• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.18 no.12
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• pp.521-528
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• 2017

Excessive alcohol consumption is one of the leading causes of many neurological diseases, such as dementia and Alzheimer's disease, and many efforts are under way to solve them. Red ginseng is known to enhance neuronal survival, inhibit apoptosis, and promote nerve regeneration of nerve cells. This study examined whether Rg3-enriched Korean red ginseng extract (KRG) inhibits the apoptosis of PC12 cells caused by alcohol-induced neurotoxicity and how KRG regulates several factors related to the caspase mediated pathway. In this way, the cell survival rate and apoptosis rate of PC12 cells were measured using an EZ-Cytox cell viability assay kit and flow cytometry, respectively. The expression of the apoptosis-related proteins (Bcl-2, Bid, Bax and caspase-3) were analyzed by western blotting, and the significance of the measured results was confirmed using the ANOVA method. As a result, KRG increased the expression of Bcl-2; inhibited the expression of Bid, Bax, and caspase-3; and inhibited the apoptosis of alcohol-induced PC12 cells. These results mean that the KRG-induced increase in Bcl-2 expression and down-regulation of Bid and Bax expression down-regulate caspase-3 expression, which in turn inhibits the mitochondrial apoptotic pathways. This study suggests that KRG is worth developing as a neuroprotective agent candidate.

• Journal of the Korean Applied Science and Technology
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• v.34 no.3
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• pp.504-514
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• 2017

This study was carried out to investigate the emulsifying properties of concentrated red ginseng extract (CRGE). First, we determined the interfacial tension of CRGE at the oil-water interface. Second, oil-in-water emulsions were prepared with CRGE and then their physicochemical properties such as fat globule size, zeta-potential, dispersion stability, and microscopic characteristics were determined. It was found that interfacial tension gradually decreased with increasing CRGE concentration, indicative of some surface activity. In emulsions, fat globule size was decreased as CRGE concentration increased, showing a critical value ($d_{43}$ ≒ $0.39{\mu}m$) at ${\geq}3.5wt%$ of CRGE. In addition, pH and NaCl also influenced on fat globule sizes; they were increased in acidic conditions ($pH{\leq}3$) or in higher NaCl concentration (${\geq}0.4M$) and these results were interpreted in view of the change in zeta potentials. The dispersion stability by separation analyzer ($LUMiFuge^{(R)}$) showed that it was more stable in emulsions with higher CRGE concentration (i.e., ${\geq}3.5wt%$). In conclusion, CRGE was surface-active and it could be used as an emulsifier in preparation of food emulsions.

• Journal of Applied Biological Chemistry
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• v.54 no.1
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• pp.15-20
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• 2011

Red ginseng is one of the most popular traditional medicines in Korea. In this study, we developed a new technique in which ethanol extract of $\underline{r}$ed $\underline{g}$inseng (HRG) was exposed to the $Co^{60}$ gamma radiation ranging from 1~5 kGy. The irradiated HRG (IHRG) were analyzed by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) to determine any compositional changes of ginsenosides due to irradiation. No appreciable difference was observed in the HPLC pattern of ginsenosides of HRG. Using MTT assay, the cytotoxicity effect was significantly increased by IHRG compared to HRG. The $LD_{50}$ concentration was $30{\mu}g/mL$ for IHRG-1 (1 kGy), and $15{\mu}g/mL$ for IHRG-5 (5 kGy). The evidences of apoptosis, such as nuclei cleavage and Annexin V staining, were observed in the human prostate cancer PC-3 cells treated with the IHRG. Additionally, the level of reactive oxygen species (ROS) was apparently elevated by IHRG. We also studied the inhibitory effect of IHRG on the growth rate of tumor xenografts in BALB/c male mice. The tumor growth rates were inhibited by 56.9 and 76.1% in mice treated with 10 mg/kg of IHRG-1 and IHRG-5, respectively, compared with control group (21.1%). These results suggest that some biologically active and soluble components in HRG can be more effectively enhancement of anti-tumor effects using irradiation.

• Journal of fish pathology
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• v.18 no.3
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• pp.277-285
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• 2005

Israeli carps were intraperitoneally injected with an aqueous extract of red ginseng (RG) at five different concentrations (0, 1, 10, 25 and 50 mg/kg of body weight). The fish were sacrificed after 3 days and measured the neutrophil activity and plasma components. The activity of lysozyme, Ht, TIC and NBT reduction were significantly enhanced in the concentrations of more than 10 mg/kg. Further attempts were made to measure the effects of RG on leucocyte function at five different concentrations (1-100 ${\mu}g/m{\ell}$), in vitro. The proliferation of lymphocytes co-incubated with phytohaemagglutin (PHA) and concanavalin A (Con A) was significantly increased at 10 ${\mu}g/m{\ell}$ concentration, but suppressed at the highest concentration (100 ${\mu}g/m{\ell}$). RG alone or with lipopolysaccharide (LPS) had no effect on proliferation at any concentrations tested. Migration and reactive oxygen intermediates (ROI) production of leucocytes were enhanced in all concentration higher than 10 ${\mu}g/m{\ell}$. These results suggest that the RG activates the leucocyte function and may be able to be used as a stimulant of fish innate defences.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.40 no.4
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• pp.437-444
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• 2016

Background: Although Korean Red Ginseng (KRG) has been traditionally used for a long time, its anti-inflammatory role and underlying molecular and cellular mechanisms have been poorly understood. In this study, the anti-inflammatory roles of KRG-derived components, namely, water extract (KRG-WE), saponin fraction (KRG-SF), and nonsaponin fraction (KRG-NSF), were investigated. Methods: To check saponin levels in the test fractions, KRG-WE, KRG-NSF, and KRG-SF were analyzed using high-performance liquid chromatography. The anti-inflammatory roles and underlying cellular and molecular mechanisms of these components were investigated using a macrophage-like cell line (RAW264.7 cells) and an acute gastritis model in mice. Results: Of the tested fractions, KGR-SF (but not KRG-NSF and KRG-WE) markedly inhibited the viability of RAW264.7 cells, and splenocytes at more than 500 mg/mL significantly suppressed NO production at $100{\mu}g/mL$, diminished mRNA expression of inflammatory genes such as inducible nitric oxide synthase, cyclooxygenase-2, tumor necrosis factor-${\alpha}$, and interferon-${\beta}$ at $200{\mu}g/mL$, and completely blocked phagocytic uptake by RAW264.7 cells. All three fractions suppressed luciferase activity triggered by interferon regulatory factor 3 (IRF3), but not that triggered by activator protein-1 and nuclear factor-kappa B. Phospho-IRF3 and phospho-TBK1 were simultaneously decreased in KRG-SF. Interestingly, all these fractions, when orally administered, clearly ameliorated the symptoms of gastric ulcer in HCl/ethanol-induced gastritis mice. Conclusion: These results suggest that KRG-WE, KRG-NSF, and KRG-SF might have anti-inflammatory properties, mostly because of the suppression of the IRF3 pathway.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.30 no.4
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• pp.194-198
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• 2006

The effects of red ginseng (RG) on the changes of ultraviolet (UV) light B radiation-induced apoptotic sun-burn cell (SBC) and epidermal ATPase-positive dendritic cell (DC) in SKH 1-hr or ICR mouse were investigated. The mice were treated with UVB ($200mJ/cm^2$) and were sacrificed 24 hours later. RG (50 mg/kg of body weight) or vehicle (saline) was given i.p. at 36 and 12 hours before irradiation, and 30 minutes after irradiation. RG cream (0.2%) or cream base (vehicle) was also topically treated at 24 hours and 15 minutes before irradiation, and immediately after irradiation. The skin of SKH 1-hr mouse prepared from the back of untreated mice exhibited about 0.3 SBC/cm length of epidermis, and 24 hours after UV irradiation, the applied areas show an increased number of SBCs. But the frequency of UVB-induced SBC formation was significantly reduced by intraperitoneal injection of RG extract. The numbers of DC in normal ICR mouse were $628.00{\pm}51.56\;or\;663.20{\pm}62.58\;per\;mm^2$ of ear epidermis. By 1 day after UVB treatment, the number of ATPase-positive $cells/mm^2$ were decreased by 39.0% or 27.1% in i.p. or topical application group with vehicle. The frequency of UVB ($200mJ/cm^2$)-induced DC decrease was reduced by treatment of RG as 31.3% in i.p. group and 22.4% in topical application group compared with the irradiation control group. The results presented herein that RG administration could reduce the extent of skill damages produced by UVB.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.41 no.3
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• pp.386-391
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• 2017

Background: Korean Red Ginseng (KRG) is an ethnopharmacological plant that is traditionally used to improve the body's immune functions and ameliorate the symptoms of various diseases. However, the antitumorigenic effects of KRG and its underlying molecular and cellular mechanisms are not fully understood in terms of its individual components. In this study, in vitro and in vivo antitumorigenic activities of KRG were explored in water extract (WE), saponin fraction (SF), and nonsaponin fraction (NSF). Methods: In vitro antitumorigenic activities of WE, SF, and NSF of KRG were investigated in the C6 glioma cell line using cytotoxicity, migration, and proliferation assays. The underlying molecular mechanisms of KRG fractions were determined by examining the signaling cascades of apoptotic cell death by semiquantitative reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction and Western blot analysis. The in vivo antitumorigenic activities of WE, SF, and NSF were investigated in a xenograft mouse model. Results: SF induced apoptotic death of C6 glioma cells and suppressed migration and proliferation of C6 glioma cells, whereas WE and NSF neither induced apoptosis nor suppressed migration of C6 glioma cells. SF downregulated the expression of the anti-apoptotic gene B-cell lymphoma-2 (Bcl-2) and upregulated the expression of the pro-apoptotic gene Bcl-2-associated X protein (BAX) in C6 glioma cells but had no effect on the expression of the p53 tumor-suppressor gene. Moreover, SF treatment resulted in activation of caspase-3 as evidenced by increased levels of cleaved caspase-3. Finally, WE, SF, and NSF exhibited in vivo antitumorigenic activities in the xenograft mouse model by suppressing the growth of grafted CT-26 carcinoma cells without decreasing the animal body weight. Conclusion: These results suggest that WE, SF, and NSF of KRG are able to suppress tumor growth via different molecular and cellular mechanisms, including induction of apoptosis and activation of immune cells.

• Proceedings of the Ginseng society Conference
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• 2002.10a
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• pp.491-501
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• 2002

A cross-examination between KT&G Central Research Institute and Guangzhou Institute for Drug Control was carried out in order to select optimum conditions for extraction, separation and determination of ginsenosides in red ginseng and to propose a better method for the quantitative analysis of ginsenosides. The optimum extraction conditions of ginsenosides from red ginseng were as follows: the extraction solvent, $70\%$ methanol; the extraction temperature, $100^{\circ}C;$ the extraction time, 1 hour for once; and the repetition of extraction, twice. The optimum separation conditions of ginsenosides on the SepPak $C_{18}$ cartridge were as follows: the loaded amount, 0.4 g of methanol extract; the washing solvents, distilled water of 25 ml at first and then $30\%$ methanol of 25 ml; the elution solvent, $90\%$ methanol of 5 ml. The optimum HPLC conditions for the determination of ginsenosides were as follows: column, Lichrosorb $NH_2(25{\times}0.4cm,$ 5${\mu}m$, Merck Co.); mobile phase, a mixture of acetonitrile/water/isopropanol (80/5/15) and acetonitrile/water/isopropanol (80/20/15) with gradient system; and the detector, ELSD. On the basis of the optimum conditions a method for the quantitative analysis of ginsenosides were proposed and another cross-examination was carried out for the validation of the selected analytical method conditions. The coefficient of variances (CVs) on the contents of ginsenoside-$Rg_{1}$, -Re and $-Rb_1$ were lower than $3\%$ and the recovery rates of ginsenosides were $89.4\~95.7\%,$ which suggests that the above extraction and separation conditions may be reproducible and reasonable. For the selected HPLC/ELSD conditions, the CVs on the detector responses of ginsenoside-Rg, -Re and $-Rb_1$) were also lower than $3\%$, the regression coefficients for the calibration curves of ginsenosides were higher than 0.99 and two adjacent ginsenoside peaks were well separated, which suggests that the above HPLC/ELSD conditions may be good enough for the determination of ginsenosides.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.47 no.1
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• pp.123-132
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• 2023

Background: Pseudotyped virus systems that incorporate viral proteins have been widely employed for the rapid determination of the effectiveness and neutralizing activity of drug and vaccine candidates in biosafety level 2 facilities. We report an efficient method for producing severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) pseudovirus with dual luciferase and fluorescent protein reporters. Moreover, using the established method, we also aimed to investigate whether Korean Red Ginseng (KRG), a valuable Korean herbal medicine, can attenuate infectivity of the pseudotyped virus. Methods: A pseudovirus of SARS-CoV-2 (SARS-2pv) was constructed and efficiently produced using lentivirus vector systems available in the public domain by the introduction of critical mutations in the cytoplasmic tail of the spike protein. KRG extract was dose-dependently treated to Calu-3 cells during SARS2-pv treatment to evaluate the protective activity against SARS-CoV-2. Results: The use of Calu-3 cells or the expression of angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) in HEK293T cells enabled SARS-2pv infection of host cells. Coexpression of transmembrane protease serine subtype 2 (TMPRSS2), which is the activator of spike protein, with ACE2 dramatically elevated luciferase activity, confirming the importance of the TMPRSS2-mediated pathway during SARS-CoV-2 entry. Our pseudovirus assay also revealed that KRG elicited resistance to SARS-CoV-2 infection in lung cells, suggesting its beneficial health effect. Conclusion: The method demonstrated the production of SARS-2pv for the analysis of vaccine or drug candidates. When KRG was assessed by the method, it protected host cells from coronavirus infection. Further studies will be followed for demonstrating this potential benefit.

• Korean Journal of Pharmacognosy
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• v.45 no.4
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• pp.320-325
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• 2014

The purpose of this study is to develop a new preparation process of Notoginseng root(Panax notoginseng) extracts having high concentrations of ginsenoside $Rg_3$, $Rg_5$, $Rk_1$ and $Rh_4$, a special component of Red and Black ginseng(Panax ginseng). Chemical transformation from ginseng saponin to prosapogenin was analyzed by the HPLC. Extracts of Notoginseng root was processed under several treatment conditions including microwave and vinegar(about 14% acidity) treatments. Results of those treatments showed that the quantity of ginsenoside $Rg_3$ increased by over 7.6% at 15 minutes of pH 2~4 vinegar and microwave treatments. The results of processing with MPN-15 indicate that the microwave and vinegar(about 14% acidity) processed Notoginseng root extracts that had gone through 15-minute treatments were found to contain the largest amount of ginsenoside $Rg_3$(7.639%), $Rg_5$(6.061%), $Rk_1$(1.516%) and $Rh_4$(1.599). It is thought that such results provide basic information in preparing Notoginseng root extracts with functionality enhanced.