• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.20 no.3
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• pp.274-283
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• 1996

In this study, the effects of red ginseng components [ginsenosides (total saponins and $Rg_1$) on the function of ryanodine receptor (RyR) -$Ca^{2+}$ release channel complex protein (named as RyR or $Ca^{2+}$ channel), a membrane protein in sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR) of rabbit skeletal muscle were examined at the SR vesicle's level and the molecular levels with Chaps-solubilized and purified $Ca^{2+}$ channel protein and with reconstituted proteoliposomes by dialysis. The results were as follows. 1. The binding of ryanodine known as inhibitor of muscle contraction to the RyR was decreased at the whole range of concentration ($10^2$~$10^7$%) by these two ginseng components. In heavy SR vesicles, Chaps-solubilized and purified $Ca^{2+}$ channel protein, and reconstituted vesicles, its maximal inhibition by total saponins was shown at the concentration of $10^3$, $10^3$%, and $10^5$% respectively, and by gin- senoside $Rg_1}$) each was $10^3$%, $10^3$%, and $10^4$%. 2. The release of $Ca^{2+}$ ion through $Ca^{2+}$ channel in heavy SR vesicles and reconstituted proteoliposomes was increased as a whole by these two ginseng components, and particularly maximal release by both of them was shown at the range of $10^4$~$10^6$%. These results were seemed to be caused by conformational change of $Ca^{2+}$ release channel protein (RyR) by red ginseng components [ginsenosides (total saponins and $Rg_1}$).

• Applied Biological Chemistry
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• v.20 no.1
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• pp.142-146
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• 1977

For the purpose of utilizing the saponins of the ground part of Panax ginseng, the studies on saponins isolated from the leaves, stems, and flowers of ginseng were Performed. The results were summarized as follows: 1. The crude saponin contents of ginseng loaves, stems, and flowers 12.8%, 1.6% and 6.9% respectively. 2. Infra-red spectrum of ginseng leaf saponin was identical with that of ginseng root.

• Food Science and Biotechnology
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• v.14 no.3
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• pp.363-367
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• 2005

Although widely applied in the food industry, extrusion cooking has not been applied to the traditional red ginseng process for steaming and drying ginseng. We therefore investigated the change in the effective components in red ginseng (total saponins, ginsenosides and maltol) from extruded raw ginseng. The variables were the drying temperature of the sliced raw ginseng (80 and $90^{\circ}C$) before the extrusion process and the moisture content (15 and 22%, w.b.) during the extrusion process. Ginsenosides Rg1 and Rg2 were detected in dried ginseng at $80^{\circ}C$, but ginsenoside Rg3, which was contained in red ginseng, was not detected. On the other hand, ginsenosides Rg1, Rg2 and Rg3 were detected in extruded ginseng at moisture contents of 15 and 22%. Total ginsenosides were highest at $90^{\circ}C$ drying temperature and 22% moisture content for the extrusion process.

• Korean Journal of Pharmacognosy
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• v.9 no.1
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• pp.41-47
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• 1978

Total saponins and ether extracts of red and white ginseng were obtained and their effects on blood pressure in cat and their histamine liberating activities in rabbits were measured. 1) Ether extract of red ginseng showed a transient hypotensive effect and subsequently showed a remarkable and persistent hypotensive effect, whereas other three fractions, such as saponin fractions of red and white ginseng and ether extract of white ginseng showed only a initial transient hypotensive effects. 2) Histamine levels liberated into blood after administration of each fractions measured by the bioassay with guinea pig ileum. Ether extract of red ginseng immediately increased histamine contents in plasma but the histamine levels decreased to normal level within 10min in spite of decreased blood pressure was sustained. Although white ginseng saponin lowered blood pressure immediately when it is administered, histamine release was observed after 10min. The results suggest that hypotensive effects of ginseng seems to have no correlation with the histamine liberating activity. Ginseng appears to show hypotensive effect via some other mechanisms.

• Archives of Pharmacal Research
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• v.18 no.3
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• pp.164-168
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• 1995

In order to elucidate the cytotoxicity-structure correlation of ginseng-derived components, several prosapogenins and sapogenins were prepared from Korean red ginseng (Panax ginseng) saponins by acid hydrolysis or alkaline cleveage, and their chemical structures were identified by a combination of spectral and physical methods. Some of these degradation products showed the cytotoxic activities against various cancer cell lines, A549, SK-OV-3, SK-Mel-2, P388, L1210 and K562. The significant difference in cytotoxicity between stereoisomers was not found and the activity was inversely proportional to the number of sugars linked to sapogenins. Diol-type prosapogenins and sapogenins showed higher cytotoxicity than triol-type ones.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.25 no.2
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• pp.74-81
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• 2001

The effect of Korean Ginseng saponins (total saponin, PD saponin and PT saponin) on the serotonin type 3 receptor, which is known to be involved in nausea and vomiting following anticancer chemotherapy or the general anesthesia, was investigated. after in vitro transcribed recombinant serotonin type 3 receptor in the Xenopus laevis oocyte, classic two electrodes voltage clamp technique was used. All of ginseng saponins inhibited the response of the agonist, serotonin, on the serotonin type 3 receptor in a dose-dependent manner. PT saponin showed to have the inhibitory effect more than 2 times as potent as PD saponin. Total saponin shifted the serotonin dose response plot to the right (EC$\_$50/, 0.70$\pm$0.17 $\mu$M into 3.57$\pm$1.42 $\mu$M, and Hill coefficient, 2.14$\pm$0.60 into 1.52$\pm$1.00). Ginseng saponin did not change the reversal potential (∼0 mV) of serotonin type 3 receptor. These results suggest that Korean ginseng saponin may have the inhibitory effect on serotonin type 3 receptor.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.17 no.3
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• pp.187-195
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• 1993

We have examined the functional role of central dopaminergic processes on the behavioral pharmacological effects induced by psychotropics and red ginseng saponins of normal rats and compared with that of brain damaged rats. Desipramine and clomipramine produced, a significant depression of the locomotor activity in normal rats, but in brain damaged rats, they did not have any effect throughout the experimental period of 4 hours. Total saponin (50~200 mg/kg), PT (25~50 mg/kg), PD (25~50 mg/kg), $Rg_1$(12.5~25 mg/kg), $Rb_1$ (12.5~50 mg/kg) did not change, and high concentrations of PT (100 mg/kg), PD (100 mg/kg) and $Rg_1$ (50 mg/kg) showed a significant decrease in the locomotor activity of one hour after administration but total saponin (100 mg/kg), PD (25~50 mg/kg), Rgl (12.5 mg/kg), $Rb_1$ (12.5 mg/kg) markedly increased the locomotor activity of four hour after administration in normal rats. On the other hand, total saponin (50 mg/kg), PT (100 mg/kg) and PD (100 mg/kg) Produced a prominent stimulation of the locomotor activity in brain damaged rats. These results suggest that the inhibition of the locomotor activity induced by antidepressants was not affected by the sensitivity of cerebral DA system, whereas red ginseng saponin showed antifatigue effect and also the stimulation of the locomotor activity induced by red ginseng saponin was mediated by the inhibition of cerebral DA system. These psychotropic action of red ginseng saponins could be responsible for the beneficial effects on conditions of fatigue and decreased alertness.

• Applied Biological Chemistry
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• v.20 no.2
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• pp.188-204
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• 1977

The studies on the saponins of Korean ginseng, Panax ginseng C.A. Meyer, were performed according to the cultivating locations, sampling seasons, plant parts, and growing stages. The changes in saponin content in the course of manufacturing Red ginseng and Ginseng extract were observed. In this paper, a new method for the determination of the total and the individual saponin glucosides was proposed and applied to the samples under study. The method employing Digital Densitorol DMU-33C (Toyo electric Co., Japan) followed the separation of the saponins by means of a preparative thin layer chromatography. The saponin contents and their fractional distribution were summarized as follows: 1. The average concentrations(% plant dry weight) of semi-purified saponins in the roots of Korean ginseng planted in the various locations were 5.0%(Keumsan), 6.0% (Kimpo), and 5.4% (Pocheon), respectively. 2. There were 3.3% saponins in White ginseng(Rhizome) and 12.7% saponins in Ginseng tail (Fibrous root). 3. Regarding the year of growth, the contents of saponins were 90.3mg (2-year-old ginseng), 254.4mg (3-year-old ginseng), 404.2mg (4-year-old ginseng). 999.6mg (5-year-old ginseng), and 1377.1mg (6-year-old ginseng) respectively, and the saponin factions containing panaxatriol as an aglycone increased. 4. Thin layer chromatography revealed that Red ginseng yielded many saponins which Shibata et al. designated as $ginsenoside-Rb_1$ (22.1%), $-Rb_2(15.4%)$, -Rc(12.6%), -Re (15.7%), and $-Rg_1$, (9.3%). 5. 29.9% of crude saponins were isolated from ethanolic extract of Panax ginseng fibrous root and their extraction yield was 94.2% of fibrous root saponin.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.20 no.2
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• pp.173-178
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• 1996

Aerobic cells are normally protected from the damage of free radicals by antioxidative on , zymes such as superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase, glutathione (GSH) peroxidase, GSH S- transferase and GSH reductase which scavenge free radicals as well as nonenzymatic antioxidants such as ceruloplasmin, albumin and nonprotein-SH including GSH. The effects of each component (ginsenoside $Rb_1$, $Rb_2$, Rc, Rd, Re, $Rb_1$, Rf, $Rh_1$ and $Rh_2$) of red ginseng on the antioxidative enzyme activities were investigated in the liver in order to screen antioxidative components of red ginseng. Ginsenoside $Rb_1$ and Rc showed a tendency to increase GSH peroxidase activity, while ginsenoside Rc significantly decreased Cu,Zn-SOD activity. Especially, ginsenoside $Rh_2$ significantly increased catalase activity. These results suggest that ginsenoside $Rh_2$ is an important active component among total saponins of red ginseng.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.14 no.2
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• pp.171-177
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• 1990

Using an ethopharmacological technique, we demonstrated that saponin fraction from red ginseng root possessed a potent psychotropic actions on either intermale or maternal aggression models. A series of experiments clearly indicated that one of psychoactive ingredient is ginsenoside Rbl. Although a drug-induced debilitation of motor performance remains a possible cause of the antiaggressive affect of the drug. ginsenoside Rbl did not alter the locomotor activity of the mice during agonistic confrontations. Thus. one can eliminate the possibility that the psychotropic effect of ginsenoside Rbl might be concealed by a drug-induced impairment of motor performance. More recently, we developed a nevi model for copulatory disorder and introduced into the behavioral analysis of drug action. Male mice which has been housed individually from weaning for 5 weeks failed to manifest copulatory behavior when they encountered with the sexually receptive females. Daily administration of crude ginseng saponin during isolation housing period prevented the development of copulatory disorder, whereas both ginsenoside Rbl and Rgl were ineffective. A further experiment may be needed to explore active ingredient of ginseng saponins.