• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.41 no.4
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• pp.572-577
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• 2017

Background: Panax ginseng Meyer is cultivated because of its medicinal effects on the immune system, blood pressure, and cancer. Major ginsenosides in fresh ginseng are converted to minor ginsenosides by structural changes such as hydrolysis and dehydration. The transformed ginsenosides are generally more bioavailable and bioactive than the primary ginsenosides. Therefore, in this study, hydrothermal processing was applied to ginseng preparation to increase the yields of the transformed ginsenosides, such as 20(S)-Rg3, Rk1, and Rg5, and enhance antioxidant activities in an effective way. Methods: Ginseng extract was hydrothermally processed using batch reactors at $100-160^{\circ}C$ with differing reaction times. Quantitative analysis of the ginsenoside yields was performed using HPLC, and the antioxidant activity was qualitatively analyzed by evaluating 2,2'-azino-bis radical cation scavenging, 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl radical scavenging, and phenolic antioxidants. Red ginseng and sun ginseng were prepared by conventional steaming as the control group. Results: Unlike steaming, the hydrothermal process was performed under homogeneous conditions. Chemical reaction, heat transfer, and mass transfer are generally more efficient in homogeneous reactions. Therefore, maximum yields for the hydrothermal process were 2.5-25 times higher than those for steaming, and the antioxidant activities showed 1.6-4-fold increases for the hydrothermal process. Moreover, the reaction time was decreased from 3 h to 15-35 min using hydrothermal processing. Conclusion: Therefore, hydrothermal processing offers significant improvements over the conventional steaming process. In particular, at temperatures over $140^{\circ}C$, high yields of the transformed ginsenosides and increased antioxidant activities were obtained in tens of minutes.

• Korean Journal of Biological Psychiatry
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• v.4 no.1
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• pp.102-107
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• 1997

Ginseng root, as a folk medicine, has been used in far eastern countries for thousands of years. Ginseng extract has been shown to have a variety of effects on the activity of the central nervous system, promoting stimulation as well as inhibition of the cortical activity. A survey of the relevant literatures has indicated that the putative anxiolytic activity of red ginseng has not been scientifically investigated. Therefore, the present study was designed to assess anxiolytic effect of gingseng total saponins(GTS). The putative anxiolytic effects of several fractions of GTS were investigated in mice using an elevated plus maze paradigm. Single dose administration of TS Fr.-I showed anxiolytic action in mice. Anxiolytic effect induced by TS Fr.-I was similar to that induced by diazepam. TS Fr.-II, TS Fr.-III and TS Fr.-IV did not show the anxiolytic action compared with that of TS Fr.-I. It was suggested that regulation of GABAergic neurotransmission may be important in the action of GTS. The Interaction of GTS fractions with benzodiazepine receptor was performed using rat cortical membranes. GTS inhibited the binding of [3H] Ro 15-1788 on the benzodiazepine receptor. Among from TS fractions, the binding activity of GTS in the TS Fr.-IV was highest, which did not show the anxiolytic activity. From these results, we conclude that GTS has anxiolytic action, and this is not related to benzodiazepine receptor binding activity.

• Korean Journal of Medicinal Crop Science
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• v.7 no.4
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• pp.296-302
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• 1999

This experiment was conducted to study the effect of $CO_2$(0, 2, 500, 5, 000, 10, 000ppm) enrichment by enabling ventilation on micropropagation of multi-shoot and on the saponin contents in vitro in Korean ginseng (Panax ginseng C. A. Meyer). Embryo was cultured in Murashige and Skoog medium added 3mg/ l of Indolbutyric acid, Benzyladenin and Gibberellic acid $(GA_3)$, respectively. $CO_2$, enrichment had little effects on the number of adventitious buds and shoots originated from adventitious buds. The ratio of differentiated shoots to adventitious buds were about 50% in $CO_2$, enrichment treatment. The shoots originated from adventitious bud showed more rapid growth and had larger leaf area than the shoots originated from the leaf primordia did. The number of shoot primordia was the highest in 2, 500ppm of $CO_2$ enrichment treatment. On the contrary, 10,000ppm of $CO_2$, enrichment made smaller the number of shoot primordia and ratio of shoots to shoot primordia. The range of shoots differentiated was from shoot primordia were 15. 4 to 23. 9. The rate of dry weight of cultured shoots showed lowest (7. 5%) in control and highest (8. 59%) in 2, 500ppm of $CO_2$, enrichment. Rate of in vitro flower in control was 7.6% and that in 2500ppm of $CO_2$ was about twice (15.7-16.3%) as much as in control. Flower number per a embryo cultured was about 1.2-1.3. In the multi-shoots with callus enriched by 2, 500ppm of $CO_2$, the contents of crude saponin and ginsenosides in multi-shoots alone were higher than in multi-shoots with callus. The characteristics of ginsenosides in multi-shoots were especially the higher content of ginsenoside Rd, Re, and $Rg_1$.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.36 no.1
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• pp.78-85
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• 2012

Endothelial progenitor cells (EPC) are a population of cells that circulate in the blood stream. They play a role in angiogenesis and, therefore, can be prognostic markers of vascular repair. Ginsenoside $Rg_3$ prevents endothelial cell apoptosis through the inhibition of the mitochondrial caspase pathway. It also affects estrogen activity, which reduces EPC senescence. Sun ginseng (SG), which is heat-processed ginseng, has a high content of ginsenosides. The purpose of this study was to investigate the protective effects of SG on senescence-associated apoptosis in EPCs. In order to isolate EPCs, mononuclear cells of human blood buffy coats were cultured and characterized by their uptake of acetylated low-density lipoprotein (acLDL) and their binding of Ulex europaeus agglutinin I (ulex-lectin). Flow cytometry with annexin-V staining was performed in order to assess early and late apoptosis. Senescence was determined by ${\beta}$-galactosidase (${\beta}$-gal) staining. Staining with 4'-6-Diamidino-2-phenylindole verified that most adherent cells (93${\pm}$2.7%) were acLDL-positive and ulex-lectin-positive. The percentage of ${\beta}$-gal-positive EPCs was decreased from 93.8${\pm}$2.0% to 62.5${\pm}$3.6% by SG treatment. A fluorescence-activated cell sorter (FACS) analysis showed that 4.9% of EPCs were late apoptotic in controls. Sun ginseng decreased the apoptotic cell population by 39% in the late stage of apoptosis from control baseline levels. In conclusion, these results show antisenescent and antiapoptotic effects of SG in human-derived EPCs, indicating that SG can enhance EPC-mediated repair mechanisms.

• Journal of Pharmacopuncture
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• v.19 no.3
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• pp.213-224
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• 2016

Objectives: Ginseng Rh2+ is enzyme-treated ginseng extract containing high amounts of converted ginsenosides, such as compound k, Rh2, Rg3, which have potent anticancer activity. We conducted general and genetic toxicity tests to evaluate the safety of ginseng Rh2+. Methods: An acute oral toxicity test was performed at a high-level dose of 4,000 mg/kg/day in Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats. A 14-day range-finding study was also conducted to set dose levels for the 90-day study. A subchronic 90-day toxicity study was performed at dose levels of 1,000 and 2,000 mg/kg/day to investigate the no-observed-adverse-effect level (NOAEL) of ginseng Rh2+ and target organs. To identify the mutagenic potential of ginseng Rh2+, we conducted a bacterial reverse mutation test (Ames test) using amino-acid-requiring strains of Salmonella typhimurium and Escherichia coli (E. coli), a chromosome aberration test with Chinese hamster lung (CHL) cells, and an in vivo micronucleus test using ICR mice bone marrow as recommended by the Korean Ministry of Food and Drug Safety. Results: According to the results of the acute oral toxicity study, the approximate lethal dose (ALD) of ginseng Rh2+ was estimated to be higher than 4,000 mg/kg. For the 90-day study, no toxicological effect of ginseng Rh2+ was observed in body-weight changes, food consumption, clinical signs, organ weights, histopathology, ophthalmology, and clinical pathology. The NOAEL of ginseng Rh2+ was established to be 2,000 mg/kg/day, and no target organ was found in this test. In addition, no evidence of mutagenicity was found either on the in vitro genotoxicity tests, including the Ames test and the chromosome aberration test, or on the in vivo in mice bone marrow micronucleus test. Conclusion: On the basis of our findings, ginseng Rh2+ is a non-toxic material with no genotoxicity. We expect that ginseng Rh2+ may be used as a novel adjuvant anticancer agent that is safe for long-term administration.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.24 no.4
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• pp.196-201
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• 2000

Effects of ginsenosides on NaCN-induced neuronal cell death were studied in cultured rat cerebellar granule cells. NaCN produced a concentration-dependent (1-10 mM) reduction of cell viability (measured by frypan blue exclusion test), that was blocked by N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor antagonist (MK-801) and L-type Ca$\^$2+/ channel blocker (verapamil). Pretreatment with ginsenosides (Rb$_1$, Rc, Re, Rf and Rg$_1$) significantly decreased the neuronal cell death in a concentration range of 0.5∼5$\mu\textrm{g}$/ml. Ginsenosides Rb$_1$ and Rc (5 $\mu\textrm{g}$/ml) inhibited glutamate release into medium induced by NaCN (5 mM). NaCN (1 mM)-induced increase of [Ca$\^$2+/], was significantly inhibited by the pretreatment of Rb$_1$ and Rc (5 $\mu\textrm{g}$/ml). Other ginsenosides caused relatively little inhibition on the elevation of glutamate release and of (Ca$\^$2+/). These results suggest that the NaCN-induced neurotoxicity was related to a series of cell responses consisting of glutamate release and [Ca$\^$2+/]i elevation via glutamate (NMDA and kainate) receptors and resultant cell death, and that ginsenosides, especially Rb$_1$ and Rc, prevented the neuronal cell death by the blockade of the NaCN-induced Ca$\^$2+/influx.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.45 no.1
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• pp.77-83
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• 2013

In this study, we observed optimal conditions and suitable bacteria for the fermentation of steam-dried ginseng berry extracts (SGB) and determined antioxidant effects of the fermented extracts. Five bacteria (Lactobacillus fermentarum, L. plantarum, L. brevis, L. casei, Bacillus subtillis) were examined on their growth activities and viabilities in various culture temperatures ($25-35^{\circ}C$) and concentrations (25-100%). L. plantarum was considered to be the most suitable bacteria for the fermentation in both growth activity and viability. Moreover, the extracts fermented with L. plantarum showed more potent antioxidant efficacy in both 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl radical and hydroxyl radical scavenging assay. High performance liquid chromatography analysis revealed that fermentation with L. plantarum changed the contents and components of ginsenosides. In conclusion, these data suggest that L. plantarum efficiently ferment SGB and the fermented extracts may have therapeutical values against oxidative stress and be a good candidate in adjuvant therapy where ginsenoside would be the main composition.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.45 no.2
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• pp.316-324
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• 2021

Background: Korea Red Ginseng (KRG) has been used as remedies with hepato-protective effects in liver-related condition. Microbiota related gut-liver axis plays key roles in the pathogenesis of chronic liver disease. We evaluated the effect of KRG on gut-liver axis in patients with nonalcoholic statohepatitis by the modulation of gut-microbiota. Methods: A total of 94 patients (KRG: 45 and placebo: 49) were prospectively randomized to receive KRG (2,000 mg/day, ginsenoside Rg1+Rb1+Rg3 4.5mg/g) or placebo during 30 days. Liver function test, cytokeraton 18, and fatigue score were measured. Gut microbiota was analyzed by MiSeq systems based on 16S rRNA genes. Results: In KRG group, the mean levels (before vs. after) of aspartate aminotransferase (53 ± 19 vs. 45 ± 23 IU/L), alanine aminotransferase (75 ± 40 vs. 64 ± 39 IU/L) and fatigue score (33 ± 13 vs. 26 ± 13) were improved (p < 0.05). In placebo group, only fatigue score (34 ± 13 vs. 31 ± 15) was ameliorated (p < 0.05). The changes of phyla were not statistically significant on both groups. In KRG group, increased abundance of Lactobacillus was related with improved alanine aminotransferase level and increased abundance of Clostridium and Intestinibacter was associated with no improvement after KRG supplementation. In placebo group, increased abundance of Lachnospiraceae could be related with aggravation of liver enzyme (p < 0.05). Conclusion: KRG effectively improved liver enzymes and fatigue score by modulating gut-microbiota in patients with fatty liver disease. Further studies are needed to understand the mechanism of improvement of nonalcoholic steatohepatitis. ClnicalTrials.gov: NCT03945123 (www.ClinicalTrials.gov).

• Korean Journal of Medicinal Crop Science
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• v.27 no.2
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• pp.126-135
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• 2019

Background: The ginseng ginsenosides, which have various physiological activities, are known to be more abundant in the leaves than in the roots, and the consumers' interest in ginseng sprout as a functional vegetable has been increasing. Methods and Results: The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of growth period on growth properties, active ingredients and rheology of ginseng sprouts cultivated in a non-heated greenhouse equipped with a shade net for 60 days, starting from the end of May to the middle of July. The chlorophyll content of the leaves decreased, but their length and width increased with increasing cultivation days. In particular, growth increased significantly until 40 days, but only slightly after 50 days. The stem length did not increase greatly from the 20 th to the 30 th day of cultivation, but increased significantly from the 30 th to the 40 th day, and then further increased gradually. The weight of the leaves, stems, and roots increased slightly, but not change significantly. After 40 days of cultivation, the total ginsenoside content increased by 1.07 times in the leaves and decreased by 0.80 times in the roots with increasing cultivation days. The leaf contents of ginsenosides $Rg_1$, Re, $Rb_1$, Rc, $F_3$ and $F_4$ increased with increasing cultivation days. The rheological properties of ginseng sprout showed the greatest influence on stem hardening with increasing cultivation days. Conclusions: Therefore, based on the growth characteristics, active ingredients and physical properties, 40 days after sowing was considered to be an appropriate harvesting time for ginseng sprouts.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Culture
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• v.30 no.2
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• pp.197-205
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• 2015

This study was conducted to investigate the bioconversion of ginsenosides as well as anti-inflammatory activities of fresh ginseng Kkakdugi during fermentation. Fresh ginseng Kkakdugi reached proper ripeness, pH 4.30, and acidity 1.69% at $15^{\circ}C$ after 10 days. Lactic acid bacteria grew until reaching $1.10{\times}10^9CFU/mL$ after 20 days of fermentation, and ${\beta}$-glucosidase activity increased from 1.154 to 1.885 units/g. The bioconversion of ginsenosides was confirmed based on increased content of Rg3, an aglycone, from 0.13 to 0.17 mg/g during fermentation through HPLC. Fresh ginseng Kkakdugi did not display cytotoxicity up to the concentrations of $80{\mu}g/mL$, regardless of ripening period. Nitrite production and expression of inflammation-related proteins, iNOS and COX-2, decreased in a dose-dependent manner regardless of ripening period. From these results, fresh ginseng Kkakdugi showed the bioconversion of ginsenosides to aglycone during the lactic acid fermentation as well as an anti-inflammatory effect through the reduction of NO production and iNOS and COX-2 expression.