• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.22 no.2
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• pp.126-132
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• 1998

In the present study, we examined effects of ginseng saponins (ginsenosides) on pp60c-src protein tyrosine kinase (PTK) activity, intracellular calcium concentration ([$Ca^{2+}$]i), and cell proliferation in NIH3T3 cells. Eight different ginsenosides [ginsenoside-Rb1 (G-$Rb_1$), -$Rb_2$, -Rc, -Rd, -Re, -Rf, -$Rg_1$, -$Rg_2$) and ginseng total saponin (GTS) were used for these experiments. All ginsenosides and GTS tested stimulated the activation of $pp60^{c-src}$ kinase, and especially G-$Rb_1$,-Rd,-$Rg_1$, and -$Rg_1$ showed a higher stimulatory effect than others at 16.7 $\mu\textrm{g}$/ml of ginsenosides with a 18 hr-incubation, increasing the activity by 4.5, 3.5, 3.5, and 3.0-fold, respectively, over that of untreated control. In addition, both G-Rd and -$Rg_2$)Rg2 increased ($Ca^{2+}$), to 202 and 334 nM, respectively, about 2-3-fold above the basal level within 7min at 250 $\mu\textrm{g}$/yml of ginsenosides. The increases of ($Ca^{2+}$), were eliminated by Pretreatment of EGTA, an extracellular calcium chelator, suggtasting that they result from an influx of calcium ion from extracellular medium rather than an efflux from intracellular calcium store, endoplasmic reticulum (ER). All ginsenosides studied enhanced cell proliferation to 1.2-1.4-fold over that of untreated control at 5~250 $\mu\textrm{g}$/ml of concentrations. Interestingly the promotion of cell proliferation by ginsenosides corresponded with the activation of c-src kinase, which is an early step in the mitogenic signaling cascade. Taken together, we suggest that some ginsenosides may lead to cellProliferation via the activation of cellular signal transduction Pathway involving $pp60^{c-src}$ kinase.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.48 no.1
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• pp.1-11
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• 2024

Fresh ginseng is prone to spoilage due to its high moisture content. For long-term storage, most fresh ginsengs are dried to white ginseng (WG) or steamed for hours at high temperature/pressure and dried to form Korean Red ginseng (KRG). They are further processed for ginseng products when subjected to hot water extraction/concentration under pressure. These WG or KRG preparation processes affect ginsenoside compositions and also other ginseng components, probably during treatments like steaming and drying, to form diverse bioactive phospholipids. It is known that ginseng contains high amounts of gintonin lysophosphatidic acids (LPAs). LPAs are simple lipid-derived growth factors in animals and humans and act as exogenous ligands of six GTP-binding-protein coupled LPA receptor subtypes. LPAs play diverse roles ranging from brain development to hair growth in animals and humans. LPA-mediated signaling pathways involve various GTP-binding proteins to regulate downstream pathways like [Ca²⁺]_i transient induction. Recent studies have shown that gintonin exhibits anti-Alzheimer's disease and antiarthritis effects in vitro and in vivo mediated by gintonin LPAs, the active ingredients of gintonin, a ginseng-derived neurotrophin. However, little is known about how gintonin LPAs are formed in high amounts in ginseng compared to other herbs. This review introduces atypical or non-enzymatic pathways under the conversion of ginseng phospholipids into gintonin LPAs during steaming and extraction/concentration processes, which exert beneficial effects against degenerative diseases, including Alzheimer's disease and arthritis in animals and humans via LPA receptors.

• Journal of the Korean Applied Science and Technology
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• v.34 no.3
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• pp.504-514
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• 2017

This study was carried out to investigate the emulsifying properties of concentrated red ginseng extract (CRGE). First, we determined the interfacial tension of CRGE at the oil-water interface. Second, oil-in-water emulsions were prepared with CRGE and then their physicochemical properties such as fat globule size, zeta-potential, dispersion stability, and microscopic characteristics were determined. It was found that interfacial tension gradually decreased with increasing CRGE concentration, indicative of some surface activity. In emulsions, fat globule size was decreased as CRGE concentration increased, showing a critical value ($d_{43}$ ≒ $0.39{\mu}m$) at ${\geq}3.5wt%$ of CRGE. In addition, pH and NaCl also influenced on fat globule sizes; they were increased in acidic conditions ($pH{\leq}3$) or in higher NaCl concentration (${\geq}0.4M$) and these results were interpreted in view of the change in zeta potentials. The dispersion stability by separation analyzer ($LUMiFuge^{(R)}$) showed that it was more stable in emulsions with higher CRGE concentration (i.e., ${\geq}3.5wt%$). In conclusion, CRGE was surface-active and it could be used as an emulsifier in preparation of food emulsions.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.47 no.6
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• pp.757-764
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• 2015

Red ginseng was treated by subcritical water extraction (SWE) whose two parameters were the extraction temperature ($105-150^{\circ}C$) and time (5-20 min) under a high pressure. The oBrix value, solid content, color difference, and turbidity of the red ginseng extract increased with increasing extraction time and temperature, while the pH decreased. The total concentration of ginsenosides in the red ginseng extract was maximal at $120^{\circ}C$ and 20 min. The concentrations of ginsenosides Rg3 and Rh1 were maximal at $150^{\circ}C$ and 15 min. The concentrations of Rg3 and Rh1 were respectively 3.5-5 times and 2-2.5 times higher than those treated by conventional extraction methods with hot water, ethanol, and methanol. SWE is a particularly effective method for the selective extraction of less-polar ginsenosides such as Rg3 which is well known to exert strong anticancer effects.

• Food Science and Preservation
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• v.16 no.2
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• pp.172-178
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• 2009

This study investigated the quality characteristics of red ginseng extracts prepared using alkaline water. The principal extract mineral was calcium, at 61.73-180.63 mg%, and alkalinity increased as the ionization minerals concentration rose. Alkaline red ginseng extracts(AKRGEs) 3, 6, and 9 were found to have pH values of 4.9-5.0, to be of 3.03-3.43 degrees of $^{\circ}Brix$, with soluble solid contents of 2.33-2.60%(w/v). Extract 3 was brown in color, thus similar to that of(conventional) red ginseng extract(RGE). The calcium contents and alkalinity levels of AKRGE 6 and AKRGE 9 were approximately 18-29-fold and 5-11-fold higher, respectively, than those of RGE and five commercial samples of red ginseng. AKRGEs showed lower crude saponin contents than did RGE, but ginsenoside contents did not differ significantly between RGE and AKRGEs. The DPPH-assayed free-radical and superoxide radical scavenging activities of AKRGEs were 12-13% and about 20%, respectively, thus similar to those of RGE. In sensory evaluation tests, AKRGE 3 and 6 were less bitter and better in overall quality than was RGE.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.24 no.9
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• pp.1006-1011
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• 2014

Ginseng has been known to be highly effective for health as a traditional medicinal herb. Ginseng berry, or fruit of ginseng, contains ginsenoside, saponin, polyphenol, polyacetylene, alkaloid, etc. as the main compounds as does ginseng. The aim of this study is to evaluate any effect of ginseng berry water extract (GBE) on diabetic-associated molecules, such as enzymes, which are responsible for the glucose entry of the cells and the insulin receptor signaling molecules using HepG2 cells. Therefore, two enzymes, ${\alpha}$-amylase and ${\alpha}$-glucosidase, were selected and assayed for their activities in the presence of GBE in vitro. These two enzymes are responsible for producing glucose from dietary starch. Protein-tyrosine phosphatase 1B (PTP1B) and Akt1 are key proteins in the insulin receptor signaling pathway. These two intracellular signaling molecules were investigated for their expression levels in HepG2 cells after insulin and GBE treatment. GBE, at concentrations up to $1,000{\mu}g/ml$, did not exert any inhibitory effect on ${\alpha}$-amylase and ${\alpha}$-glucosidase. It was observed that the expression level of PTP1B was increased by insulin and the $25{\mu}g/ml$ GBE treatment enhanced the PTP1B level. However, GBE at a concentration of $200{\mu}g/ml$ reduced the expression level of PTP1B. In the case of Akt1, the Akt1 level by insulin was decreased by GBE treatment. These data suggest that the water extracts of ginseng berry have an influence on intracellular signaling by insulin.

• Korean Journal of Plant Resources
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• v.19 no.2
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• pp.331-335
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• 2006

This experiment was conducted to investigate the effect of deep sea water on fruit quality and yield of tomato. In the deep sea water treatments, fruit growth and weight were decreased as the concentration of deep sea water increased. Especially, the fresh weight of second truss was decreased significantly than first truss. Soluble solid content was increased significantly in higher concentration treatment especially at 30mM and 40mM treatment. That was increased more in the first than in the second truss fruits. Most of hexose in fruits were glucose and fructose. The reason of increased glucose and fructose contents was the decline of growth because of salinity stress by deep sea water treatment. however deep sea water treatment increased the lycopene content, especially in 20mM treatment. It is assumed that deep sea water treatment cause induction and promotion of ethylene. The higher concentration of deep sea water to the solution, the eater fruit quality improvement was noticed. However, proportional yield reduction accompanied concentration, 20mM deep sea water improved fruit quality without a significant yield reduction. The Re content was the highest among ginsenosides in all treatments. The contents total of ginsenosides in all treatments, except EC 8 treatment, was higher than those in the controlled treatment. The PT/PD value was 1.31 of the lowest in the EC 8 treatment and was 2.52 of the highest in the EC6 treatment. Rf contents in high increase was detected at all treated ginseng roots.

• Molecules and Cells
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• v.27 no.5
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• pp.591-599
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• 2009

Nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs) play important roles in nervous system functions and are involved in a variety of diseases. We previously demonstrated that ginsenosides, the active ingredients of Panax ginseng, inhibit subsets of nAChR channel currents, but not ${\alpha}7$, expressed in Xenopus laevis oocytes. Mutation of the highly conserved Leu247 to Thr247 in the transmembrane domain 2 (TM2) channel pore region of ${\alpha}7$ nAChR induces alterations in channel gating properties and converts ${\alpha}7$ nAChR antagonists into agonists. In the present study, we assessed how point mutations in the Leu247 residue leading to various amino acids affect 20(S)-ginsenoside $Rg_3$ ($Rg_3$) activity against the ${\alpha}7$ nAChR. Mutation of L247 to L247A, L247D, L247E, L247I, L247S, and L247T, but not L247K, rendered mutant receptors sensitive to $Rg_3$. We further characterized $Rg_3$ regulation of L247T receptors. We found that $Rg_3$ inhibition of mutant ${\alpha}7$ nAChR channel currents was reversible and concentration-dependent. $Rg_3$ inhibition was strongly voltage-dependent and noncompetitive manner. These results indicate that the interaction between $Rg_3$ and mutant receptors might differ from its interaction with the wild-type receptor. To identify differences in $Rg_3$ interactions between wild-type and L247T receptors, we utilized docked modeling. This modeling revealed that $Rg_3$ forms hydrogen bonds with amino acids, such as Ser240 of subunit I and Thr244 of subunit II and V at the channel pore, whereas $Rg_3$ localizes at the interface of the two wild-type receptor subunits. These results indicate that mutation of Leu247 to Thr247 induces conformational changes in the wild-type receptor and provides a binding pocket for $Rg_3$ at the channel pore.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.52-60
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• 1993

Panax ginseng has been extensively used in the traditional oriental medicine as a restorative, tonic and Prophylactic agent. Recently, several reports regarding to anticancer effects of Panax ginseng has accumulated. These studies emphasized the fact that the anticancer activities might be due to a glycoside group called ginsenoside or pan.u saponin which has a water soluble characteristic. However, the authors and collaborates demonstrated that a highly lipid soluble component in extract of Panax ginseng roots contains a considerable cytotoxic activities against marine leukemic cells (L1210, P388) and human censer cells (HRT-18, HT-29, HCT48). This study was devised to observe the cytotoxic activities of Petroleum-ether extract of Panax giuseng roots (crude GBD and its Partially Purified fraction from silicic acid column chromatography (7 : 3 GX) against sarcoma-180 (5-180) and Walker carcinosar- coma 256 (Walker 256) in vivo, and murine leukemic Lymphocytes (L1210) and human rectal cancer cells (HRT-18) and human colon cancer cells (HT-29 and HCT48) in vitro. Each cell-line was cultured in medium containing serial concentration of the crude GX or 7 : 3 GX in vitro. A highly lipid soluble compound in the extract of Panax ginseng root was cytocidal to murine leukemic cells and human colon and rectal cancer cells in vitro. In the meantime, ginseng saponin derivatives did not have cytotoxic effects at its corresponding concentration. The growth rates of the cancer cells in medium containing ginseng extracts were inhibited gradually to a significant degree roughly in proportion to the increase of the extract concentration. The cytotoxic activity of 7 : 3 GX was about 3 times more potent than that of crude GX, one unit of cytotoxic activity against L1210 cells being equivalent to 2.54 Ug and 058 Ug for the crude GX and 7 : 3 GX, respectively. The Ri value of the active compound on silica- gel thin layer chromatography with petroleum-ether/ethyl ether/acetic acid mixture (90 : 10 : 1, v/v/v) as a developing so lvent was 053. While, the Panaxydol and Panaxynol as active compounds were purified from Petroleum-ether extract of Panax ginseng root by Drs. Ahn and Kim, and author found out that the one unit of cytotoxic activity of the Panaxydol and Panaxynol against L1210 cells being equivalent to 056 Ug and 0.3918 respectively. The survival times of mice inoculated with S-180 cells were extended about 1.5 to 2 times by the 7 : 3 GX treatment compared with their control group. The significantly decreased hemoglobin values of rats after inoculation with Walker 256 were recovered to normal range by oral administration of the crude Gt The synthetic levels of protein, DNA and RNA in human colon and rectal cancer cells were significantly diminished by treatment with the crude GX, which can explain a part of the origin of its anticancer activity.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.42 no.2
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• pp.133-143
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• 2018

Background: AD-2 (20(R)-dammarane-3b, 12b, 20, 25-tetrol; 25-OH-PPD) is a ginsenoside and isolated from Panax ginseng, showing anticancer activity against extensive human cancer cell lines. In this study, effects and mechanisms of 1C ((20R)-3b-O-(L-alanyl)-dammarane-12b, 20, 25-triol), a modified version of AD-2, were evaluated for its development as a novel anticancer drug. Methods: MTT assay was performed to evaluate cell cytotoxic activity. Cell cycle and levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS) were determined using flow cytometry analysis. Western blotting was employed to analyze signaling pathways. Results: 1C concentration-dependently reduces prostate cancer cell viability without affecting normal human gastric epithelial cell line-1 viability. In LNCaP prostate cancer cells, 1C triggered apoptosis via Bcl-2 family-mediated mitochondria pathway, downregulated expression of mouse double minute 2, upregulated expression of p53 and stimulated ROS production. ROS scavenger, N-acetylcysteine, can attenuate 1C-induced apoptosis. 1C also inhibited the proliferation of LNCaP cells through inhibition on $Wnt/{\beta}-catenin$ signaling pathway. Conclusion: 1C shows obvious anticancer activity based on inducing cell apoptosis by Bcl-2 family-mediated mitochondria pathway and ROS production, inhibiting $Wnt/{\beta}-catenin$ signaling pathway. These findings demonstrate that 1C may provide leads as a potential agent for cancer therapy.