• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.24 no.4
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• pp.162-167
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• 2000

To study on antioxidant effects of saponin fractions, we investigated effects in the liver of 40-week-old mice to which were pretreated with 5 mg/kg per body weight of saponins for 5 days. The ability of saponins to protect against oxidative damage to the mouse liver was examined by determining the level malondialdehyde (MDA),hydrogen peroxide and the activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT). The only panaxadiol (PD)among the ginseng saponin fractions significantly increased the hepatic SOD activities (p<0.01), Whereas PD, panaxatriol (PT), ginsenoside Rd (G-Rd) (p<0.01) and ginsenoside Re (G-Re) (p<0.05) significantly decreased the contents of hydrogen peroxide. It was only G-Rd that significantly increased CAT activities (p<0.05). The level of MDA was significantly decreased by G-Rd and PD. In conclusion, PD and G-Rd among the saponin fractions were especially increased in the activity of hepatic antioxidative enzyme and decreased the lipid peroxidation that was expressed in term of MDA formation.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.9 no.1
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• pp.24-30
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• 1977

The patterns of ginseng saponins in the commercial ginseng tea samples and each parts of ginseng plant were investigated by quantitative thin-layer chromatography. The quality of those sample teas were also evaluated. (1) White ginseng contained about $2.6{\sim}6.6$ times of Ra(o) than did other parts of ginseng. (2) Lateral roots, peelings and buds of ginseng were rich in $Rb_1$, $b_2$, c, which constituted about 50% of total saponin. (3) The ratio of Rb.c to Rg(f) in the leaves and stems of ginseng plant was 0.64 : 1. (White ginseng, 2 : 1 ; buds, 3 : 1 ; flower, 3.2 : 1 ; peelings, 5.8 : 1 ; lateral ginseng, 7 : 1) The relative content of Rg(f) in the white ginseng was about 3 times as much as the lateral ginseng. (4) The ratios of panaxadiol to panaxatriol in 13 kinds of commercial ginseng teas were in the range of $0.8{\sim}8\;:\;1$.

• Proceedings of the Ginseng society Conference
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• 2002.10a
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• pp.401-415
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• 2002

Lim and his coworkers (1987; 1988; 1989) have also found that all of total Ginseng saponin, panaxadiol-and panaxatriol-type saponins cause the increased secretion of catecholamines (CA) in a $Ca^{2+}$ -dependent fashion from the isolated perfused rabbit adrenal glands through the activation of cholinergic (both nicotinic and muscarinic) receptors. These CA secretory effects are partly due to the direct action on the rabbit adrenomedullary chromaffin cells. However, the present study was designed to examine the effect of total ginseng saponin on CA secretion evoked by activation of cholinergic nicotinic receptors in the isolated perfused model of the rat adrenal gland. Total ginseng saponin given (100 ${\mu}g$/20 min) into an adrenal vein did fail to produce alteration of spontaneous CA release from the rat adrenal medulla. Acetylcholine(5.32 mM)- and DMPP(100 ${\mu}M$, a selective nicotinic receptor agonist)-evoked CA secretory responses were reduced markedly after the pretreatment with the total ginseng saponin at a rate of 100 ${\mu}g$/6.2 ml/20 min, respectively. Pretreatment with total ginseng saponin also depressed greatly high potassium (56 mM, a membrane depolarizing agent)- and Bay-K-8644 (10 ${\mu}M$, a calcium channel activator)-induced CA secretions. Taken together, it is thought that total ginseng saponin can inhibit the releasing effect of CA evoked by nicotinic receptor stimulation from the isolated perfused rat adrenal medulla, which seems to be associated to the direct inhibition of influx through L-type calcium channel into the rat adrenomedullary chromaffin cells. It seems that there is species differences in the adrenomedullary catecholamine secretion between the rabbit and rat.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.20 no.2
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• pp.168-172
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• 1996

Ginsenoside Rb,, at a concentration of 10 $\mu\textrm{g}$/ml and over, initiated the cycle of oscillation of ion flux in erythrocytes after the cells had been treated with a protonophore, carbonyl cyanide p-trifluoro-methoxyphenyl hydrazone (FCCP) and then with a $Ca^{2+}$ ionophore, A23,3,. Its action was similar to the additional portion of $Ca^{2+}$-ionophore or $Ca^{2+}$ ion to the erythrocytes. Effects of $Rg_1$ and Rf were different from that of Rb,. They did not induce the oscillation. They, however, increased the extracellular $K^{+}$ concentration and pH without returning to the initial state in the erythrocytes processed with FCCP and $A_{23187}$. We established that ginsenosides from 20-(5)-panaxatriol family induced the membrane hyperpolarization in erythrocytes, which was attenuated by the pretreatment of $Rb_1$, a major component of 20-(5)-panaxadiol.

• KOREAN JOURNAL OF CROP SCIENCE
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• v.54 no.4
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• pp.390-396
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• 2009

To select optimal shade material in paddy soil, growth characteristics and ginsenoside contents were investigated in new cultivar, 'Cheonpoong' of three-year-old ginseng cultured under three kinds of shade materials such as three-layered blue and one-layered black PE (polyethylene) net (TBPN), blue PE sheet (BPSS), and aluminium-coated PE sheet (APSS). The order of light transmission ratio and air temperature by shade materials were BPSS > APSS > TBSB among three shade materials. Average soil water tension in PDC and IDC was 64 mbar (absolute soil moisture, 25%) and 123 mbar (absolute soil moisture, 17%), respectively, and soil water tension in IDC was changed more distinctly than that of PDC by season and shade materials. Yield in PDC was distinctly decreased more than that in IDC because of the increase of discolored-leaf and rusted-root ratio. BPSS and TBPN among three shade materials were the most effective on the increase of yield in PDC and IDC, respectively. Ratio of rusty-colored root showed not significant difference by drainage class and shade materials. Contents of panaxatriol ginsenoside (Rg1, Re and Rf) were decreased in PDC, while it of panaxadiol ginsenoside (Rb1, Rc and Rd) were increased in IDC. Total ginsenoside contents of IDC was distinctly higher than that of PDC, and BPSS showed the highest contents among three shade materials regardless of poorly and imperfectly drainage class.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.10 no.2
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• pp.263-268
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• 1978

To find out the possible variation in chemical composition among ginseng products, the amount of saponin, extract and other basic components in different age and portion of ginseng roots(Panax ginseng Meyer) were investigated and compared with. (1) Great difference in the amount of ash, crude protein, fiber, fat, total sugar and reducing sugar was observed among different portion of the root comparing with those of different age of the root. That of ash, crude fiber, saponin and extract produced was higher in epidermis, fiber roots and subterranean stems, while that of crude protein, total sugar, panaxadiol/panaxatriol was higher in central portion and branch of the root. (2) The amount of extract produced was affected by the solvent used. Higher amount was obtained when water was employed. It was decreased as the increase of the concentration of alcohol solvent. Futhermore, the composition and physical properties were greatly varied by the concentration of alcohol solvent. (3) The amount of total-N, $P_2O_5,\;K_2O$, and ash was higher in two to three years old roots, while those of crude $SiO_2,\;CaO,$ crude fiber, and total sugar was higher in order roots. No difference was found in amount of MgO, Fe, Zn, and Na among age of the root.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.24 no.1
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• pp.8-17
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• 2000

Estrogen can influence on the expression of behaviors not associated directly with reproduction, including learning and memory. Recently estrogen has received considerable attention for its effects on neuroprotection and neural circuits in brain areas associated with cognition. Although estrogen replacement therapy may be helpful to postmenopausal women, it also results in a number of harmful side effects. Ginseng also has steroidal qualities and contains several ginsenoside components which have similar backbone structure to estrogen. The objectives of this experiment were 1) to examine the effects of estrogen and 2) to investigate the effects of ginsenosides as estrogenic agent on learning and memory using the Morris water maze, a traditional experimental task for spatial memory. In the experiments designed here, ovariectomized mice were implanted subcutaneously with Sila, itic capsules containing 17${\beta}$-estradiol (100∼250 $\mu\textrm{g}$/$m\ell$), panaxadiol (PD) and panaxatriol (PT) saponins (15∼100 $\mu\textrm{g}$/$m\ell$) diluted with sesame oil. In the first set of experiment, the effects of estradiol on learning and memory during the Morris water maze was examined. When estradiol was delivered via Silastic capsules following training improved spatial memory performance in ovariectomized female mice. In the second set of experiment, three different PD and PT saponin concentrations were delivered via Silastic implants to ovariectomized female mice and their effects were compared with estrogenic effects. Results of three separate experiments demonstrated that estradiol, PD and PT administrated by Silastic implants for 2 weeks prior to water maze training significantly improved spatial memory performance compared to ovariectomized (OVX) mice, as indicated by lower escape latency over trial. The positive effect of estradiol suggests that estrogen can affect performance on learning and memory. In addition, the positive effect of PD and PT saponins suggest that ginsenosides have an estrogen-like effects in mediating learning and memory related behavior action.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.26 no.4
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• pp.178-186
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• 2002

The present study was attempted to investigate the effects of total ginseng saponin (G75), panaxadiol-type (PDS) and panaxatriol-type saponin (PTS) on contractile responses of vasoconstrictors in aortic smooth muscle stripes of normotensive (NR) and spontaneous hypertensive rats (SHR). Phenylephrine (an adrenergic $\alpha$$\_$1/-receptor agonist) and high potassium (a membrane depolarizing agent) caused greatly contractile responses in both NR and AHR aorta, respectively. Phenylephrine- and high potassium-induced contractile responses were greater in NA than those in SHR aortic smooth muscle stripes. In NR, the contractile responses of high potassium (5.6$\times$10$\^$-2/ M) were not affected in the presence of GTS (300 $\mu$g/ml), PDS (300 $\mu$g/ml), and PTS (300 $\mu$g/ml), respectively whereas phenylephrine (10$\^$-6/ M)-induced contractile responses were markedly inhibited. In SHR, the contractile responses of high potassium (5.6$\times$10$\^$-2/ M) were not affected in the presence of GTS (300 $\mu$g/ml), PDS (300 $\mu$g/ml), and moderate doses of PTS (150-300 $\mu$g/ml), respectively but greatly blocked by high concentration of PTS (600 $\mu$g/ml). Phenylephrine (10$\^$-6/ M)-induced contractile responses were inhibited in a dose dependent fashion (150-600 $\mu$g/ml) by the pretreatment with PTS while not altered in the presence of GTS (300 $\mu$g/ml) and PDS (300 $\mu$g/ml), respectively. Taken together, these experimental results suggest that ginseng saponins cause vascular relaxation through blockade of adrenergic $\alpha$$\_$1/-receptors and some unknown mechanisms, and that there is some difference in sensitivity of vascular smooth muscle between NR and SHR in responses to ginseng saponins. It seems that panaxatriol type of some ginseng saponins has the greatest potency in vascular relaxation.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.35 no.3
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• pp.325-330
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• 2011

Red ginseng saponin fraction-A (RGSF-A) contains a high percentage of panaxadiol saponins that were isolated from Korean red ginseng by ultrafiltration. The aim of this study was to elucidate the effects of RGSF-A on the porcine distal left anterior descending (LAD) coronary artery. The relaxant responses to RGSF-A were examined during contractions induced by 100 nM U46619 (9,11-dideoxy-9a,11a-methanoepoxy-prostaglandin F2a), a stable analogue of thromboxane A2. RGSF-A dose-dependently induced biphasic (fast- and slow-) relaxation in the distal LAD coronary artery in the presence of an intact endothelium. The fast-relaxation was quickly achieved in a minute, and then the slow-relaxation was slowly developed and sustained for more than thirty minutes after the administration of RGSF-A. The slow-relaxation had a tendency to be bigger than the fast-relaxation. Fast relaxation induced by RGSF-A was almost blocked by $N_{\omega}$-Nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME), a nitric oxide synthase synthase inhibitor and 1H-[1,2,4]oxadiazolo[4,3-a]quinoxalin-1-one (ODQ), a guanylate cyclase inhibitor. However slow relaxation induced by RGSF-A was only partially inhibited by L-NAME and ODQ. In the endothelium-removed ring, RGSF-A evoked only slowrelaxation to a certain extent. These data suggest that RGSF-A induced both endothelium dependent fast- and slow-relaxation and endothelium independent slow-relaxation in the porcine distal LAD coronary artery. The endothelium dependent fast-relaxation is mediated by the nitric oxide (NO)-cGMP pathway, and the endothelium dependent slow-relaxation is at least partially mediated by the NO-cGMP pathway. However, the endothelium-independent slow-relaxation remains to be elucidated.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.33 no.1
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• pp.26-32
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• 2009

Diabetic nephropathy is associated with the dysfunction of proximal tubule cells. Insulin-like growth factor 1(IGF-I) has also been considered to play an important role in the development of diabetic nephropathy. Ginsenosides have been used as a remedy for diabetes in Asian countries. Therefore, we examined the preventive effect of ginsenosides against high glucose-induced alteration of IGF-I secretion in the primary cultured proximal tubule cells. In present study, Ginseng saponin (GS) completely blocked high glucose-induced stimulation of IGF-I secretion in proximal tubule cells, whereas panaxatriol (PI) and panaxadiol (PD) partially suppressed. In addition, high glucose stimulated cAMP formation and protein kinase C(PKC) activity from cytosolic to membrane fraction. GS completely prevented high glucose-induced stimulation of cAMP and PKC activity while PT and PD partially did. Furthermore, high glucose-induced stimulation of IGF-I was blocked by the treatment of PKI (protein kinase A inhibitor) and bisindolylmaleimide I (protein kinase C inhibitor). In conclusion, GS prevented high glucose-induced dysfunction of proximal tubule cells.