• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.28 no.3
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• pp.132-135
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• 2004

This study was performed to investigate the anxiolytic effects of total sponin fraction from Ginseng Radix Rubra (KRG) in mice using the elevated plus-maze model. The water extract of KRG and ginseng total saponins (GTS) purified from the water extract of KRG were administered orally to mice. One hour after administration of KRG water extract and GTS, mice were tested on the elevated plus-maze. The water extract of KRG 100 mg/kg, and GTS 25 and 50 mg/kg did not increase open arm entries and time spent on open arm. However, GTS 100 mg/kg increased the number of open arm entries and time spent on open arm. On the other hand, as the plus-maze test was affected by changes in locomotor activity, an additional test was carried out with the specific aim of monitoring locomotor activity. The water extract of KRG 100 mg/kg, and GTS 25 and 50 mg/kg did not affect the locomotor activity. However, GTS 100 mg/kg significantly decreased locomotor activity. From this study, we suggest that GTS may play an imponant role on the anxiolytic effects in the plus-maze model.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.46 no.3
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• pp.489-495
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• 2022

Background: Although ginsenosides and saponins in Korea red ginseng (KRG) shows various pharmacological roles, their roles in the inflammatory response are little known. This study investigated the anti-inflammatory role of ginsenosides identified from KRG saponin fraction (RGSF) and the potential mechanism in macrophages. Methods: The ginsenoside composition of RGSF was identified by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) analysis. An anti-inflammatory effect of RGSF and its mechanisms were studied using nitric oxide (NO) and prostaglandin E₂ (PGE₂) production assays, mRNA expression analyses of inflammatory genes and cytokines, luciferase reporter gene assays of transcription factors, and Western blot analyses of inflammatory signaling pathways using the lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-treated RAW264.7 cells. Results: HPLC analysis identified the types and amounts of various panaxadiol ginsenosides in RGSF. RGSF reduced the generation of inflammatory molecules and mRNA levels of inflammatory enzymes and cytokines in LPS-treated RAW264.7 cells. Additionally, RGSF inhibited the signaling pathways of NF-κB and AP-1 by suppressing both transcriptional factors and signaling molecules in LPS-treated RAW264.7 cells. Conclusion: RGSF contains ginsenosides that have anti-inflammatory action via restraining the NF-κB and AP-1 signaling pathways in macrophages during inflammatory responses.

• Proceedings of the Ginseng society Conference
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• 1990.06a
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• pp.15-19
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• 1990

We have been isolating various physiologically active substances from non-saponin fraction of Korean Red Ginseng These are adenosine, gyro-glutamic acid, dencichine and acidic polysaccharide. Adenosine and gyro-glutamic acid are loom to inhibit epinephrine-induced lipolysis in fat cells and stimulate the insulin-mediated lipogenesis. In addition to these actions, adenosine was found to inhibit both norepinephrine- and histamine-induced aorta constriction, and pyre·glutamic acid inhibits angiotensin-converting enzyme. Dencichine stimulated histamine-induced aorta constriction. Finally, acidic polysaccharide was found to inhibit both lipolytic and anorexigenic actions of Toxohormone-L. Based on these experimental results, I presented a brief review on these compounds isolated from non- saponin fraction of Korea Red Ginseng. Keywords Panax ginseng, Korean red ginseng, adenosine, pyroglutamic acid, dencichine, acidic polysac- charide, lipolysis, lipogenesis, angiotensin-converting enzyme, toxohormone-L.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.22 no.4
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• pp.310-315
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• 1998

The effect of red ginseng saponins (total saponins, Rbl- and Rgl- fraction of saponins) on the induction of $\beta$-galactosidase in yeast, hccharomyces cereuisiae, was investigated to see that ginseng saponins would penetrate the cell membrane and have a function in a nucleus as steroid hormones do. To attain such a kind of purpose, a DNA fragment (685bp) containing GALI promoter was inserted into the sites of EcoRl and BamHl of polylinker region, upstream of lace gene of the plasmid YEp356 (7.966 Kb), and thus the resulting plasmid pGALl-lacZ is supposed to express $\beta$- galactosidase only in the presence of galactose. The plasmid pGALl -lacZ was introduced into yeast, Ky106 (a leu2 ura3 his3 trp 1 Iys2), and the growth of the transformed cells was much slower in the presence of galactose than glucose. The effects of saponins on the specific activity of P-galactosidase from transformed yeast cells were detected. No significant increase was observed in case of total saponins, but the Rbl- or Rgl- fraction of saponins gave much higher increase in the activity. Maximum increase was observed as 35% in 10-3% of Rbl and as 75% in 10-1% of Rgl. These data suggest that ginseng saponins might be able to enter the nucleus and stimulate transcription. However, further studies to find out the putative saponin receptor are needed to confirm this possibility. Key words : Red ginseng saponin, $\beta$-galactosidase induction, Saccharomyces cerevisiae.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.14 no.2
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• pp.157-161
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• 1990

We have been isolating various physiologically active substances from non-saponin fraction of Korean Red Ginseng. These are adenosine, pyre-glutamic acid, dencichine and acidic polysaccharide. Adenosine and pyre-glutamic acid are known to inhibit epinephrine-induced lipolysis in fat cells and stimulate the insulin-mediated lipogenesis. In addition to these actions, adenosine was found to inhibit both norepinephrine- and histamine-induced aorta constriction, and pyre·glutamic acid inhibits angiotensin-converting enzyme. Dencichine stimulated histamine-induced aorta constriction. Finally, acidic polysaccharide was found to inhibit both lipolytic and anorexigenic actions of Toxohormone-L. Based on these experimental results, I presented a briefreview on these compounds isolated from non-saponin fraction of Korea Red Ginseng.

• Biomedical Science Letters
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• v.23 no.4
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• pp.310-320
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• 2017

Ginseng has been widely used for traditional medicine in eastern Asia and is known to have inhibitory effects on cardiovascular disease (CVD) such as thrombosis, atherosclerosis, and myocardial infarction. Because, platelet is a crucial mediator of CVD, many studies are focusing on inhibitory mechanism of platelet functions. Among platelet activating molecules, thromboxane $A_2$ ($TXA_2$) and P-selectin play a central role in CVD. $TXA_2$ leads to intracellular signaling cascades and P-selectin plays an important role in platelet-neutrophil and platelet-monocyte interactions leading to the inflammatory response. In this study, we investigated the inhibitory mechanisms of total saponin fraction from Korean red ginseng (KRG-TS) on $TXA_2$ production and P-selectin expression. Thrombin-elevated $TXA_2$ production and arachidonic acid release were decreased by KRG-TS dose (25 to $150{\mu}g/mL$)-dependently via down regulation of microsomal cyclooxygenase-1 (COX-1), $TXA_2$ synthase (TXAS) activity and dephosphorylation of cytosolic phospholipase $A_2$ ($cPLA_2$). In addition, KRG-TS suppressed thrombin-activated P-selectin expression, an indicator of granule release via dephosphorylation of mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPK). Taken together, we revealed that KRG-TS is a beneficial novel compound inhibiting $TXA_2$ production and P-selectin expression, which may prevent platelet aggregation-mediated thrombotic disease.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.16 no.3
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• pp.222-227
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• 1992

Unlike carbohydrats and fats, alcohol is essentially foreign to the body and it is known that the body get rid of it by oxidizing alcohol maily in the liver. Acetaldehyde is produced during ethanol metabolism and is known to be oxidized mainly by aldehyde dehydrogenase (ALDH). ALDH activity was found mainly in the mitochondrial fraction but a significant ALDH activity was also present in microsomal and cytosol fraction. Wistar rats (150~200 g, male) were given freely with 12% ethanol (Control) and/or 12% ethanol containing 0.1% ginseng saponins (Test) instead of water for 6 days and the liver was analyzed. ALDH activities of both control and test group were lower than that of normal group but test AkDH was less inhibited than control. ADH activies of both control and test were slightly higher than that of normal group but our previous data showed that it became gradually steady after prolonged ethanol feeding. MEOS activities of both control and test group were much higher than that of normal group. MEOS enzymes are inducible but the activity of test group was greatly higher than that of control. Ethanol containing [1-i4C] ethanol (5 $\mu$Ci) was injected to the above three groups and 30 min later, the distribution of radioactivity of hepatic lipids was investigated. Radioactivities of hepatic lipids of both control and test group were higher than that of normal group, however, that of test group was much lower than that of control. Analysis of individual lipids showed that phospholipid biosynthesis was significantly impaired and fatty acid and triglycerides biosynthesis were greatly stimulated. However, it was realized that the saponin prevented phospholipid biosynthesis depression and the increase of triglyceride biosynthesis considerably. It seemed that the saponin might stimulate ADH, ALDH and MEOS and the acetaldehyde formed would be removed faster. The excess hydrogen can be shunt more quickly into lipid biosynthesis. Electron microscopic observation showed that the hepatic cell of control group was si gnificantly damaged. Mitochondria were swollen and rough endoplasmic reticulum were dilated, however, hepatocytes of test group were not damaged.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.32-38
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• 1994

Male rats aged 15 months, which had been over-trained with 12 arm radial maze up to the criterion of 1 or 2 errors an average per trial, were divided into two groups and 7 months after the over-training and were studied the effect of red ginseng trial saponin fraction (PT) on the spatial memory function. The rats which could be improved the performance of 9.75$\pm$1.26 (within 185$\pm$8.2 1 sec) were classified into "normal group" (n=4) and the ones, which showed R-maze performance of 7.0$\pm$2.87 within 300 sec, "deteriorated memory group" (n=5). PT was dissolved in distilled water and injected into the deteriorated memory group intraperitoneally at 30 min before R-maze for 3 consecutive days. The injected amount of PT on the 1st day was 10mg/rat, 1mg/rat both on the 2nd the 3rd day. As results, the performance was restored to 9.4$\pm$2.0 after stopping ginseng administration, although the lower performance values (1.4$\pm$0.89, 2.8$\pm$0.83, 3.8$\pm$0.84, respectively) were exerted during the three days of PT administration than before PT administration (7.0$\pm$2.87) since 1 day after administratitan of PT. The restored performance values were continuously maintained up to the level of the "normal group". However, any lower performance values were not observed when PT was administered via intraperitoneal route to the normal group in about of 2 mg/rat except 10mg1ra1. The number of errors when the foods in arms were put at only 6 places was clearly reduced during the 9 days of consecutive administration of PT as compared with untreated control. These results indicated that PT administration may enhance their cognitive function after a long lapse of time not only in the memory deteriorated rats but also in normal ones. The reason exerted lower performance values during PT administration in this paper was discussed as compared with the results of T-maze behavior of another 3-month-aged rats. of another 3-month-aged rats.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.8 no.2
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• pp.153-166
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• 1984

The anticancer activities of petroleum ether extract of Panax ginseng root(crude GX) and its partially purified fraction from silicic acid column chromatography (7:3 GX) were studied with Sarcoma 180(S-180) or Walker carcinosarcoma 256 (Walker 256) in vivo and with L1210 leukemic lympocyte in vitro. Potential cytotoxic activities of the crude GX and against L1210 cells were compared with those of 5-Fluorouracil (5-FU) and saponin derivatives (Panax-diol, Panax-triol, Diol saponin, Triol saponin) in vitro. In order to observe the physiological effects of the crude GX and 7:3 GX on the animals with cancer, hemoglobin(Hb), red blood cell(R.B.C) and white blood cell after treatment with each GX in comparison with corresponding control groups, respectively. The anticancer effects of the crude GX and 7:3 GX were estimated by measuring the survival time of S-180 bearing mice after treatment with them. The experimental results obtained are summarized as follows; 1. The one unit of cytotoxic activity against L1210 cells was equivalent to 2.54$\mu\textrm{g}$ and 0.88$\mu\textrm{g}$of the crude GX and 7:3 GX per ml of culture medium, respectively. 2. The cytotoxic activities of Panax-diol, Panax=triol, Diol saponin and triol saponin against L1210 cells were not detected. 3. The anticancer activities of 5-FU against L1210, S-180 and Walker 256 were very effective in vivo and vitro tests. 4. The significantly increased W.B.C values of mice after inoculation with S-180 cells were reduced to normal range by the crude GX treatment. 5. The significantly decreased Hb values of rats after inoculation with Walker 256 were recovered to normal range by oral administration of the crude GX. 6. The survival times of mice inoculated with S-180 cells were extended about 1.5 to 2 times by the 7:3 GX treatment compared with their control group.

• 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.