• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.19 no.2
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• pp.101-107
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• 1995

The present study was undertaken to examine the effects of ginseng saponins [ginseng total saponin (GTS), protopanaxadiol saponin (PD) and protopanaxatriol saponin (PT)] on the hyperactivity, reverse tolerance and dopamine receptor super-sensitivity induced by cocaine. A single treatment with cocaine produced hyperactivity. Repeated administration of cocaine developed reverse tolerance and dopamine receptor super-sensitivity was also developed in reverse tolerant mice which had received the same cocaine. The hyperactivity and the developments of reverse tolerance and dopamine receptor super-sensitivity by cocaine were inhibited by ginseng saponins. From these results, it is proposed that ginseng saponins may be useful for the prevention and therapy of the adverse actions of cocaine. In addition, the rank order of inhibitory potential was observed as PT>GTS>PD. Key words Cocaine, hyperactivity, reverse tolerance, dopamine receptor super-sensitivity, ginseng saponins.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.19 no.2
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• pp.160-164
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• 1995

This study was carried out to compare the root yields, root characters, saponin and ginsenosides contents of 6-year-old p. ginseng and p. quinquefolium. These two ginseng species showed difference in the diameter and ten비h of mainroot. The main root length or p. quinquefolium was shorter than that of p. ginseng, whereas Jakyung-jong and Hwangsook-jong of P. ginseng showed similar root length. Proximate composition were similar between the two species, however, crude fibercontent was significantly higher in main and lateral root of Jakyung-jong and Hwang sook-jong of P ginseng than P quinquefolium. In regard to mineral contents of root, P ginseng contained more Ca and Mn and less Fe and Al than P. quinquefolium. P. quinquefolium contained more of Rbl and Rd of protopanaxadiol saponin, and less or Re, $Rg_1$ and $Rg_2$ of protopanaxatriol saponin than P ginseng. However, no Rf was detected in the p. quinquefolium. Key words Panax ginseng, Panax quinquefolium, ginseng character, ginsenoside.

• Archives of Pharmacal Research
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• v.5 no.2
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• pp.45-52
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• 1982

Staibilization effect of Panax ginseng C. A. Meyer on .betha.-D-Galactosidase inactivation was proved by kinetic studies of thermal inactivation of the enzyme. The water extract Panax ginseng C. A. Meyer showed stabilization activity at minimal concentration of 10ppm. The methanolic extract was purified to obtain ginseng saponins, and two groups of the ginsenosides, i. e. protopanaxadiol and protopanaxatriol were isolated. They also showed a protective effect against the thermal and chemical inactivation of the enzyme; p-chloromercuribenzoic acid and hydroxylamine known as protein modifier greatly inactivated the enzyme but inactivation was significantly balocked by the ginseng component MG$^{2+}$, known as a cofactor, stabilized the enzyme and the poor stabilization effect by it was potentiated by ginseng components.s.

• Archives of Pharmacal Research
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• v.6 no.1
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• pp.63-68
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• 1983

The binding properties of three ginsenosides, Rb$_{1}$, Rc and Re, to bovine and human serum albumins have been examined by fluorescence probe technique. 1-anilinonphathalene-8-sulfonate (ANS) was used as the fluorescence probe. Protopanaxatriol glycoside, Re, did not quench the fluorscence of ANS to the bovine serum albumin. Competitive bindings between protopanaxadiol glycosides, Rb$_{1}$ and Rc are both 3.3 . The binding constants for Rb$_{1}$ and Rc with bovine serum albumin were 1.91 * 10$_{4}$M$_{-1}$ AND 1.04 * 10$^{[-994]}$ M$^{-1}$ , respectively. The ginsenosides, Rb$_{1}$, Rc and Re did not quench the fluorescence of ANS bound to human serum albumin.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.43 no.3
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• pp.361-367
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• 2019

Panax ginseng, known as Koran ginseng, one of the most commonly used traditional plants, has been demonstrated to show a wide range of pharmacological applications. Ginsenosides are the major active ingredients found in ginseng and are responsible for the biological and pharmacological activities, such as antioxidation, antiinflammation, vasorelaxation, and anticancer actions. Existing studies have mostly focused on identifying and purifying single ginsenosides and investigating pharmacological activities and molecular mechanisms in cells and animal models. However, ginsenoside studies based on clinical trials have been very limited. Therefore, this review aimed to discuss the currently available clinical trials on ginsenosides and provide insights and future directions for developing ginsenosides as efficacious and safe drugs for human disease.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.10 no.1
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• pp.11-20
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• 1986

The potential effects of ginseng saponin on the growth, aflatoxin production, and physicochemical characteristics of Aspergillus parasiticus R-716 were investigated and the results obtained were summarized as follows. The pH values of culture filtrate were increased with an increase of addition amount of saponins, the amount of mycelium was increased up to l19% by the addition of 0.01% protopanaxatriol saponin (triol). Amount of aflatoxin was increased in proportion as the bright yellow color of chloroform extract of culture filtrate was intensified. There was no difference in sporulation by the addition of 0.02% saponins, however, the sporulation was gradually decreased as the addition concentration of saponins increased. Aflatoxin production was reduced to the level of 8% by the addition of crude saponin, but production of aflatoxin B1 and B2 were inhibited by 56% and 8% with the addition of 0.5% pure saponin. The production of aflatoxin B. was increased by the addition of 0.5% trios saponin, and by the addition of 0.02% biol saponin, aflatoxin G, production reached to the maximum and thereafter it was decreased.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.25 no.4
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• pp.150-155
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• 2001

This study examined effects of the active ingredients from ginseng on paraquat(PQ) toxitity. Mice were given PQ(25mg/kg, ip) and then they were given total saponins (TS; 5mg/kg, orally), protopanaxadiol (PD; 5mg/kg, orally) and protopanaxatriol(PT; 5mg/kg, orally) per day for periods of 1,3 & 7 days. We measured the activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD), electrophoretic isozyme band, catalase (CAT) were compared in the liver of mouse that dose with PQ and/or TS, PD and PT. The activities of SOD, CAT were generally higher in PQ+PD group than others groups. Especially the activity of SOD was the highest in PQ+PD group than others groups. SOD isozyme separated into three bands by electrophoresis. One band was located to near the anode side and two bands were cathode side. As the results of treated with KCN, we were confiremed that the Cu, Zn-SOD was located to near the anode side but the Mn-SOD were cathode side. Our results suggested that an antioxidant effect of ginseng saponins elevated a protection ability to an oxidative damage by direct action of SOD, CAT and reinforced the synthetic ability of endogenous antioxidant material in living organism. Particularly, PD was a effective antioxidant compared with others.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.23 no.2 s.54
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• pp.115-121
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• 1999

Effects of single and repeated administration of various nootropic candidates were examined on impaired acquisition by single oral administration of 3 g/kg ethanol (EtOH) in step through test. The inhibitory effect of EtOH on acquisition was significantly reduced by single picrotoxin, but not affected by diazepam, acetyl-L-carnitine and apomorphine. Single or repeated red ginseng total saponin and deprenyl, single piracetam, repeated N-methyl-D-glucamine, but not single or repeated protopanaxadiol, protopanaxatriol and centrophenoxine significantly ameliorated the impairment of acquisition by EtOH. On the other hand, the inhibitory effect of repeated red ginseng total saponin but not that of repeated N-methyl-D-Glucamine, was significantly blocked by pretreatment of $\alpha$-methyl-$\rho$-tyrosine, a inhibitor of catecholamine synthesis. Whereas, the inhibitory effect of repeated deprenyl on EtOH amnesia was exaggerated by $\alpha$-methyl-$\rho$-tyrosine. These results suggest that the amelioration processes of drugs on ethanol amnesia involve complex mechanism between the central GABAergic and dopaminergic neuronal activity in memory and learning, although the effects of repeated drugs administration are not yet clear.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.28 no.1
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• pp.5-10
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• 2004

This study was carried out to investigate the effect of the active ingredients from ginseng on paraquat(PQ) toxicity. Oxidative stress was induced by intraperitreatneal injection of PQ at a single dose of 25 mg/kg. Saponin treated groups were given protopanaxadiol saponins(PPD) or protopanaxatriol saponins(PPT)(5 mg/kg, orally) per day for 1, 3, & 7 days. We also investigated the relationship between lipid peroxidation and ginseng saponins by measuring the levels of superoxide dismutase(SOD), catalase(CAT), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), reduced glutathione(GSH), malondialdehyde (MDA), and hydrogen peroxide(H$_2$O$_2$) in liver tissue. The activities of SOD, CAT, and GPx were generally high in the PPD group; the SOD activity on each day was the highest in the PPD group. The H$_2$O$_2$ content was the lowest in the PPD group. The GSH levels were significantly increased in the PPD. The levels of MDA(the end product of lipid peroxidation) were significantly lower in the red ginseng component groups than in the PQ group; the levels were especially low in the PPD groups. These results led us to conclude that the antioxidant effects of extracts from red ginseng prevent oxidative damage by direct antioxidant effects involving SOD, CAT, & GPx, and increasing the ability of the body to synthesize endogenous antioxidants.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.41 no.4
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• pp.540-547
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• 2017

Background: In general, after Panax ginseng is administered orally, intestinal microbes play a crucial role in its degradation and metabolization process. Studies on the metabolism of P. ginseng by microflora are important for obtaining a better understanding of their biological effects. Methods: In vitro biotransformation of P. ginseng extract by rat intestinal microflora was investigated at $37^{\circ}C$ for 24 h, and the simultaneous determination of the metabolites and metabolic profile of P. ginseng saponins by rat intestinal microflora was achieved using LC-MS/MS. Results: A total of seven ginsenosides were detected in the P. ginseng extract, including ginsenosides Rg1, Re, Rf, Rb1, Rc, Rb2, and Rd. In the transformed P. ginseng samples, considerable amounts of deglycosylated metabolite compound K and Rh1 were detected. In addition, minimal amounts of deglycosylated metabolites (ginsenosides Rg2, F1, F2, Rg3, and protopanaxatriol-type ginsenosides) and untransformed ginsenosides Re, Rg1, and Rd were detected at 24 h. The results indicated that the primary metabolites are compound K and Rh1, and the protopanaxadiol-type ginsenosides were more easily metabolized than protopanaxatriol-type ginsenosides. Conclusion: This is the first report of the identification and quantification of the metabolism and metabolic profile of P. ginseng extract in rat intestinal microflora using LC-MS/MS. The current study provided new insights for studying the metabolism and active metabolites of P. ginseng.