• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.18 no.3
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• pp.191-195
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• 1994

Among many kinds of constituents of ginseng root, starch was the most noticeable component related to inside white in fresh ginseng. The ash of inside white section was higher in content and greenish gray in color. The water binding capacity and ash content of the starch from inside white fresh ginseng were higher than those of starch from normal fresh ginseng, but amylase content was not significantly different. Ash of inside white fresh ginseng starch contained higher in Ca, Mn and Fe content. Complexes of small granular starch and amino acids were rich in swelling power, and solubility by temperature change were similar between inside white fresh ginseng starch and normal one, but the former was more easily swelled than the latter.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.18 no.3
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• pp.187-190
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• 1994

The pith and xylem parts of fresh root that turned into inside-white during processing for red ginseng was investigated under scanning electron microscope in comparison with the sa31e position of fresh root processed into normal reddening. In the inside-white part starch storage cells remain mostly in vacancy or with small number of starch granules and with large hollow by missing cell membranes between cells. Many starch seed granules appeared on the surface of storage cell wall in the inside-white part. Fresh root sample showed better picture than dried powder.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.8 no.2
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• pp.167-171
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• 1984

Soft X-ray is useful to identify the quality of fresh ginseng causing the inside cavity or white pan of red ginseng. The portion of low mass density identified by the difference in absorption of soft X-ray showed lower dry matter density and less or no response to iodine test indicating less accumulation or excess consumption of starch. The inside white part of red ginseng absorbed less X-ray than the normal part did. Probability for identification of the inside cavity or white at fresh ginseng was rather high (80-90%) in screen observation than f'3m reading and seemed to be increased further by using the developed screen and with training. The inside white of red ginseng appeared to be due to starch deficiency. Dry matter density appeared to be better than fresh weight density for the quality criterion.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.40 no.2
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• pp.160-168
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• 2016

Background: Ginseng (Panax ginseng Meyer) is a well-characterized medicinal herb listed in the classic oriental herbal dictionary as "Shin-nong-bon-cho-kyung." Ginseng has diverse pharmacologic and therapeutic properties. Black ginseng (BG, Ginseng Radix nigra) is produced by repeatedly steaming fresh ginseng nine times. Studies of BG have shown that prolonged heat treatment enhances the antioxidant activity with increased radical scavenging activity. Several recent studies have showed the effects of BG on increased lipid profiles in mice. In this study report the effects of water and ethanol extracts of BG on hypercholesterolemia in rats. To our knowledge, this is the first time such an effect has been reported. Methods: Experiments were conducted on male Sprague Dawley rats fed with a high-cholesterol diet supplemented with the water and ethanol extracts of BG (200 mg/kg). Their blood cholesterol levels, serum white blood cell levels, and cholesterol-metabolizing marker genes messenger RNA (mRNA) expression were determined. Liver and adipose tissues were histologically analyzed. Results: We found that BG extracts efficiently reduced the total serum cholesterol levels, low-density lipoprotein (LDL) levels with increased food efficiency ratio and increased number of neutrophil cells. It also attenuated the key genes responsible for lipogenesis, that is, acetyl-coenzyme A (CoA) acetyltransferase 2, 3-hydroxy-3-methyl-glutaryl-CoA reductase, and sterol regulatory element-binding protein 2, at the mRNA level inside liver cells. Furthermore, the BG extract also reduced the accumulation of fat in adipose tissues, and inhibited the neutral fat content in liver cells stained with hematoxylin and eosin and oil red O. Conclusion: Administration of BG extracts to Sprague Dawley rats fed with high-cholesterol diet ameliorated hypercholesterolemia, which was mediated via modulation of cholesterol-metabolizing marker genes. This data throw a light on BG's cardioprotective effects.