• Toxicological Research
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• v.4 no.2
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• pp.159-179
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• 1988

This study was carried out to investigate the inhibitory effects of red ginseng extract on preneoplastic nodule formation in the rat liver using a rapid bioassay of hepatocarcinogenesis. Wistar male rats in test groups were fed diets containing 3.0, 0.3 or 003% of red genseng extract for 6 weeks after 2 week of dosing with diethylnitrosamine (DEAN, 200 mg/kg B.W., I.P.) or saline solution. The rats in the control groups were treated with DENA or saline alone. Three weeks after the beginning of the experiment, the two-thirds partial hepatectomy was performed on all animals. The inhibitory effects were investigated by measuring the number, total area and size of hyperplastic nodules enhanced by the 2/3 partial hepatectomy following induction with DENA. The results obtained were summarized as follows: 1. In general, the body weight gains of the rats fed diets containing red ginseng extract were higher than those of other groups.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.30 no.3
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• pp.117-127
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• 2006

Ginseng is a medicinal herb widely used in Asian countries. Dendritic cells(DCs) play a pivotal role in the initiation of T cell-mediated immune responses, making them an attractive cellular adjuvant for use in cancer vaccines. In this study, we examined the effects of Red-ginseng(water extract, edible and fermented ethyl alcohol extract, crude saponin) on the DCs phenotypic and functional maturation. Immature DCs were cultured in the presence of GM-CSF and IL-4, and the generated immature DCs were stimulated by water extract, edible and fermented ethyl alcohol extract, crude saponin and LPS, respectively, for 24hours. The expression of surface co-stimulatory molecules, including MHC(major histocompatibility complex) class II, CD40, CD80 and CD86, was increased on DCs that were stimulated with crude saponin, but antigen-uptake capacity was decreased. The antigen-presenting capacity of Red-ginseng extracts-treated DCs as analyzed by allogeneic T cells proliferation and IL-2, $IFN-{\gamma}$ production was increased. Furthermore, $CD4^+$ and $CD8^+$ syngeneic T cell(OVA-specific) proliferation and $IFN-{\gamma}$ production was significantly increased. However, $CD4^+$ syngeneic T cell secreted higher levels of IL-2 in responding but not $CD8^+$ syngeneic T cell. These results indicate the immunomodulatory properties of Red-ginseng extracts, which might be therapeutically useful in the control of cancers and immunodeficient diseases through the up-regulation of DCs maturation.