• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.28 no.10
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• pp.1022-1030
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• 1995

Saponins are glycosidic compounds present in many plant foods. They are characterized by their ability to lyse cell membranes due to their surface-active properties. Saponins are believed to interact primarily with cholesterol in the cell membrane. In this study, the interaction of soybean(SS) with cell membrane was investigated using erythrocytes as a model. Mechanisms of interaction was also investigated by measuring their binding capacity with different membrane lipid fractions. Throughout the study, gypsophilla saponin(GS) and quillaja saponin(QS) were used to evaluate the membranolytic activity of soybean saponins. All saponins released hemoglobin in a concentration-dependent manner. SS induced 40% hemolysis at the concentration of 400 ppm, however there was no increase in hemoglobin release above 400ppm concentration. 5ppm of GS and 8 ppm of QS hemolyzed 100% of erythrocytes. Isolation of SS fractions by thin layer chromatography revealed that only one non-polar saponin possesses strong hemolytic activity. When saponins were incubated decreased the release of cholesterol. When the hemolytic activity of saponins was measured in the presence of other major membrane lipid components, sphingomyelin significantly reduced the hemolytic activity of SS, while cholesterol reduced the activity of QS. GS showed high affinity to other component(s) in the incubation media as well as lipids. These results suggest that the membranolytic activity of saponins are related to their specific chemical structure, which determines the interaction behavior between saponins and different membrane components, and thereby influence the biological activity.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.6 no.1
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• pp.17-24
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• 1982

This studies were conducted to investigate the changes of saponin pattern, pH and organic acid contents of malt wort added ginseng components during alcoholic fermentation by Sacch. uvarum. The results are as follows. Saponin patterns of fermented wort were same as that of the non- fermented wort, but the weight of former was decreased comparing to that of the latter. pH value of fermented wort contained 0.1∼0.5% of ginseng extract were almost same as that of control(PH 4.23). Lactate, pyruvate, succinate and fumarate, pyroglutarate and citrate contents of the fermented wort were increased by the addition of ginseng extract and pyruvate content, particularly, was increased from 28.4 to 214mg/100 ml while that of control was 33.2mg/100m1. Citrate content of fermented wort contained ginseng saponin was almost same as control (37. 5mg/100m1) . But pyruvate content was tower 4-8.6mg/100m1 than that of control(33.2mg/100m1) .

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.22 no.1
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• pp.1-10
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• 1998

In the present study, to determine whether the antioxidative components of Korean red ginseng protect against radiation damage and the possible relationship among the radioprotective effects and antioxidant actions, the effects of total saponin (200 mg/kg, ip) and lipophilic fraction (200 mg/kg, oral) preferment of mice on the survival ratio, major antioxidant enzymes (SOD, catalase and glutathione peroxidase) activities, glutathione levels and lipid peroxidation in the liver were exiled for 2 weeks after whole ${\gamma}$-body ${\gamma}$-irradiation (6.5 Gy). The 30-day survival ratio increased from 10% to 57% and 40% for mice treated with total saponin and lipophilic fraction, respectively. On day 14 after ${\gamma}$-irradiation, the ginseng total saponin pretreatment produced a slight increase of antioxidant enzymes activities and significantly Increased reduced glutathione (GSH) contents (p<0.05) in the liver compared with non-treated group. Pretreatment with ginseng total saponin significantly deceased GSSG/total GSH ratio (p<0.05) without change of GSSG in the liver and inhibited the radiation-induced incense in the hepatic malondialdehyde levels. (p<0.05) In these results, GSH plays an important role in the liver in several detoxifications and the reduction of lipid peroxides. Thus, it appears that total saponin of red ginseng exerts its radioprotective effect by accelerating the production of endogenous antioxidants, such as glutathione from radiation induced damages and thereby oxygen free radicals.

• Proceedings of the Ginseng society Conference
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• 2007.05a
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• pp.27-27
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• 2007

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.32 no.1
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• pp.67-72
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• 2008

for 4 h, tumoricidal activity was significantly increased. However, NSRG had effects on tumoricidal activity of macrophages at low concentration (1 ug/ml), which was not related to the production of nitric oxide. The mitogen response of lymphocytes to LPS and ConA in the spleen did not show significant differences between the control and NSRG-treated cells, whereas LPS-induced blastogenesis was slightly increased at 100 ${\mu}g/ml$ (p < 0.05). These results suggest that NSRG has differential effects on innate immune response and could be useful as immunotherapy for cancer treatment.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.48 no.3
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• pp.266-275
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• 2024

Cancer stem cells (CSCs) are a rare subpopulation of cancer cells that exhibit stem cell-like characteristics, including self-renewal and differentiation in a multi-stage lineage state via symmetric or asymmetric division, causing tumor initiation, heterogeneity, progression, and recurrence and posing a major challenge to current anticancer therapy. Despite the importance of CSCs in carcinogenesis and cancer progression, currently available anticancer therapeutics have limitations for eradicating CSCs. Moreover, the efficacy and therapeutic windows of currently available anti-CSC agents are limited, suggesting the necessity to optimize and develop a novel anticancer agent targeting CSCs. Ginseng has been traditionally used for enhancing immunity and relieving fatigue. As ginseng's long history of use has demonstrated its safety, it has gained attention for its potential pharmacological properties, including anticancer effects. Several studies have identified the bioactive principles of ginseng, such as ginseng saponin (ginsenosides) and non-saponin compounds (e.g., polysaccharides, polyacetylenes, and phenolic compounds), and their pharmacological activities, including antioxidant, anticancer, antidiabetic, antifatigue, and neuroprotective effects. Notably, recent reports have shown the potential of ginseng-derived compounds as anti-CSC agents. This review investigates the biology of CSCs and efforts to utilize ginseng-derived components for cancer treatment targeting CSCs, highlighting their role in overcoming current therapeutic limitations.

• Journal of Korean Medicine for Obesity Research
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• v.22 no.1
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• pp.21-29
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• 2022

Objectives: This study aimed to examine the changes in ingredients according to its cultivation method by examining the content of saponin and non-saponin components of ginseng. Methods: Ginseng saponin component analysis was compared and reviewed using the high-performance liquid chromatography method, and acidic polysaccharide component was measured using the carbazole sulfuric acid method. Results: The comparative analysis of ginseng saponin content of 4 and 6 years old fresh ginseng showed the following results. According to the cultivation method, upland field cultivation fresh ginseng showed higher average content of crude saponin than paddy field cultivation fresh ginseng. Whereas, paddy field cultivation fresh ginseng showed higher average content of total saponin than upland field cultivation fresh ginseng. Ginsenoside Rb1 showed higher content of paddy field cultivation fresh ginseng than upland field cultivation fresh ginseng in 6 years old ginseng. However, it showed higher content of upland field cultivation fresh ginseng than paddy field cultivation fresh ginseng in 4 years old ginseng. Additionally, ginsenoside Rg1 showed higher content of paddy field cultivation fresh ginseng than upland field cultivation fresh ginseng in 6 years old ginseng, whereas upland field cultivation fresh ginseng showed higher content of paddy field cultivation fresh ginseng in 4 years old ginseng. The effect on the content of ginseng saponins and acidic polysaccharides according to paddy field and upland field cultivation methods is considered to be small. Conclusions: The paddy field cultivation method, which is more efficient in production cost due to depletion of farmland and long-distance cultivation, is considered to be an economical cultivation method.

• Journal of Korean Society of Environmental Engineers
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• v.29 no.6
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• pp.670-677
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• 2007

The stability of CGAs(colloidal gas aphrons) prepared from non-ionic and ionic surfactants was investigated. Those surfactants were sodium dodecyl sulfate(SDS), Triton X-100, Tween 80 and Quillaja Saponin. The stability of CGAs prepared from single surfactants or mixed surfactants(two components) using a CGA generate. was investigated as functions of temperature, surfactant concentration and stirring time. Saponin among the single surfactants has shown the longest duration time(143 min) and then, Triton X-100, SDS, and Tween 80 were followed by at room temperature. In case of CGAs heated up to $70^{\circ}C$, SDS endured for 116 min but Saponin lasted for only 105 mit which was a considerable reduction of the duration time of CGAs at room temperature. For mixed surfactant pairs, stability of any one pairs stood between the two. That meant no synergic effect for surfactant blending. At the higher temperature, Saponin+Triton X-100 was disclosed to be the lowest, 53 min meanwhile Saponin+SDS was the highest at ambient temperature. The CGAs, initially about 140 ${\mu}m$ in diameter, began to grow right after the agitation to be about 190 ${\mu}m$ owing to coalescence of the bubbles and then became to collapse. When heated, CGAs including Saponin tended to be smaller while the others to be larger. In summary, we found that the stability of CGAs or the duration time was greater for single surfactants and at room temperature rather than for mixed surfactants that caused substantial intermolecular interactions in the CGA structure and at the higher temperature.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.22 no.1
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• pp.60-65
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• 1998

The effect of Korean red-ginseng extract on the proliferation and cellular activity of mouse B and T lymphocytes was examined in vitro. Both water and ethanol extract from red-ginseng increased the growth of normal B and T lymphocytes 1.5∼2.5-folds. Saponin and polysaccharide fractions from ginseng extract also stimulated the proliferation of normal lymphocytes much higher than several well-known immunostimulators. B and T lymphoma cell lines responded to the ginseng extract and fractions by growth, too, while non-lymphoid cell lines did not. Immunoglobulin production of unprimed B-lymphocytes was little affected by the ginseng extract and fractions, though the ethanol extract slightly enhanced Ini, production of B-lymphocytes. When cytolytic activity of T lymphocytes against tumor tells was induced in vitro, both of the saponin and polysaccharide fractions and the ginseng ethanol extract increased the cellular activity of cytotoxic T lymphocytes 4-5-folds, while the ginseng water extract did not. Especially, the saponin fraction exhibited 10-times higher stimulatory effect on the cytolytlc activity of cytotoxic T cells than the ethanol extract and the pclysaccharide fraction did. These results suggest that Korean red-ginseng contain potent immunomodulating components to stimulate the proliferation of B and T lymphocytes and the cellular activity of cytotoxic T lymphocytes.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.30 no.1
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• pp.20-24
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• 2001

This study was conducted to analyze the general components and to investigate sensory evaluation of hot water extract prepared by boiling at 10$0^{\circ}C$ for 3 hr with 4-fold water. The contents of total soluble soild, non-reducing sugar, total saponin, ash and total protein were 15.95%, 6.54%, 1.735, 0.33% and 0.40%, respectively. The contents of succinic, malic and acetic acid in the extracts were 111.48 mg%, 23.67mg% and 18.36mg%, respectively. The major free amino acids and minerlas of the extract were hydroxyproline 1,290.0 $\mu\textrm{g}$%, glutamic acid 456.2$\mu\textrm{g}$% and potassium 151.35 mg%, respectively. Bitter taste in the extract was not observed, whereas sweet, sour and astringent taste were observed.