• Toxicological Research
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• v.12 no.2
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• pp.251-258
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• 1996

Panax ginseng has been used for various diseases including hepatic disorders. The aim of the present study was to investigate the hepatoprotective effects of ethanol extract and saponin of Panax ginseng in thioacetamide-intoxicated rats and to compare with silymarin, a known hepatoprotective agent. Male Sprague-Dawley rats were given single intragastric administration of thioacetamide. Aqueous solutions of ethanol extract and saponin of Panax ginseng with or without silymarin were administered intragastrically daily for six days from four days before until one day after thioacetamide administration. At the end of the treatment, the rats were fasted overnight and sacrificed. As a result, thioacetamide caused significant increase in serum levels of AST, ALT, 5'-nucleotidase and bilirubin. Thioacetamide increased $Ca^++$ content but decreased protein content in liver tissue. These thioacetamide-induced biochemical changes were prevented both by ethanol extract of ginseng and silymarin, but not by ginseng saponin. Silymarin did not potentlate the effect of either ethanol extract or saponin of ginseng on these parameters. Thioacetamide-induced confluent necrosis was not protected by the test drugs. In conclusion, ethanol extract of ginseng protects the liver possibly by stabilizing the cell membrane and by inhibiting thioacetamide-induced $Ca^++$ increase in the hepatocytes, which was comparable to that of silymarin.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.8 no.1
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• pp.32-37
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• 1984

In order to shorten the extraction time of saponin in ginseng products, election with Extrelut column and phase-separation methods were compared. The results obtained are as follows. 1. Saponin of ginseng products was extracted completely within 3 hours by election method with Extrelut column, and the rate of removing glucose by the column was increased with increasing glucose content in ginseng products. 2. Stirring method was superior to refluxing method for removing sugars from ginseng products, and removing rate was deceased in the order of lactose, sucrose and glucose. 3. Extraction rate of ginsenoside from ginseng extracts by the elution method was nearly same as that of phase-separation method; however, the former was much higher than the latter in the case of ginseng teas. Therefore, the elution by Extrelut column is to be improper for extraction of saponin in ginseng tea which contains much sugar. It was necessary to remove lipophilic compounds for extraction of saponin from ginseng extracts by elution with Extrelut column.

• KOREAN JOURNAL OF CROP SCIENCE
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• v.54 no.3
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• pp.287-293
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• 2009

In this study, red ginseng extract solutions were analyzed to set up the functional saponin content and quality optimization condition. The highest saponin content among the total red ginseng extracts was 64.6 mg / 100 ml which was extracted at $75^{\circ}C$ for 18 hours. In addition, the saponin content decreased according to the increased extraction temperature and time. The highest total content of $Rb_2$ and Re was 11.8 mg / 100 ml at $75^{\circ}C$ for 12 hours which decreased according to the increased extraction temperature and time. The prosapogenin content of red ginseng extract was increased at $75^{\circ}C$ and $85^{\circ}C$ while the content decreased at $95^{\circ}C$, in which the highest prosapogenin content was 34.9 mg / 100 ml at $85^{\circ}C$ for 24 hours. The total sugar content and cloudness were increased according to the increased extraction time at $95^{\circ}C$, but pH and hue value were decreased according to the increased extracted time. The highest sweetness content was 4.0% which was found at $95^{\circ}C$ for 24 hours extract. Therefore, the most appropriate red ginseng extracting method was lower the temperature for saponin content at first time in combination with raise the temperature for taste at second time.

• Food Science and Biotechnology
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.513-518
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• 2009

This study was carried out to investigate the changes of yield, total phenolics, saponin content and composition, antimicrobial, and antioxidant activities of various fractions of fine ginseng root (Panax ginseng C.A. Mayer) by maceration method in the order of increasing polarity (hexane, chloroform, ethyl acetate, butanol, and water). Butanol fraction showed the highest total saponin content compare to other fractions. Hexane fraction could harvest significantly high ginsenoside Rg2, Rg1, and Rf (p<0.05). And the contents of ginsenoside Rh1, Rg3, and Rg1 showed relatively higher in the fraction of ethyl acetate than other fractions. The system of hexane-chloroform-ethyl aceate-butanol showed relatively high content of ginsenoside Re, Rd, Rc, Rb3, and Rb1. However, the last fraction of water still remained lots of Rb2 content. The fraction of water was the highest phenolics. The 1,1-diphenyl-2-picryhydrazil, superoxide, and hydroxyl radical scavenging activity of water fraction was higher than the other fractions. In antimicrobial activity, the fraction of hexane showed relatively high antimicrobial activity against Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Salmonella typhimurium, Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus cereus, and Escherichia coli. And the fractions of the chloroform and ethyl acetate showed higher antimicrobial activities than the other samples in against P. aeruginosa and S. typhimurium.

• KOREAN JOURNAL OF CROP SCIENCE
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• v.67 no.4
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• pp.296-304
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• 2022

To maximize the medicinal properties of bellflower root (Platycodi radix), its growth and development according to soil texture were investigated using four types of soil: masato (decomposed granite), soil mix, loamy sand, and sandy loam. Saponin content was measured. With regard to bellflower root growth depending on soil texture, its growth was better in the order of loamy sand > sandy loam > soil mix > masato in the above-ground part, and loamy sand > soil mix > sandy loam > masato in the underground part in the order. The average content of general ingredients were 77.3% water, 2.6% crude fat, 3.2% crude flour, 6.0% crude protein, and 10.9% carbohydrates. With respect to saponin analysis of bellflower roots, the saponin content regarding platycodin D, platycodin D3, polygalacin D, and deapioplatycodin D were higher in the order of 282.4, 104.7, 29.1, 19.1 mg/100 g, respectively. The content of organic matter and phosphoric acid was high in soil mix and sandy loam, and platycodin D3 showed similar levels in all soil types. As a result, the soil mix is considered most suitable in terms of yield and component levels, however, it is the most expensive type. As a replacement, sandy loam was adequate in terms of fresh weight related to yield and highest saponin content.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.24 no.1
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• pp.46-50
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• 2000

This study was carried out to investigate the effect of crude saponin from Korean red ginseng on clinical chemical parameters in ovariectomized rats. The crude red ginseng saponin was prepared by Diaion HP-20 adsorption chromatography and spirit. Tota1 of 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 12 weeks since 1 week before ovariectomy: The body weight of ovariectomized rats showed no significant change but that of NS group showed significant increase when compared with NC group. Platelet counts of serum showed significant increase when treated with saponin regardless of ovariectomy. Triglyceride content of serum in NC group was 152.1 mg/㎗, while that of OR group was decreased to 99.9 mg/㎗ However, when saponin was administered, the content was increased to 138.0 mg/㎗. The weight of spleen also showed significant increase when treated with saponin, while the other organs showed no weight changes. On the other hand, ovariectomy in rats induced decrease in femur weight by 10% when compared with NC group. However, administration of crude saponin in ovariectomized rats recovered the weight of the femur to the similar level of NC (e<0.01 0.05). In addition, femur weight of NS group indicated 10 to 16% higher value than that of NC. These results suggest that Korean red ginseng saponin attenuates phyiological disorders induced by malfunction of ovary.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.39 no.4
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• pp.371-375
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• 2015

Background: The current typical drying methods for red ginseng are sun drying and hot-air drying. The purpose of this study was to investigate drying characteristics of red ginseng by using far-infrared drying. Methods: The far-infrared drying tests on red ginseng were conducted at two drying stages: (1) high temperature for 24 h drying and (2) low temperature drying until the final moisture content was $13{\pm}0.5%$ (wet basis). The high temperature drying stage included three drying chamber temperature conditions of $60^{\circ}C$, $65^{\circ}C$, and $70^{\circ}C$. The low temperature drying stage was conducted at temperatures of $45^{\circ}C$ and $50^{\circ}C$. Drying characteristics were analyzed based on factors such as drying rate, color changes, energy consumption, and saponin content. The results were compared with those of the hot-air and sun drying methods. Results: The results revealed that increases in drying temperature caused a decrease in drying time and energy consumption for far-infrared drying. The saponin content decreased under all drying conditions after drying, the highest value (11.34 mg/g) was observed at drying conditions of $60{\sim}50^{\circ}C$. The sun drying condition showed the lowest color difference value when compared with far-infrared and hot-air drying. Conclusion: The far-infrared drying showed a faster drying rate, higher saponin content, lower color difference value, and a decrease in energy consumption than seen in hot-air drying.

• 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.

• The Journal of Traditional Korean Medicine
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• v.15 no.1
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• pp.97-105
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• 2006

To study on antioxidant effects in the liver of 40-week-old mouse, the sample were orally pretreated 5mg/kg/day for 5 days with red ginseng saponin components(total saponin, protopanaxadiol saponin, protopanaxatriol saponin, ginsenoside-Rd, ginsenoside-Re, compound-K) for 5 days. The ability of saponin to protect the mouse liver from oxidative damage was examined by determining the activity of superoxide dismutase(SOD), glutathione peroxidase(GPx) and the contents of glutathione, the level of malondialdehyde, The only protopanaxadiol among the ginseng saponin fractions was significantly increased the hepatic SOD activity(p<0.01). The red ginseng saponin induced a slight increase of GPx activity, especially ginsenoside Rd, compound K and protopanaxatriol treatments significantly increased its activity. The content of glutathione was significantly increased by total saponin, protopanaxadiol and ginsenoside Rd(p<0.01), but the oxidized glutathione level was lowered in all the red ginseng saponin. Finally, the level of malondialdehyde was significantly decreased by ginsenoside Rd and protopanaxadiol. In conclusion, protopanaxadiol and ginsenoside Rd among the saponin fraction were especially increased in the activity of hepatic antioxidative enzyme and decreased the lipid peroxidation that was expressed in term of MDA formation. This comprehensive antioxidant effects of red ginseng saponin seems to be by a certain action of saponin other than a direct antioxidant action.

• 한국생물공학회:학술대회논문집
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• 2005.10a
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• pp.417-420
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• 2005

Plants generally produce secondary metabolites in nature as a defense mechanism against pathogenic and insect attack. In this study, we applied several abiotic elicitors in order to enhance growth and ginseng saponin biosynthesis in the hairy roots of P. ginseng. Generally, elicitor treatments were found to inhibit the growth of the hairy roots, although simultaneously enhancing ginseng saponin biosynthesis. The addition of selenium at inoculum time did not significantly affect ginseng saponin biosynthesis. However, when 0.5 mM selenium was added as an elicitor after 21 days of culture, ginseng saponin content and productivity increased to about 1.31 and 1.33 times control levels, respectively. These results suggest that processing time for the generation of ginseng saponin in a hairy root culture can be reduced via the application of an elicitor.