• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.44 no.4
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• pp.527-537
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• 2020

Panax ginseng, a medicinal plant, has been used as a blood-nourishing tonic for thousands of years in Asia, including Korea and China. P. ginseng exhibits adaptogen activity that maintains homeostasis by restoring general biological functions and non-specifically enhancing the body's resistance to external stress. Several P. ginseng effects have been reported. Korean Red Ginseng, in particular, has been reported in both basic and clinical studies to possess diverse effects such as enhanced immunity, fatigue relief, memory, blood circulation, and anti-oxidation. Moreover, it also protects against menopausal symptoms, cancer, cardiac diseases, and neurological disorders. The active components found in most Korean Red Ginseng varieties are known to include ginsenosides, polysaccharides, peptides, alkaloids, polyacetylene, and phenolic compounds. In this review, the identity and bioactivity of the non-saponin components of Korean Red Ginseng discovered to date are evaluated and the components are classified into polysaccharide and nitrogen compounds (protein, peptide, amino acid, nucleic acid, and alkaloid), as well as fat-soluble components such as polyacetylene, phenols, essential oils, and phytosterols. The distinct bioactivity of Korean Red Ginseng was found to originate from both saponin and non-saponin components rather than from only one or two specific components. Therefore, it is important to consider saponin and non-saponin elements together.

• Archives of Pharmacal Research
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• v.7 no.1
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• pp.41-45
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• 1984

The effect of Red ginseng saponin on plasma lipid levels in Wistar rats fed on a diet high in cholesterol and triglyceride was determined. A dose of Red ginseng-crude saponin (150 mg/kg/day) was administered orally for 4 weeks to Wistar rats fed on a diet containing 2% cholesterol and 10% olive oil. Plasma levels of total cholesterol, HDL-cholesterol and triglyceride were measured and lipoproteins were analyzed by using electrophoretic technique. Red ginseng saponin showed no significant changes of HDL-cholesterol level but it lowered plasma levels of total cholesterol and elevate those of triglyceride intensively.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.19 no.1
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• pp.39-44
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• 1995

Total saponin from Korean red ginseng changed thermodynamic parameters of membranes from dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine (DPPC) and ghost erythrocytes of human. In liposomes from DPPC, temperature of the main transition (Lb'-La) in liquid-crystalline phase increases by 0.2$^{\circ}C$ in average, but enthalpy does not change. Total saponin at a concentration of smaller than $10^5$% "stabilizes" the timid bilayers. At larger than 0.07 of saponin/DPPC ratio, saponin leads to an exclusion of the bound lipid molecules from the main phase transition into lamella liquid crystalline La-phase. Total saponin influences specifically all erythrocyte membrane transitions in a concentration-dependent manner, i.e. on the structures of all the main membrane skeleton proteins. A high structural specificity of saponin with membrane proteins, could be a base of specificity of physiological response of not only erythrocytes, but also other cells.her cells.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.34 no.2
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• pp.93-97
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• 2010

To enhance the functionalities of ginseng, an acid impregnation pre-treatment was applied during red ginseng processing. Acetic, ascorbic, citric, malic, lactic, and oxalic acid were used for the acid impregnation treatment, and total and crude saponin concentrations and ginsenoside patterns were evaluated. Total and crude saponin contents of red ginseng pre-treated by acetic, ascorbic, and citric acid were similar to those of red ginseng without pre-treatment, whereas lactic, malic, and oxalic acid pre-treatment caused a reduction of total and crude saponin in red ginseng. From the high performance liquid chromatography analysis of ginsenosides, increased $Rg_3$ density was shown in red ginseng pre-treated by acetic, ascorbic, and citric acid impregnation. In the case of lactic, malic, and oxalic acid pre-treatment, increased $Rg_1$ density was observed in red ginseng. Increased $Rg_1$ and $Rg_3$ contents due to acid impregnation during red ginseng processing may contribute to improving bioactive functionalities of red ginseng.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.35 no.4
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• pp.259-268
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• 2009

This study was carried out to investigate the protective effect of Red Ginseng Saponins on 2,3,7,8-Tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD) induced toxicities in guinea pigs ($200{\pm}10$ g). Normal control (NC) group guinea pigs ($200{\pm}10$ g) received vehicle and saline, while the TCDD-treated (TT) group was given water-extract (WE), saponin fraction (SF) and non-saponin fraction (NSF). Korean red ginseng fractions were administered from 1 week before TCDD-exposure for 4 weeks. Body weight loss and deteriorated clinical parameters related to sugar metabolism and liver function such as lipase and AST, respectively, these were significantly reduced by both saponin and non-saponin fractions. However, increase of lipase was attenuated by the saponin fraction in a dose-dependent manner. Only AST was affected by the saponin fraction. The results suggest that saponins are active substances in the Korean red ginseng water extract against TCDD induced toxicities in Guinea pigs.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.19 no.3
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• pp.254-259
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• 1995

The content and composition of saponin compounds of Panax species were analyzed according to their species, region and processing type of red and white ginseng. The species employed were Korean-, Chinese-, Japanese red ginsengs, and Korean white ginseng of Panax ginseng, American- and Canadian ginsengs of Panax quinquefolium, and Panax notoinseng. Twelve main saponin components in the ginseng were identified and quantified using TLC and HPLC. All three species had remarkably different content and composition. However, within each species they were similar. Twelve major ginsenosides were determined in P. ginseng, eight in p. quinquefolium, and six in P. notoginseng. Of the components of P ginseng Rf, $Rh_1$, $Rh_2$ and Ra were not detected in P quinquefolium, and $Rb_2$, Rc, Rf, $Rh_2$, Ra and Ro not detected in P. notoinseam. Crude saponin content and protopanaxadiol/protopanaxatriol saponin ratio were compared. They were 4.81~5.24% and 1.27~ 1.45 in p. ginsengs, 7.01~7.25% and 2.12~ 2.15 in p. quinquefolium, 9.80% and 0.99 in P. notoineng. The prosapogenin and sapogenin content were different among the Panax species.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.6 no.1
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• pp.48-55
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• 1996

Oxygen free radicals are highly reactive molecules with unpaired electrons, which are produced with in aerobic cells in the course of normal metabolic events. Normally, aerobic cells are protected from the damage of free radicals by antioxidative enzymes such as superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase, glutathione (GSH) peroxidase, GSH S-transferase and GSH reductase which scabvenge free radicals as well as nonenzymatic antioxidants such as ceruloplasmin, albumin and nontioxidants in order to elucidate antioxidative mechanisms of red ginseng. The treatment with total saponin of red ginseng significantly devreased the contents of malondialdehyde and total free radicals in the liver. On the other hand, total saponin of red ginseng significantly increased the activities of SOD, catalase and GSH reductase and nonprotein-SH level. These results suggest that total saponin of red ginseng exerts an antioxidative effect by increasing endogenous antioxidants.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.29 no.2
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• pp.288-293
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• 2000

This study was carried out to investigate the effect of crude saponin fracton from Korean red ginseng on physiological events of ovariectomized rats. The saponin fractions was prepared by Diaion HP-20 adsorption chromatography and spirit. Total 50 rats were divided into 5 groups : normal control (NC), sham-ovariectomized (SO), ovariectomized (OR), ovariectomized and saponin treated (OS), and normal control treated with saponin (NS). Saponin was intraperitonally administered for 8 weeks. Ovariectomy was carried out at 1 st and 2nd weeks of experiment. Right-side ovary of rat was removed at 1st week, the otehr was done at 2nd week. The body weights fo ovariectomized rats showed no significant changes but that of NS group showed significant increase (p<0.05) compared with NC group. Ovariectomy of rats reduced the weights of femur by 6 to 8% compared with that of NC group. In addition, femur weight of NS group was 5 to 6% higher than that of NC. Uterus weight showed no significant differences by saponin treatment or ovariectomy. Serum testosterone level of ovariectomized rats increased by 60 times compared with that of NC. However, administration of crude saponin to ovariectomized rat attenuated testosterone level to almost that of NC. These results suggest that Korean red ginseng saponin attenuates physiological disorders induced by malfunction of ovary.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.44 no.6
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• pp.808-814
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• 2020

Background: Korean Red Ginseng extract (RGE) has been reported to act as an inflammasome modulator. Ginsenosides, saponin molecules of RGE, selectively inhibit activation of NLRP3 and AIM2 inflammasomes, while non-saponin molecules of RGE upregulate inflammasome components associated with the initiation of NLRP3 inflammasome activation. In this study, we investigated the effect of non-saponin components of RGE on AIM2 inflammasome activation. Methods: The role of non-saponins of RGE on AIM2 inflammasomes was tested in mouse bone marrow-derived macrophages, a human monocyte-like cell line, and a mouse animal model. Cells or mice were transfected with dsDNA or inoculated with Listeria monocytogenes to activate AIM2 inflammasomes. Several indices of inflammasome activation were examined via immunoblot or ELISA analysis. Results: The non-saponin fraction and saponin-eliminating fraction (SEF) of RGE selectively attenuated the activation of AIM2 inflammasomes, but not that of NLRP3 or NLRC4 inflammasomes. Fructose-arginine, an amino-sugar, was shown to be effective against AIM2 inflammasome activation. Conclusion: Non-saponins of RGE, such as fructose-arginine, might be effective in regulating infectious and autoimmune diseases resulting from AIM2 inflammasome activation.

• Journal of the East Asian Society of Dietary Life
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• v.14 no.4
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• pp.338-342
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• 2004

This study was performed to measure the antioxidant effects of red ginseng extracts which antioxidation had been promoted through enzyme hydrolysis. In order to observe their tumor-suppressing effects, an anti-cancer medicine and Saponin-SOD, which was a highly antioxidant beverage made from red ginseng saponin adding SOD-like rice (with embryo buds) extracts, were administered to nude mice with large intestine cancer induced. There was a significant increase in the content of phenolic compounds as the enzyme was added. The red ginseng extracts showed a high electron-donating ability with the passage of time. The electron-donating ability was particularly high in the enzyme-treated red ginseng extract, and also observed as high in Saponin-SOD. The lipid-peroxide generation was inhibited depending on the concentration of Saponin-SOD added; the addition of 0.625% Saponin-SOD served to decrease the inhibition level up to 65% compared with the case of no addition (100%). As a result, it could be assumed that Saponin-SOD would strongly inhibit the oxidation of ghost membrane. After the cancer was induced in nude mice through the injection of SNUC-4 cell, there was a significant inhibition in the growth of tumors in nude mice into which Saponin-SOD were injected; the growth of tumors was gradually decreasing with the passage of time after the cancer induction. In particular, when Saponin-SOD was administered together with an anti-cancer medicine, the synergic effect was observed. In conclusion, Saponin-SOD, when used with an anti-cancer medicine, is expected to reduce the amount of free radical and lipid peroxide, which are known to cause harmful effects occurring from the internal application of medicine.