• 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.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.31 no.4
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• pp.210-216
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• 2007

The backbone structure of ginsenosides, active ingredients of Panax ginseng, is similar with that of sterol, especially cholesterol. Caenorhabditis elegans (c. elegans) is one of free living nematodes and is well-established animal model for biochemical and genetic studies. C. elegans cannot synthesize de novo cholesterol, although cholesterol is essential requirement for its growth and development. In the present study, we investigated the effects of Korean red ginseng total extract (KRGE), ginseng total saponins (GTS) on life span of C. elegans in cholesterol-deprived and -fed medium. Cholesterol deprivation caused damages on life span of worms throughout F1 to F3 generations. KRGE or GTS supplement to cholesterol-deprived medium restored the life span of worms as much as cholesterol alone-fed medium. In study to identify which ginsenosides are responsible for life span restoring effects of KRGE, we found that ginsenoside Rc supplement not only restored life span of worms grown in cholesterol-deprived medium but also prolonged life span of worms grown in cholesterol-fed medium. These results show a possibility that ginsenosides could be utilized by C. elegans as a sterol substitute and further indicate that ginsenoside Rc is the effective component of Korean red ginseng that prolongs the life span of C. elegans.

• Food Science and Preservation
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• v.6 no.3
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• pp.324-327
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• 1999

This study was carried out to establish the extraction method of red ginseng extract without saponin decomposition. Red ginseng was extracted with impulse vacuum system and multi-stage extraction method. Crude saponin content of red ginseng extract (RGE) from impulse vacuum system was 5.4-5.9%, while that of RGE from multi-stage extraction method was 8.2-8.3%. However, HPLC Patterns indicated that saponins of RGE from impulse vacuum system were hardly decomposed, while those of RGE from multi-stage extraction method were decomposed, especially in ginsenoside -Rgl and -Re saponin. Also, the yields of red ginseng by impulse vacuum system were 15 to 20 times higher than that of multi-stage extraction method.

• Proceedings of the Ginseng society Conference
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• 2008.05a
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• pp.78-78
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• 2008

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.26 no.4
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• pp.196-201
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• 2002

This study was carried out to compare the contents of saponins and minerals component in Korean Red Ginseng (Heaven, Earth, Good grade), North Korean Red Ginseng (Heaven, Earth, Good grade), Japanese Red Ginseng (Oonju, Sinju 1, 2, 3 grade, respectively) and Chinese Red Ginseng (Seokju, Gilim, 1, 2, 3 grade, respectively). Crude saponin contents were different on according to the grade and cultivation area, and was 3.05-3.76% in Korean Red Ginseng, 2.09-3.21% in North Korean Red Ginseng, 2.82-3.71% in Chinese Seokju Red Ginseng, 2.72-3.62% in Chinese Gilim Red Ginseng, 2.11-2.44% in Japanese Oonju Red Ginseng, 2.18-2.87% in Japanese Sinju Red Ginseng, and the amount of ginsenoside-Rb1, -Re, -Rg$\_$1/ in Korean Red Ginseng were higher than those of North Korean, Chinese and Japanese Red Gingsen. The contents of mineral components were similar, but La, Na and Sn component in Korean Red Ginseng showed the higher amount than those of other Red Ginsengs.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.19 no.3
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• pp.197-201
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• 1995

The present study was undertaken to elucidate the behavioral characteristics of nootropic candidates, entrophenoxine, N-methyl-D-glucamine, piracetam and red ginseng saponin components on stereotyped sniffing behavior induced by apomorphine in rats. Apomorphine, a direct dopaminergic receptor agonist, induced stereotyped behaviors including sniffing licking growing and biting in a dosedependent manner, and that behaviors were completely inhibited when measured at 1 week after 6-ydroxydopamine(6-HDA) treatment. Centrophenoxine, N-methyl-D-glucamine, red ginseng total saponin(TS), panaxatriol (PT), and Rg1 enhanced but panaxadiol (PD) inhibited, whereas piracetam and Rb1 were not effective of the sterotyped sniffing behavior induced by apomorphine(1mg/kg). The enhanced stereotyped behavior by centrophenoxine, N-methyl-D-glucamine, red ginseng total saponin, panaxatriol(PT), and Rg1 seems to have a similarity to entrophenoxine, N-methyl-D-glucamate in modulating of dopaminergic neuroal activity and also my be useful for the nootropic candidates.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.12 no.4
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• pp.350-356
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• 1983

Ginseng is one of the most important plant drugs which has been used as a medicine in Asia. Main effective components of ginseng have been recently believed to be saponins which have been isolated and identified from Panax ginseng C. A. Meyer. Decrease in total saponin content of white ginseng by storage years was remarkable in contrast with red ginseng. In storage for three years, decrease in red and white ginsengs were 12% and 27% for total saponin content, and 16.8% and 42.2% for major saponin content, respectively. The PT/PD ratios of red and white ginseng saponins were ranged 0.646 to 0.694% and 0.414 to 0.428%, respectively. According to the result of PT/PD ratios, red ginseng was greater than 50% in compare with white ginseng. The change of PT/PD ratio would greatly influence on the biochemical and pharmacological effects of ginseng.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.42 no.2
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• pp.123-132
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• 2018

Ginseng has gained its popularity as an adaptogen since ancient days because of its triterpenoid saponins, known as ginsenosides. These triterpenoid saponins are unique and classified as protopanaxatriol and protopanaxadiol saponins based on their glycosylation patterns. They play many protective roles in humans and are under intense research as various groups continue to study their efficacy at the molecular level in various disorders. Ginsenosides Rb1 and Rg1 are the most abundant ginsenosides present in ginseng roots, and they confer the pharmacological properties of the plant, whereas ginsenoside Rg3 is abundantly present in Korean Red Ginseng preparation, which is highly known for its anticancer effects. These ginsenosides have a unique mode of action in modulating various signaling cascades and networks in different tissues. Their effect depends on the bioavailability and the physiological status of the cell. Mostly they amplify the response by stimulating phosphotidylinositol-4,5-bisphosphate 3-kinase/protein kinase B pathway, caspase-3/caspase-9-mediated apoptotic pathway, adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase, and nuclear factor kappa-light-chain-enhancer of activated B cells signaling. Furthermore, they trigger receptors such as estrogen receptor, glucocorticoid receptor, and N-methyl-$\text\tiny{D}$-aspartate receptor. This review critically evaluates the signaling pathways attenuated by ginsenosides Rb1, Rg1, and Rg3 in various tissues with emphasis on cancer, diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, and neurodegenerative disorders.

• Korean Journal of Medicinal Crop Science
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.90-96
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• 2009

The objective of this study was to investigate the effect of crude ginseng total saponins (CGS) against airway inflammation (AI) and airway hyperresponsiveness (AH) induced by diesel exhaust particles (DEP) in mice. AI and AH were induced by the intratracheal instillation with 0.1 $mg/m{\ell}$ of DEP suspension once a week for 10 weeks combined with ovalbumin (OVA) sensitization. Mice were also treated orally with 75 $mg/m{\ell}$ of CGS, 5 days a week for 10 weeks. Oral CGS treatment decreased in the level of serum immunoglobulin (IgE) and histamine increased by DEP and OVA, and declined respiratory resistance. It also dropped an enhanced infiltration of eosinophils in the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) of mice, and an increased T helper type 2 cell derived cytokine levels such as of interleukin (IL)-4, IL-13 and IL-5 in the BALF. However, it did not influence T helper type 1 cytokine such as interferon-gamma in the BALF. These results indicate that CGS may alleviate allergen-related AI and AH in mice and may play an important role in the modulation of asthmatic inflammation.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.24 no.4
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• pp.176-182
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• 2000

The effects of red ginseng component (water extracts, alcohol extracts, lipophilic extracts, total saponins, panaxadiol and panaxatriol) administration on glutathione (GSH) and lipid peroxidation levels in mice were investigated. 20~25 g ICR mice which were pretreated with water extracts (50 mg/kg), alcohol extracts (50 mg/kg), lipophilic extracts (50 mg/kg), total saponins (50 mg/kg), panaxadiol (50 mg/kg) and panaxatriol (50 mg/kg) for 15 days. The ability of red ginseng component to protect against oxidative damage to the mouse liver was examined by determining the level of lipid peroxidation (MDA), glutathione, and the activities of glutathione peroxidase (GPX). The GSH level was raised by all the ginseng component, but the GSSG level was lowered ]argely by all the ginseng component. The ratio of GSSG/total GSH was decreased because the level of GSSG was decreased more than that of GSH. Finally, the lipid peroxidation (MDA) level was the lowest in lipophilic extracts and panaxadiol nest. In conclusion, the order of effectiveness of anti-oxidants was to be lipophilic extracts>panaxadiol>total saponins.