• Food Science and Biotechnology
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.262-266
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• 2009

To evaluate the anticolitic effect of red ginseng (RG, the steamed root of Panax ginseng CA. Meyer, Araliaceae), RG and its representative constituents, ginsenosides Rg3 and Rh2, were orally administered to dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)-induced colitic mice and inflammatory markers investigated. RG and its constituents, ginsenosides Rg3 and Rh2, inhibited colon shortening and myeloperoxidase activity induced by DSS. The ginsenosides Rg3 and Rh2 inhibited mRNA expression of interleukin (IL)-$1{\beta}$ as well as protein levels of IL-$1{\beta}$ and IL-6. These ginsenosides also inhibited the activation of a transcription nuclear factor (NF)-${\kappa}B$. Ginsenoside Rh2 was a more potent inhibitor than ginsenoside Rg3. The anticolitic effects of these ginsenosides were comparable with sulfasalazine.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.37 no.3
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• pp.508-512
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• 2005

Ginsenoside composition and contents of Korean white and taegeuk ginsengs were investigated to establish Chinese pharmaceutical standards for import of Korean ginseng. Total ginsenoside-Rg1, Re, and Rb1 of all Korean white and taegeuk ginseng samples were higher than guideline of Chinese standard of 0.4%, $Mean{\pm}S.D.$ values of Rg1, Re, and Rb1 of Korean white ginseng were $232.7{\pm}110.2,\;235.3{\pm}101.5,\;and\;280.1{\pm}121.3\;mg%$, respectively. Ratio of Rg1 to Re of Korean white ginseng was 1.02. $Mean{\pm}S.D.$ values of Rg1, Re, and Rb1 of Korean taeguek ginseng were $262.1{\pm}127.2,\;213.1{\pm}55.7,\;and\;279.9{\pm}92.1\;mg%$, respectively.

• Journal of Pharmacopuncture
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• v.11 no.2
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• pp.87-95
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• 2008

Objectives The aim of this experiment is to provide an differentiation of ginseng, red ginseng, cultivated wild ginseng(CWG), and red wild ginseng(RWG) through component analysis using HPLC(High Performance Liquid Chromatography, hereafter HPLC). Methods Comparative analyses of ginsenoside $Rg_3$, ginsenoside $Rh_2$, and ginsenosides $Rb_1$ and $Rg_1$ of various ginsengs were conducted using HPLC. Results 1. CWG was relatively heat-resistant and showed slow change in color during the process of steaming and drying, compared to cultivated ginseng. 2. Ginsenoside $Rg_3$ was not detected in cultivated ginseng and CWG, whereas it was high in red ginseng and RWG. Ginsenoside $Rg_3$ was more generated in red ginseng than in RWG. 3. Ginsenoside $Rh_2$ appreared during steaming and drying of cultivated ginseng, whereas it was more increased during steaming and drying of CWG. 4. Ginsenoside $Rg_1$ content was more increased during steaming and drying of cultivated ginseng, whereas it was more decreased during steaming and drying of CWG. 5. Ginsenoside $Rb_1$ content was increased about 500% during steaming and drying of cultivated ginseng, whereas it was increased about 30% during steaming and drying of CWG, indicating that ginsenoside $Rb_1$ was more generated in red ginseng than in RWG. 6. Ginsenoside $Rg_3$ content was higher, whereas ginsenoside $Rg_1$ content was lower in 11th RWG than in 9th RWG, indicating that ginsenoside $Rg_3$ content was increased and $Rg_1$ content was decreased as steaming and drying continued to proceed. Ginsenoside $Rh_2$ and $Rb_1$ contents began to be increased, followed by decreased after 9th steaming and drying process. Conclusions Above experiment data can be an important indicator for the dentification of ginseng, red ginseng, CWG, and RWG. And the following studies will be need for making good product using CWG.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.27 no.3
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• pp.616-623
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• 2017

Ginsenoside Rg3, a saponin extracted from ginseng, has various pharmacological and biological activities; however, its effects against Brucella infection are still unclear. Herein, the inhibitory effects of ginsenoside Rg3 against intracellular parasitic Brucella infection were evaluated through bacterial infection, adherence assays, and LAMP-1 colocalization, as well as immunoblotting and FACS for detecting MAPK signaling proteins and F-actin polymerization, respectively. The internalization, intracellular growth, and adherence of Brucella abortus in Rg3-treated RAW 264.7 cells were significantly decreased compared with the Rg3-untreated control. Furthermore, an apparent reduction of F-actin content and intensity of F-actin fluorescence in Rg3-treated cells was observed compared with B. abortus-infected cells without treatment by flow cytometry analysis and confocal microscopy, respectively. In addition, treating cells with Rg3 decreased the phosphorylation of MAPK signaling proteins such as ERK 1/2 and p38 compared with untreated cells. Moreover, the colocalization of B. abortus-containing phagosomes with LAMP-1 was markedly increased in Rg3-treated cells. These findings suggest that ginsenoside Rg3 inhibits B. abortus infection in mammalian cells and can be used as an alternative approach in the treatment of brucellosis.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.16 no.4
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• pp.364-369
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• 2008

Anti-hyperlipidemic effect of red ginseng (RG; the steamed root of Panax ginseng C.A. Meyer) and Crataegii fructus (CF, the fruit of Crataegus pinnatifida BGE), which are used frequently in China and Korea as herbal medicines to treat arteriosclerosis, were investigated. Treatments of RG and CF significantly reduced blood triglyceride (TG) and total cholesterol (TC) levels in Triton WR-1339-induced hyperlipidemic mice and serum TG levels in corn oil-induced hypertriglyceridemic mice. Ginsenoside Rg3 and ursolic acid, the main constituents of RG and CF, respectively, also reduced TG and TC levels in hyperlipidemic mice. RG and CF significantly lowered the high blood TG and TC levels and body and epididymal mass weights induced by long-term feeding of a high-fat diet and increased the high-fat diet-induced decrease in blood HDL cholesterol levels. RG and Rg3 reduced the blood TC levels more than CF and ursolic acid. However, blood TG level were reduced by CF and ursolic acid more than RG and Rg3. RG, CF, and their constituents also inhibited pancreatic lipase and HMG-CoA reductase activities. The most potent inhibitor was Rg3. These findings suggest that RG and CF may be suitable for the therapies of hypercholesterolemia and triglyceridemia, respectively.

• Journal of Pharmacopuncture
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• v.13 no.1
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• pp.63-77
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• 2010

Objectives: The aim of this experiment is to provide an objective differentiation of cultivated ginseng, cultivated wild ginseng, and wild ginseng through component analysis, and to know the change of ginsenoside components in the process for making red ginseng. Methods: Comparative analysis of ginsenoside $Rb_1,\;Rb_2$, Rc, Rd, Re, Rf, $Rg_1,\;Rg_3,\;Rh_1$ and $Rh_2$ from the cultivated ginseng 4 and 6 years, cultivated wild ginseng, and wild ginseng were conducted using High Performance Liquid Chromatography(hereafter HPLC). And the same analyses were conducted in the process of red ginseng. Results: 1. For content comparison of ginsenoside $Rb_1$, Rc, Rd, Rf, $Rg_1$ and $Rh_1$, wild ginseng showed high content, followed cultivated ginseng 4 and 6 years, cultivated wild ginseng showed low content than any other samples. 2. For content comparison of ginsenoside $Rb_2$ and Re, cultivated ginseng 4 years showed high content, followed wild ginseng and cultivated ginseng 6 years, cultivated wild ginseng showed low content than any other samples. 3. For content comparison of ginsenoside $Rg_3$, wild ginseng and cultivated wild ginseng were only showed low content. 4. For content comparison of ginsenoside $Rh_2$, cultivated wild ginseng was only showed low content. 5. In the process of red ginseng, ginsenoside $Rb_1,\;Rb_2$, Rc, Rd, $Rg_3$ and $Rh_1$ were increased, and ginsenoside Re and $Rg_1$ were decreased in cultivated wild ginseng. 6. In the process of red ginseng, ginsenoside $Rg_3$ and $Rh_1$ were increased, and ginsenoside $Rb_2$, Rc, and Re were decreased in cultivated ginseng 4 years. 7. In the process of red ginseng, ginsenoside $Rb_1,\;Rb_2$, Rf and $Rh_1$ were increased, and ginsenoside Rc and Rd were decreased in cultivated ginseng 6 years. Conclusions: Distribution of ginsenoside contents to the cultivated ginseng, cultivated wild ginseng, and wild ginseng was similar and was not showed special characteristics between samples. And the change of ginsenoside to the process of red ginseng, cultivated ginseng and cultivated wild ginseng were showed different aspect.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.42 no.1
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• pp.68-74
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• 2018

Background: Ginsenosides have been reported to have many health benefits, including anti-inflammatory effects, and the resolution of inflammation is now considered to be an active process driven by M2-type macrophages. In order to determine whether ginsenosides modulate macrophage phenotypes to reduce inflammation, 11 ginsenosides were studied with respect to macrophage polarization and the resolution of inflammation. Methods: Mouse peritoneal macrophages were polarized into M1 or M2 phenotypes. Reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction, Western blotting, and measurement of nitric oxide (NO) and prostaglandin $E_2$ levels were performed in vitro and in a zymosan-induced peritonitis C57BL/6 mouse model. Results: Ginsenoside $Rg_3$ was identified as a proresolving ginseng compound based on the induction of M2 macrophage polarization. Ginsenoside $Rg_3$ not only induced the expression of arginase-1 (a representative M2 marker gene), but also suppressed M1 marker genes, such as inducible NO synthase, and NO levels. The proresolving activity of ginsenoside $Rg_3$ was also observed in vivo in a zymosan-induced peritonitis model. Ginsenoside $Rg_3$ accelerated the resolution process when administered at peak inflammatory response into the peritoneal cavity. Conclusion: These results suggest that ginsenoside $Rg_3$ induces the M2 polarization of macrophages and accelerates the resolution of inflammation. This finding opens a new avenue in ginseng pharmacology.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.46 no.3
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• pp.481-488
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• 2022

Background: Although the tumor-suppressive effects of ginsenosides in cell cycle have been well established, their pharmacological properties in mitosis have not been clarified yet. The chromosomal instability resulting from dysregulated mitotic processes is usually increased in cancer. In this study, we aimed to investigate the anticancer effects of ginsenoside Rg1 on mitotic progression in cancer. Materials and methods: Cancer cells were treated with ginsenoside Rg1 and their morphology and intensity of different protein were analyzed using immunofluorescence microscopy. The level of proteins in chromosomes was compared through chromosomal fractionation and Western blot analyses. The location and intensity of proteins in the chromosome were confirmed through immunostaining of mitotic chromosome after spreading. The colony formation assays were conducted using various cancer cell lines. Results: Ginsenoside Rg1 reduced cancer cell proliferation in some cancers through inducing mitotic arrest. Mechanistically, it inhibits the phosphorylation of histone H3 Thr3 (H3T3ph) mediated by Haspin kinase and concomitant recruitment of chromosomal passenger complex (CPC) to the centromere. Depletion of Aurora B at the centromere led to abnormal centromere integrity and spindle dynamics, thereby causing mitotic defects, such as increase in the width of the metaphase plate and spindle instability, resulting in delayed mitotic progression and cancer cell proliferation. Conclusion: Ginsenoside Rg1 reduces the level of Aurora B at the centromere via perturbing Haspin kinase activity and concurrent H3T3ph. Therefore, ginsenoside Rg1 suppresses cancer cell proliferation through impeding mitotic processes, such as chromosome alignment and spindle dynamics, upon depletion of Aurora B from the centromere.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.33 no.4
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• pp.349-354
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• 2009

This study was conducted to develop a new method for enhancing ginsenoside $Rg_3$, which is abundant in black ginseng. The cognition-enhancing effect of black ginseng extract was investigated via the assay of acetylcholinesterase (AChE) activity. Black ginseng I was prepared through the traditional method (by steaming and drying nine times repetitions). Black ginseng II, on the other hand, was prepared by steaming the ginseng three times at $120^{\circ}C$ for 30 min after soaking it in grape juice for 24 h. The ginsenosides of white, red, and black ginseng I, and II were investigated using the HPLC method, respectively. In black ginseng II, the ginsenoside $Rg_3$ contents, which cannot be found in white ginseng, amounted to 10.91 mg/g, approximately 18 times more than that in red ginseng. In the in-vivo study, black ginseng extract (200 mg/kg, p.o.) inhibited the AChE activity after 24 h by a single administration in the brain. Thus, the new manufacturing method for black ginseng was found to more effective in the conversion of ginsenoside $Rg_3$ compared to the traditional method. Black ginseng may also have the effect of preventing the cognitive impairment induced by cholinergic dysfunction.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.16 no.3
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• pp.277-285
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• 2008

Panax ginseng C.A. Mayer (Araliaceae, P. ginseng) has been used for the enhancement of vascular and immune functions in Korea and Japan for a long time. Ginsenoside $Rb_1$ and $Rg_3$ isolated from P. ginseng head-part butanolic extract (PGHB) were investigated for anti-inflammatory activity. Ginsenosides and PGHB did not affect the cell viability within $0\;-\;100\;{\mu}g/ml$ concentration to RAW 264.7 murine macrophage cells. Ginsenosides and PGHB inhibited partly lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced nitrite production in a dose-dependent manner. The ginsenosides and PGHB showed partially chemical nitric oxide (NO) quenching (maximum 40%) in the cell-free system. Also, ginsenoside $Rb_1$ and $Rg_3$ inhibited markedly approximately 74 and 54% of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) mRNA transcription from LPS-induced RAW 264.7 cells. Taken together, the inhibitory effect of ginsenosides and PGHB on NO production did not occur as a result of cell viability, but was caused by both the chemical NO quenching and the regulation of iNOS. Additionally, the ginsenoside $Rb_1$ and PGHB inhibited prostaglandin $E_2$ ($PGE_2$) synthesis in a concentration-dependent manner, showed approximately 70-98% inhibition at $100\;{\mu}g/ml$ concentration. And the treatment with ginsenosides and PGHB attenuated partially LPS-upregulated cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) gene transcription. Ginsenoside $Rg_3$ suppressed LPS-stimulated interleukin-6 (IL-6) level to the basal in RAW 264.7 cells. From these results, ginsenoside $Rb_1,\;Rg_3$, and PGHB may be useful for the relief and retardation of immunological inflammatory responses and its action may occur through the reduction of inflammatory mediators, including NO, $PGE_2$, and IL-6 production.