• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.27 no.3 s.67
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• pp.38-50
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• 2006

Objectives: The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of Korean ginseng (KG), Korean red ginseng (KRG) and fermented Korean red ginseng (FKRG) extracts on cerebral hemodynamics and to compare distinction of each extract. Methods: Ten healthy male volunteers $(26.0{\pm}1.8yrs)$ participated in the study according to double-blind and cross-over protocols. Each volunteer was blindly administered 500mg of KG, KRG, FKRG extract or placebo (Dextrin). Blinded researchers measured changes of hyperventilation-induced cerebrovascular reactivity (CVR), mean blood flow velocity (MBFV) of middle cerebral arteries (MCAs) and corrected blood flow velocity at $P_{ETCO2}=40mmHg$ (CV40) using transcranial Doppler ultrasound (DWL Co., Germany). Researchers also observed changes of mean blood pressure (MBP), pulse rate (PR) and expiratory $CO_2$ using S/5 Collector (Datex-Ohmeda Co., Finland). The evaluation was performed at basal condition, and repeated at 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 hours after administration. Results: MBFV and CV40 in the KRG group tended to rise at I hour after administration, while those of the FKRG group tended to rise at 2 hours after administration. CVR increased significantly after 1 hour in the KRG group (p=0.009) and after 2 hours in the FKRG group (p=0.035), respectively. The KG group showed increasing tendency at 4 hours after administration. No group showed significant difference from the placebo in changes of MBP and PR. Conclusions: It is suggested that KG, KRG and FKRG extracts have effects of enhancing CVR and thus of increasing cerebral blood flow in human subjects.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.45 no.5
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• pp.652-656
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• 2013

The geographical origin of red ginseng extract (RGE) was studied using a mass spectrometry based electronic nose. Imported RGE and domestic RGE were diluted to 12oBx. The treated RGE was analyzed, and discriminant function analysis (DFA) was used for discriminating of geographical origins. The DFA plots indicated a significant separation of imported RGE and domestic RGE. The F-value of discriminant function first score (DF1) was much higher than that of discriminant function second score (DF2), indicating that discrimination was mainly affected by DF1. Based on DF1, the concentration of domestic RGE to imported RGE shifted to the left side of DFA plot, and the mixing ratio highly correlated to DF1 value. Unknown sample (#2) was closely located to the sample of mixed imported : domestic (6:4) RGE. In the bar graph, the DF1 value correlated to the mixing ratio. Unknown samples (#2) were thought to be mixed with the imported RGE. This technique could be used to efficiently differentiate the geographical origin of RGE.

• Food Science and Preservation
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• v.11 no.1
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• pp.1-6
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• 2004

The mixture of botanical antimicrobial agent-citurs product and ginseng extract mixture(BAACG) was applied to garlic stalk or pork cooked in soysauce to extend their selflife. BAACG showed a remarkable antimicrobial activity against a wide spectrum of food-borne infection microorganisms and thermal and pH stability. In comparison with scanning electron microscopic photos of microbial cells not-treated and treated with BAACG the physiological cytomembrane function of BAACG-treated microorganisms was destroyed and the dead cell numbers was increased. The quality of garlic stalk or pork cooked in soysauce was controlled by the addition of BAACG in their raw materials. BAACG-treated garlic stalk or pork cookeries showed considerably to decrease the numbers of total cell count and expressed no odor and no sticky state appeared in the control. BAACG was expected to be a preservative agent which could be applied to raw or processed food stuffs in the view of food safety.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.37 no.1
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• pp.124-134
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• 2013

The authentication of the physico-chemical properties of ginsenosides reference materials as well as qualitative and quantitative batch analytical data based on validated analytical procedures is a prerequisite for certifying good manufacturing practice (GMP). Ginsenoside Rb1 and Rg1, representing protopanaxadiol and protopanaxatriol ginsenosides, respectively, are accepted as marker substances in quality control standards worldwide. However, the current analytical methods for these two compounds recommended by Korean, Chinese, European, and Japanese pharmacopoeia do not apply to red ginseng preparations, particularly the extract, because of the relatively low content of the two agents in red ginseng compared to white ginseng. In manufacturing fresh ginseng into red ginseng products, ginseng roots are exposed to a high temperature for many hours, and the naturally occurring ginsenoside Rb1 and Rg1 are converted to artifact ginsenosides such as Rg3, Rg5, Rh1, and Rh2 during the heating process. The analysis of ginsenosides in commercially available ginseng products in Korea led us to propose the inclusion of the (20S)- and (20R)-ginsenoside Rg3, including ginsenoside Rb1 and Rg1, as additional reference materials for ginseng preparations. (20S)- and (20R)-ginsenoside Rg3 were isolated by Diaion HP-20 adsorption chromatography, silica gel flash chromatography, recrystallization, and preparative HPLC. HPLC fractions corresponding to those two ginsenosides were recrystallized in appropriate solvents for the analysis of physico-chemical properties. Documentation of those isolated ginsenosides was achieved according to the method proposed by Gaedcke and Steinhoff. The ginsenosides were subjected to analyses of their general characteristics, identification, purity, content quantification, and mass balance tests. The isolated ginsenosides showed 100% purity when determined by the three HPLC systems. Also, the water content was found to be 0.534% for (20S)-Rg3 and 0.920% for (20R)-Rg3, meaning that the net mass balances for (20S)-Rg3 and (20R)-Rg3 were 99.466% and 99.080%, respectively. From these results, we could assess and propose a full spectrum of physico-chemical properties of (20S)- and (20R)-ginsenoside Rg3 as standard reference materials for GMP-based quality control.

• Natural Product Sciences
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• v.10 no.3
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• pp.134-139
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• 2004

In this study, an immunoactivity of panaxtriol ginsenosides Re and Rg1 against infection due to Candida albicans was investigated. The ginsenosides were extracted from Red Ginseng with 85% ethanol and heat-treatment and were analyzed by HPLC on water-acetonitrile as a mobile phase. The HPLC analysis revealed that the extract contained ginsenosides Re and Rg1, which were eluted as a combined peak. By agar diffusion susceptibility, the mixture of Re and Rg1 had no growth-inhibitory activity on C. albicans yeast cells. However, in animal tests BALB/c mice given the mixture of Re and Rg1 intraperitoneally (Lp.) before intravenous (Lv.) infection with live C. albicans yeast cells had longer mean survival times (MST) than MST of control mice groups that received only buffer solution instead of Re and Rg1. In experiments 60% of the ginsenosides-treated mice survived the entire duration of the 50-day observation. The Re and Rg1 mixture induced production of nitric oxide when interacted with RAW 264.7 macrophage cell line. In addition, the mixture caused morphological change of the macrophages. These data indicate that immunostimulation by the Re and Rg1 may be responsible for the protection of mice against disseminated candidiasis.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.41 no.3
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• pp.428-433
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• 2017

Background: In this study, the fermentation of ginseng seeds was hypothesized to produce useful physiologically-active substances, similar to that observed for fermented ginseng root. Ginseng seed was fermented using Bacillus, Pediococcus, and Lactobacillus strains to extract ginseng seed oil, and the extraction yield, color, and quantity of phenolic compounds, fatty acids, and phytosterol were then analyzed. Methods: The ginseng seed was fermented inoculating 1% of each strain on sterilized ginseng seeds and incubating the seeds at $30^{\circ}C$ for 24 h. Oil was extracted from the fermented ginseng seeds using compression extraction, solvent extraction, and supercritical fluid extraction. Results and Conclusion: The color of the fermented ginseng seed oil did not differ greatly according to the fermentation or extraction method. The highest phenolic compound content recovered with the use of supercritical fluid extraction combined with fermentation using the Bacillus subtilis Korea Food Research Institute (KFRI) 1127 strain. The fatty acid composition did not differ greatly according to fermentation strain and extraction method. The phytosterol content of ginseng seed oil fermented with Bacillus subtilis KFRI 1127 and extracted using the supercritical fluid method was highest at 983.58 mg/100 g. Therefore, our results suggested that the ginseng seed oil fermented with Bacillus subtilis KFRI 1127 and extracted using the supercritical fluid method can yield a higher content of bioactive ingredients, such as phenolics, and phytosterols, without impacting the color or fatty acid composition of the product.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.39 no.9
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• pp.1391-1398
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• 2010

Red ginseng marc (RGM) was fermented by the solid-state fermentation using Bacillus subtilis HA to produce biologically active compounds. The red ginseng marc fermented without mugwort possessed higher mucilage content (11.5%) and proteolytic activity (277.5 unit/g). The RGM fermented with 3% mugwort showed lower production of mucilage and protease activity whereas higher tyrosine content (581.3 mg%) and consistency index ($8.8\;Pa{\cdot}s^n$). The mucilage produced from fermented RGM contained $\gamma$-PGA with 1,100 kDa of molecular weight, and its yield was 15.9 g/kg. 70% ethanol extract from the RGM fermented with 3% mugwort had the highest DPPH radical scavenging effect ($IC_{50}$ value of 0.57 mg/mL), and the water extract showed the highest ABTS radical scavenging effect, indicating $IC_{50}$ value of 1.24 mg/mL. Overall, the RGM fermented by B. subtilis HA with mugwort contained various biologically active compounds having antioxidant effects.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.49 no.6
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• pp.685-692
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• 2017

Mitochondrial biogenesis-a process that leads to an increment in the number and density of mitochondria, improves physical performance and body health by enhancing exercise capacity. In the present study, we investigated the stimulatory effect of Ashitaba and red ginseng complex (ARC) on exercise capacity in L6 skeletal muscle cells and mice. In L6 skeletal muscle cells, ARC increased the mitochondrial contents and ATP production by activating AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK), sirtuin 1 (SIRT1), and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma coactivator-1 alpha (PGC-$1{\alpha}$) and up-regulating the mRNA expression of nuclear respiratory factor-1 (NRF-1) and mitochondrial transcription factor A (TFAM). In the animal experiments, mice treated with ARC showed an increment in exercise capacity as compared with mice treated with Ashitaba extract or red ginseng extract alone. These studies indicate that ARC might serve as a potential natural candidate for enhancing exercise capacity by stimulation of mitochondrial biogenesis.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.41 no.2
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• pp.134-143
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• 2017

Background: The prevalence of allergic inflammatory diseases such as atopic dermatitis (AD), asthma, and allergic rhinitis worldwide has increased and complete recovery is difficult. Korean Red Ginseng, which is the heat-processed root of Panax ginseng Meyer, is widely and frequently used as a traditional medicine in East Asia. In this study, we investigated whether Korean Red Ginseng water extract (RGE) regulates the expression of proinflammatory cytokines and chemokines via the mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs)/nuclear factor kappa B ($NF-{\kappa}B$) pathway in allergic inflammation. Methods: Compound 48/80-induced anaphylactic shock and 1-fluoro-2,4-dinitrobenzene (DNFB)-induced AD-like skin lesion mice models were used to investigate the antiallergic effects of RGE. Human keratinocytes (HaCaT cells) and human mast cells (HMC-1) were also used to clarify the effects of RGE on the expression of proinflammatory cytokines and chemokines. Results: Anaphylactic shock and DNFB-induced AD-like skin lesions were attenuated by RGE administration through reduction of serum immunoglobulin E (IgE) and interleukin (IL)-6 levels in mouse models. RGE also reduced the production of proinflammatory cytokines including $IL-1{\beta}$, IL-6, and IL-8, and expression of chemokines such as IL-8, thymus and activation-regulated chemokine (TARC), and macrophage-derived chemokine (MDC) in HaCaT cells. Additionally, RGE decreased the release of tumor necrosis $factor-{\alpha}$ ($TNF-{\alpha}$), $IL-1{\beta}$, IL-6, and IL-8 as well as expressions of chemokines including macro-phage inflammatory protein $(MIP)-1{\alpha}$, $MIP-1{\beta}$, regulated on activation, normal T cell expressed and secreted (RANTES), monocyte chemoattractant protein (MCP)-1, and IL-8 in HMC-1 cells. Furthermore, our data demonstrated that these inhibitory effects occurred through blockage of the MAPK and $NF-{\kappa}B$ pathway. Conclusion: RGE may be a useful therapeutic agent for the treatment of allergic inflammatory diseases such as AD-like dermatitis.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.42 no.4
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• pp.562-570
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• 2018

Background: Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer-related death worldwide. In this study, we used a bioactivity-guided isolation technique to identify constituents of Korean Red Ginseng (KRG) with antiproliferative activity against human lung adenocarcinoma cells. Methods: Bioactivity-guided fractionation and preparative/semipreparative HPLC purification were used with LC/MS analysis to separate the bioactive constituents. Cell viability and apoptosis in human lung cancer cell lines (A549, H1264, H1299, and Calu-6) after treatment with KRG extract fractions and constituents thereof were assessed using the water-soluble tetrazolium salt (WST-1) assay and terminal deoxyribonucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP nick end labeling (TUNEL) staining, respectively. Caspase activation was assessed by detecting its surrogate marker, cleaved poly adenosine diphosphate (ADP-ribose) polymerase, using an immunoblot assay. The expression and subcellular localization of apoptosis-inducing factor were assessed using immunoblotting and immunofluorescence, respectively. Results and conclusion: Bioactivity-guided fractionation of the KRG extract revealed that its ethyl acetate-soluble fraction exerts significant cytotoxic activity against all human lung cancer cell lines tested by inducing apoptosis. Chemical investigation of the ethyl acetatesoluble fraction led to the isolation of six ginsenosides, including ginsenoside Rb1 (1), ginsenoside Rb2 (2), ginsenoside Rc (3), ginsenoside Rd (4), ginsenoside Rg1 (5), and ginsenoside Rg3 (6). Among the isolated ginsenosides, ginsenoside Rg3 exhibited the most cytotoxic activity against all human lung cancer cell lines examined, with $IC_{50}$ values ranging from $161.1{\mu}M$ to $264.6{\mu}M$. The cytotoxicity of ginsenoside Rg3 was found to be mediated by induction of apoptosis in a caspase-independent manner. These findings provide experimental evidence for a novel biological activity of ginsenoside Rg3 against human lung cancer cells.