• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.16 no.1
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• pp.18-23
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• 1992

Central dopaminergic activity of standardized ginseng extract G115 was investigated in comparison with those induced by haloperidol in rats. The effects of G115 on the locomotor activity and, stereotyped behavior induced by apomorphine, which interacts directly with dopamine receptor were observed. Apomorphine(2 mg/kg) significantly decreased locomotor activity, whereas it showed a markdly increased incidence of stereotyped behavior. Standardized ginseng extract G115(100 mg/kg) and haloperidol(1 mg/kg) showed a significant decrease in locomotor activity but not induced stereotyped hehavior. Locomotor activity induced by apomorphine was markdly decreased by haloperidol(1 mg/kg), but that was significantly increased by standardized ginseng extract G115(50 mg/kg). Stereotyped behavior induced by apomorphine was completely supressed haloperidol(1 mg/kg), but was not changed by standardized ginseng extract G115. These results suggest that standardized ginseng extract G115 plays an important role in central dopaminergic activity, and haloperidol and standardized ginseng extract G115 seem to have a different action in behavior.

• Proceedings of the Ginseng society Conference
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• 1980.09a
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• pp.143-150
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• 1980

The purpose of this double-blind study was to study the standardized ginseng-extract (marketed form, GINSANA), in regard to its efficacy on the reaction time, pulmonary function and general health in subjects of various age-groups. The trial was conducted as a double-blind study in a total of 120 subjectsm allocated to different groups, according to age (30 to 39 and 40 to 60 year age-groups), sex and preparation administered (ginseng/placebo). The study lasted 12 weeks and the dosage was fixed at 2 capsules per day. The rusults regarding reaction time and pulmonary function showed significant differences in favour of the GINSANA group, over the placebo group, in the 40 to 60-year-old men and women. In the self-evaluation (performance, mood, concentration) we observed a clear improvement (p < 0.001) in the subjects treated with GINSANA, with the exception of the men age 30-39 years. The results botained, which are specially related to reaction, pulmonary function, self evaluation and tolerability, have shown that GINSANA, as standardized ginseng extract, has a favourable effect on the psychic and physical functions studied. 3. Performance test in top sportsmen before and after 9 weeks' treatment with GINSANA To what extent can GINSANA influence physical performance? It is precisely we the physicians whose task it is to find drugs which in physiological amounts do not have any special pharmacodynamic effects. We were therefore interested in the preparation, GINSANA which was made available to us, since it contains a qualitatively and quantitatively standardized GINSENG EXTRACT and is not doping agent.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.44 no.2
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• pp.179-193
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• 2020

Ginseng products on the market show high variability in their composition and overall quality. This becomes a challenge for both consumers and health-care professionals who are in search of high-quality, reliable ginseng products that have a proven safety and efficacy profile. The botanical extract standardization is of crucial importance in this context as it determines the reproducibility of the quality of the product that is essential for the evaluation of effectiveness and safety. This review focuses on the well-characterized and standardized ginseng extract, G115, which represents an excellent example of an herbal drug preparation with constant safety and efficacy within the herbal medicinal products. Over the many decades, extensive preclinical and clinical research has been conducted to evaluate the efficacy and safety of G115. In vitro and in vivo studies of G115 have shown pharmacological effects on physical performance, cognitive function, metabolism, and the immune system. Furthermore, a significant number of G115 clinical studies, most of them double-blind placebo-controlled, have reinforced the findings of preclinical evidence and proved the efficacy of this extract on blood glucose and lipid regulation, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, energy, physical performance, and immune and cognitive functions. Clinical trials and 50 years of presence on the market are proof of a good safety profile of G115.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.16 no.3
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• pp.183-189
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• 1992

Effect of the standardized ginseng extract(G115) on the central monoaminergic systems were investigated in comparison with that of halcperidol in rats. Immediately after sacrificed by decapitation, the strlata and frontal cortex were removerl. Concentations of the monoamines dopamine and serctorLin and their metabolites were deterinintd by HPLC-EC. G115 increased the concentration of 5-HIAA and DOPAC/UA ratio in striatum. However, dopaminrrgic neuronal activities were not affected by G115 that decreased the concentratio,Is of 5-HT and 5-HIAA in frontal cortex. G115 in combination with apomorphine significantly irlcreased the concentration of DA and S-HT but decreased the DO PAC/DA ratio and 5-HIAA/5-HT ratio only in frontal cortex. These results suggest that G115 like HPD inhibits the activity of nigrostriatal dopamine neuron in striatum. However, unlike HPD it activates central monoaminergic neuron activity in frontal cortex.

• Advances in Traditional Medicine
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• v.5 no.4
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• pp.301-307
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• 2005

The roots of the plant Korean ginseng have been extensively used in the traditional Chinese herbal medicine. We investigated the standardized extract of Korean ginseng on animal models of anxiety based on exploratory behavior. Korean ginseng extract (KGE) (3, 10 and 30 mg/kg) was administered intra-peritoneally. The anxiolytic activity was studied using elevated plus maze (EPM) paradigm, light/dark apparatus (LDA), open field apparatus (OFA) and the hole board apparatus (HBA). Diazepam (1mg/kg) was used as a standard anxiolytic drug. In EPM, KGE (10 mg/kg) significantly (P < 0.05) increased the time spent in open arms and the number of entries in open arms. In LDA, KGE (10 mg/kg) increased the number of transitions. In OFA, KGE (3 and 10 mg/kg) significantly increased (P < 0.05) the number of squares traversed. In HBA the number of head pokes were significantly increased with KGE (3 and 10 mg/kg). KGE at all selected doses did not affect the motor coordination. Thus, the study suggests that saponin containing standardized Korean ginseng extract possess anxiolytic activity.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.219-225
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• 2010

We tested whether ginsenosides $Rg_3$-standardized ginseng extract (RGE) has anti-stress effects in restraint-stressed animals. RGE increased time spent in the open arms and open arm entries in the elevated plus-maze test. In addition, RGE blocked the reduction of center zone distance and stereotypes behaviors in the open-field test. RGE also increased head dips in stressed mice, indicating anxiolytic-like effects. Stress decreased movement distance and duration, burrowing, and rearing frequency but increased face washing and grooming. RGE significantly reversed burrowing and rearing activity in stressed mice. In addition, we measured sleep architecture in restraint stressed rats using EEG recorder. Stress increased rapid eye movement (REM) sleep, but total sleep and non-rapid eye movement (NREM) sleep were not changed. RGE did not affect sleep architecture in stressed rats. These behavioral experiments suggest that RGE has anti-stress effects in restraint-stressed animal models.

• Proceedings of the Ginseng society Conference
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• 1984.09a
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• pp.119-126
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• 1984

Several publications in scientific journals affirming that ginseng could be toxic and have harmful effects on the organism, gave us reason to undertake extensive investigations as to the toxicity of the standardized ginseng extract G115, Acute and chronic toxicity, teratogenicity, carcinogenicity, its action on the cardiovascular and the hormonal system have been studied. The data obtained, which represent five years of research, are confirmed by clinical results: The standardized ginseng extract G115 is absolutely safe, no toxic actions or side effects were observed.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.43 no.3
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• pp.421-430
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• 2019

Background: The ginsenoside Rg3, one of active components of red ginseng, has chemopreventive and anticancer potential. Cancer stem cells retain self-renewal properties which account for cancer recurrence and resistance to anticancer therapy. In our present study, we investigated whether the standardized Korean Red Ginseng extract (RGE) and Rg3 could modulate the manifestation of breast cancer stem cell-like features through regulation of self-renewal activity. Methods: The effects of RGE and Rg3 on the proportion of $CD44^{high}/CD24^{low}$ cells, as representative characteristics of stem-like breast cancer cells, were determined by flow cytometry. The mammosphere formation assay was performed to assess self-renewal capacities of breast cancer cells. Aldehyde dehydrogenase activity of MCF-7 mammospheres was measured by the ALDEFLUOR assay. The expression levels of Sox-2, Bmi-1, and P-Akt and the nuclear localization of hypoxia inducible $factor-1{\alpha}$ in MCF-7 mammospheres were verified by immunoblot analysis. Results: Both RGE and Rg3 decreased the viability of breast cancer cells and significantly reduced the populations of $CD44^{high}/CD24^{low}$ in MDA-MB-231 cells. RGE and Rg3 treatment attenuated the expression of Sox-2 and Bmi-1 by inhibiting the nuclear localization of hypoxia inducible $factor-1{\alpha}$ in MCF-7 mammospheres. Suppression of the manifestation of breast cancer stem cell-like properties by Rg3 was mediated through the blockade of Akt-mediated self-renewal signaling. Conclusion: This study suggests that Rg3 has a therapeutic potential targeting breast cancer stem cells.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.29 no.4
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• pp.206-214
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• 2005

The health function food law has been carried into effect from January 31, 2004 just after the proposal of 'a draft of a proposed law concerning the health function foods for the promotion of a nation health' on November 29, 2000 in Korea. After enforcement of health functional food law, there have been difficult market penetration with overall stagnancy of business activities and the current of health functional food within the country divided two groups. In standardized health functional foods the present condition, nutrition supplementary products (938 items) and red ginseng products (351 items) are prevalent and total 32 products are registered containing lactobacilli (297 items), glucosamine (295 items), ginseng (182 items), yeast(136 items) so on. In 2005, five products (products containing green tea extract, soybean protein, plant sterol, fructooligo sugar and Monascus sp. products are newly notified and raw material or component of total 21 products containing xylitol, teanin extract, sardine peptide are recognized as individual authorized health functional foods. Efficacies of ginseng are studied in many-sided researches but benefits of the ginseng in the health functional food law limited to 3 items (staminaresume, immune enhancement, nourishment robustness). To enlarge functionalities of ginseng it needs raw material and ingredient approval through data application to Korea Food and Drug Administration and this procedure acts as barrier of the functional food development in the ginseng industry. It is necessary to develop the authorized health functional foods for leading health functional food market in the future.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.19 no.2
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• pp.93-100
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• 1995

This study was undertaken to determine whether administration of a standardized gindeng extract at 300 mg.$d^1$ for 8 weeks could enhance maximum aerobic and anaerobic exercise capabilities and whether any changes of such effects can be occurred when exercise training was added. Forty-one male university students were randomly divided into four groups as ginseng-untrained (GU, n=10), ginseng-trained (GT, n=10), placebo-untrained (PU, n=10), and placebo-trained (PT, n=11). The trained groups underwent 8 weeks of aerobic exercise at 65% of individual's maximum oxygen consumption ($Vo_2$ max) for 30 min.$d^1$, 3d.$wk^1$. Prior to and at the end of experiment, $Vo_2$ max, anaerobic power (AP), anaerobic capacity (AC), and leg muscle strength were determined and some physiological parameters related to $Vo_2$ max were measured. Initially, all subject groups did not differ in average $Vo_2$ max (range 45.9 to 47.9 ml/.kg-1.min-1). After 8 weeks, the $Vo_2$ max increased significantly from the initial level by 12.6% in group GU, 14.5% in group PT, and 24.5% in group GU which was significantly higher than group GU but not group PT. Changes in all measured parameters related to $Vo_2$ max were similar among the subject groups except group PU. Both the AP and the AC were significantly increased in all subject groups (range +3.6 to +13.1% above initial for the AP and +4.4 to) 8.955 above initial for the AC) but the higher changes were found for the AP in groups PT and GU, and for the AC in grouts PT, when compared with group PU. No significant differences in the two anaerobic variables were observed between group GT and the other groups of subjects. Leg strength was also significantly enhanced over group PU in groups PT, GU and GT. There were no significant differences among the latter three subject groups. As a result of these findings, it was concluded that under the conditions of this study ginseng administration at the prescribed dose exhibited the training-like effects on $Vo_2$ max as well as anaerobic power and leg muscle strength but no clear synergistic action on these physical fitness variables occurred when both g inseng administration and exercise training were combined.