3. Conclusion: Our results indicate that 20(R)-ginsenoside Rh2 can inhibit the replication of mouse and human gammaherpesviruses, and thus, has the potential to treat gammaherpesvirus infection.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
• /
• v.42 no.4
• /
• pp.504-511
• /
• 2018

Background: The biological activities of ginseng saponins (ginsenosides) are associated with type, number, and position of sugar moieties linked to aglycone skeletons. Deglycosylated minor ginsenosides are known to be more biologically active than major ginsenosides. Accordingly, the deglycosylation of major ginsenosides can provide the multibioactive effects of ginsenosides. The purpose of this study was to transform ginsenoside Rb2, one of the protopanaxadiol-type major ginsenosides, into minor ginsenosides using ${\beta}$-glycosidase (BG-1) purified from Armillaria mellea mycelium. Methods: Ginsenoside Rb2 was hydrolyzed by using BG-1; the hydrolytic properties of Rb2 by BG-1 were also characterized. In addition, the influence of reaction conditions such as reaction time, pH, and temperature, and transformation pathways of Rb2, Rd, F2, compound O (C-O), and C-Y by treatment with BG-1 were investigated. Results: BG-1 first hydrolyzes 3-O-outer ${\beta}$-$\text\tiny{D}$-glucoside of Rb2, then 3-O-${\beta}$-$\text\tiny{D}$-glucoside of C-O into C-Y. C-Y was gradually converted into C-K with a prolonged reaction time, but the pathway of Rb2 ${\rightarrow}$ Rd ${\rightarrow}$ F2 ${\rightarrow}$ C-K was not observed. The optimum reaction conditions for C-Y and C-K formation from Rb2 by BG-1 were pH 4.0-4.5, temperature $45-60^{\circ}C$, and reaction time 72-96 h. Conclusion: ${\beta}$-Glycosidase purified from A. mellea mycelium can be efficiently used to transform Rb2 into C-Y and C-K. To our best knowledge, this is the first result of transformation from Rb2 into C-Y and C-K by basidiomycete mushroom enzyme.

• Korean Journal of Medicinal Crop Science
• /
• v.19 no.5
• /
• pp.313-318
• /
• 2011

This study was carried out to utilize the byproducts (flower, immature and mature berry, leaf and stem) of ginseng. Yield of byproducts were $32.7{\pm}9.8g$ in flower, $68.2{\pm}2.2g$ in immature berry, $48.5{\pm}4.3g$ in mature berry, $316.2{\pm}20.5g$ in leaf, and $296.6{\pm}15.4g$ in stem per $3.3m^2$ ($180{\times}90cm$, ginseng root $675.5{\pm}35.7g$/drybasis. The total saponin contents of ginseng byproducts and root are $52.36{\pm}1.24$, $68.71{\pm}1.98$, $168.89{\pm}0.57$, $68.26{\pm}1.32$, $7.85{\pm}0.61$ and $35.08{\pm}0.96$ mg/g, respectively. The main ginsenoside of all byproducts was Re and the highest content was $132.23{\pm}1.56$ mg/g in mature berry. But flower and berry was not detected Rf and Rh1, respectively. Total polyphenolic compound content on mature berry was the highest, $2.242{\pm}0.140%$, after, immature berry > leaf > flower > root > stem order. The DPPH radical scavenging activity on mature berry was the highest, $0.115{\pm}0.004$ mg/mL($IC_{50}$), and the others were the same order of polyphenolic compound and ginsenoside content on byproducts.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
• /
• v.38 no.4
• /
• pp.251-255
• /
• 2014

Background: Ginsenoside Rp1 (G-Rp1) is a novel ginsenoside derived from ginsenoside Rk1. This compound was reported to have anticancer, anti-platelet, and anti-inflammatory activities. In this study, we examined the molecular target of the antiproliferative and proapoptotic activities of G-Rp1. Methods: To examine the effects of G-Rp1, cell proliferation assays, propidium iodine staining, proteomic analysis by two-dimensional gel electrophoresis, immunoblotting analysis, and a knockdown strategy were used. Results: G-Rp1 dose-dependently suppressed the proliferation of colorectal cancer LoVo cells and increased their apoptosis. G-Rp1 markedly upregulated the protein level of apolipoprotein (Apo)-A1 in LoVo, SNU-407, DLD-1, SNU-638, AGS, KPL-4, and SK-BR-3 cells. The knockdown of Apo-A1 by its small-interfering RNA increased the levels of cleaved poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase and p53 and diminished the proliferation of LoVo cells. Conclusion: These results suggest that G-Rp1 may act as an anticancer agent by strongly inhibiting cell proliferation and enhancing apoptosis through upregulation of Apo-A1.