• Korean Journal of Soil Science and Fertilizer
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• v.13 no.1
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• pp.13-19
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• 1980

1. Ginseng field and virgin soils, to which Yakto, washed Yakto, litters (deciduous and coniferous trees) and bone meal were applied, were incubated at 60% of field capacity of the soils to shed light on the production of $NH_4-N$ and $NO_3-N$ through mineralization of the organic materials being the nitrogen sources for Korean ginseng. 2. Total nitrogen content mineralized in the soils, to which the following organic materials were applied, was:bone meal>Yakto${\gg}$litter (deciduous trees)> washed Yakto, litter (coniferous trees). The content increased with incubation time in all the virgin and ginseng field soils excepting only the virgin soils applied with washed Yakto and litters of which the contents decreased. A large part of nitrogen mineralized in the virgin and ginseng field soils to which Yakto was applied was nitrate form, while a half ginseng field soils and a considerable part in the other virgin soils was ammonium form in the other treatments. 3. $NH_4-N$ content produced in the virgin and ginseng field soils applied with bone meal increased with the time, while it decreased in the other treatments. And the content in the soils applied with bone meal was very high. 4. $NO_3-N$ content showed a continuous increase during the incubation time in all treatments of ginseng field soils and only in the virgin soil to which Yakto was applied, wherease it showed almost no change in the other treatments of virgin soils. And the content in the soils applied with Yakto was very high. 5. Yakto was expected to supply nitrate enough to meet amounts of nitrogen required by ginseng with different ages and also expected to increase in soil fertility, while bone meal was expected only to supply much nitrogen of which a considerable part was ammonium form.

• Food Science and Preservation
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• v.16 no.3
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• pp.342-347
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• 2009

We sought to improve the methods for washing fresh raw ginseng. The quality of ginseng surface-washed by different methods was evaluated during storage at 10C and $20^{\circ}C$. The raw ginseng surface-washing method was a full-cone spray-type procedure using water and air. The water for decontamination had an electrolysis value of 80 ppm, also known as electrolysis water $2^{\circ}C$ water and water containing 5 ppm chlorine dioxide, were also used for decontamination. The Hunter color (${\Delta}E$) of ginseng washed with water withan electrolysis value of 80 ppm, or water with 5 ppm chlorine dioxide, was greater than that seen after other washing methods were used. The weight loss after washing with 5 ppm chlorine dioxide water was similar to that seen after washing with $2^{\circ}C$ water or 80 ppm electrolysis water. Reductions in total microorganism levels, and counts of yeasts and molds, assayed 10 days after washing with 5 ppm chlorine dioxide water were greater than seen after use of other sterilization methods. Quality maintenance on storage, at both 10C and 20C, after washing with 80 ppm electrolysis water, was better than that noted after other sterilization methods. The moisture content of washed ginseng was similar under all storage conditions tested.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.45 no.4
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• pp.519-526
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• 2021

Background: This study aimed to investigate the effect of cold plasma treatment on the improvement of seed germination and surface sterilization of ginseng seeds. Methods: Dehisced ginseng (Panax ginseng) seeds were exposed to dielectric barrier discharge (DBD) plasma operated in argon (Ar) or an argon/oxygen mixture (Ar/O₂), and the resulting germination and surface sterilization were compared with those of an untreated control group. Bacterial and fungal detection assays were performed for plasma-treated ginseng seeds after serial dilution of surface-washed suspensions. The microbial colonies (fungi and bacteria) were classified according to their phenotypical morphologies and identified by molecular analysis. Furthermore, the effect of cold plasma treatment on the in vitro antifungal activity and suppression of Cylindrocarpon destructans in 4-year-old ginseng root discs was investigated. Results: Seeds treated with plasma in Ar or Ar/O₂ exhibited a higher germination rate (%) compared with the untreated controls. Furthermore, the plasma treatment exhibited bactericidal and fungicidal effects on the seed surface, and the latter effect was stronger than the former. In addition, plasma treatment exhibited in vitro antifungal activity against C. destructans and reduced the disease severity (%) of root rot in 4-year-old ginseng root discs. The results demonstrate the stimulatory effect of plasma treatment on seed germination, surface sterilization, and root rot disease suppression in ginseng. Conclusion: The results of this study indicate that the cold plasma treatment can suppress the microbial community on the seed surface root rot in ginseng.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology
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• v.15 no.1
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• pp.3-8
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• 1981

Studies have been conducted to test the effect of Ginseng alcohol extract on the membrane potentials of frog skeletal muscle. The gastrocnemius muscle was isolated and placed in a chamber containing the Clark-frog Ringer solution. Membrane potentials were recorded using microelectrodes filled with 3 M KCI and muscle was electrically stimulated to obtain action potential. Changes in both the action potential and the resting membrane potential were observed after adding an appropriate amount of Ginseng alcohol extract in the perfusing Ringer solution. The results obtained from 346 muscle cells are summarized as follows : 1) The average resting membrane potential of the normal frog gastrocnemius muscle cell was -92.8 mV and the peak of the action potential reached at 29.8 mV. 2) Both the resting membrane potential and the peak of the action potential decreased by Ginseng alcohol extract, the effect being proportional to the dose of Ginseng alcohol extract. 3) The resting membrane potential and the peak of the action potential continuously decreased until about 40 min after Ginseng addition and leveled off thereafter. The potentials recovered to its original value after Ginseng was washed out. 4) The resting membrane potential was more sensitive to the Ginseng alcohol extract than was the action potential. These results strongly suggest that Ginseng alcohol extract increases both the $Na^+$ and $K^+$ permeability in the skeletal muscle cell membrane.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.32 no.1
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• pp.73-78
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• 2008

Red ginseng acidic polysaccharide (RGAP), isolated from Korean red ginseng (Panax ginseng C.A. Meyer), has been shown to have a variety of biological functions such as immunostimulating and anti-tumor activities. In the present study, we investigated whether RGAP inhibited ligand-induced platelet aggregation. The washed platelet-rich plasma was prepared from male SD rats with successive centrifugation. The platelets $(10^8/ml)$ were preincubated with 1 mM of $CaCl_2$ for 2 min either in the presence or in the absence of RGAP $(10{\sim}50\;{\mu}g/ml)$ and were stimulated with collagen (2.5 ${\mu}g/ml$) and thrombin (0.1 U/ml). RGAP dose-dependently inhibited thrombin-induced platelet aggregation with $IC_{50}$ value of $26.2{\pm}2.0$ ${\mu}g/ml$. In collagen-induced platelet aggregation, RGAP inhibited the reaction with an $IC_{50}$ value of $31.5{\pm}3.0\;{\mu}g/ml$. RGAP potently suppressed the intracellular calcium ion, which was stimulated by thrombin (0.1 U/ ml). Among mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) subtypes, the extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) 1/2 and p38 MAPK were analyzed in the present study. RGAP inhibited the phosphorylation of ERK2 and p38 MAPK, which was activated by collagen (2.5 ${\mu}g/ml$). Finally, these results suggested that besides saponin fraction, RGAP take an important role in the preventive effect of Korean red ginseng against cardiovascular disease such as thrombosis and atherosclerosis.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.46 no.3
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• pp.387-395
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• 2022

Background: Fermentation may alter the bioavailability of certain compounds, which may affect their efficacy and pharmacological responses. This study investigated the antiplatelet effects of red ginseng extract (RGE) and fermented red ginseng extract (FRG). Methods: A rodent model was used to evaluate the antiplatelet and antithrombotic effects of the extracts. Rats were orally fed with human equivalent doses of the extracts for 1 week and examined for various signaling pathways using standard in vivo and ex vivo techniques. Light transmission aggregometry was performed, and calcium mobilization, dense granule secretion, integrin α_IIbβ₃-mediated signaling molecules, cyclic nucleotide signaling events, and various protein molecules were evaluated ex vivo in collagen-stimulated washed platelets. Furthermore, antithrombotic properties were evaluated using a standard acute pulmonary thromboembolism model, and the effects on hemostasis were investigated using rat and mice models. Results: Both RGE and FRG significantly inhibited platelet aggregation, calcium mobilization, and dense granule secretion along with integrin-mediated fibrinogen binding and fibrinogen adhesion. cAMP levels were found to be elevated in RGE-treated rat platelets. Ginseng extracts did not exert any effect on prothrombin time and activated partial thromboplastin time. RGE-treated mice showed significantly better survival under thrombosis than FRG-treated mice, with no effects on hemostasis, whereas FRG-treated mice exhibited a slight increment in bleeding time. Conclusion: Both extracts, especially RGE, are remarkable supplements to maintain cardiovascular health and are potential candidates for the treatment and prevention of platelet-related cardiovascular disorders.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.25 no.3
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• pp.122-126
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• 2001

Fresh ginseng was washed with water and packaged individually in a soft film bag (ONY/LDPE/L-LDPE;200${\times}$300mm, 90$\mu\textrm{m}$), then stored at 25$^{\circ}C$, 10$^{\circ}C$, or 4$^{\circ}C$ to investigate quality and weight changes of the packaged fresh ginseng according to its storage time. Softening was the major phenomenon which influenced on the quality of the packaged fresh ginseng while spoilage and color-change were relatively minor phenomena. There were very good correlations not only between the quality change rate constant and the storage temperature but between the weight change rate constant and the storage temperature. This result suggests that the shelf-life and the weight loss of the packaged fresh ginseng being store at low temperature can be estimated by an accelaerated sotrage test.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.41 no.1
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• pp.96-102
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• 2017

Background: Korean ginseng, Panax ginseng Meyer, has been used as a traditional oriental medicine to treat illness and promote health for several thousand years. Ginsenosides are the main constituents for the pharmacological effects of P. ginseng. Since several ginsenosides, including ginsenoside (G)-Rg3 and G-Rp1, have reported antiplatelet activity, here we investigate the ability of G-Rp4 to modulate adenosine diphosphate (ADP)-induced platelet aggregation. The ginsenoside Rp4, a similar chemical structure of G-Rp1, was prepared from G-Rg1 by chemical modification. Methods: To examine the effects of G-Rp4 on platelet activation, we performed several experiments, including antiplatelet ability, the modulation of intracellular calcium concentration, and P-selectin expression. In addition, we examined the activation of integrin ${\alpha}IIb{\beta}_3$ and the phosphorylation of signaling molecules using fibrinogen binding assay and immunoblotting in rat washed platelets. Results: G-Rp4 inhibited ADP-induced platelet aggregation in a dose-dependent manner. We found that G-Rp4 decreased calcium mobilization and P-selectin expression in ADP-activated platelets. Moreover, fibrinogen binding to integrin ${\alpha}IIb{\beta}_3$ by ADP was attenuated in G-Rp4-treated platelets. G-Rp4 significantly attenuated phosphorylation of extracellular signal-regulated protein kinases 1 and 2, p38, and c-Jun N-terminal kinase, as well as protein kinase B, phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase, and phospholipase C-${\gamma}$ phosphorylations. Conclusion: G-Rp4 significantly inhibited ADP-induced platelet aggregation and this is mediated via modulating the intracellular signaling molecules. These results indicate that G-Rp4 could be a potential candidate as a therapeutic agent against platelet-related cardiovascular diseases.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.38 no.5
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• pp.587-593
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• 2009

This study was carried out to investigate the quality characteristics of ginseng Jung Kwa and Jung Kwa solution prepared according to boiling frequency on Jung Kwa process. Ginseng Jung Kwa was made as follows: washed ginseng 8 kg was boiled 5 min with water 16 kg and then boiling water 8 kg was removed. Sucrose 10 kg was added to boiled ginseng soaking in hot water. Jung Kwa was boiled down for 60 min in sugar syrup and soaked for 24 hrs. According to the above process, Jung Kwa was boiled down 5 times. Moisture and pH of Jung Kwa and Jung Kwa solution decreased as the number of boiling time increased and $^{\circ}Brix$ of Jung Kwa solution increased. Crude saponin content of last Jung Kwa (GJ 6) increased to 4 times of raw ginseng. Content of Rf and Rd, component of ginsenosides, increased 77 and 16 times on Jung Kwa, respectively and content of crude saponin on last Jung Kwa solution (GJS 5) was 61.88 mg/g. The other ginsenosides on Jung Kwa decreased. As the number of boiling time increased, concentration of total sugar, glucose and fructose of Jung Kwa and Jung Kwa solution increased. Content of total organic acid on Jung Kwa decreased, especially, succinic acid, main organic acid of ginseng, decreased rapidly. L value of Jung Kwa decreased whereas a and b values increased.

• Proceedings of the Ginseng society Conference
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• 2002.10a
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• pp.392-400
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• 2002

We have previously found that the saponins but not other components in the ginseng reduce the secretion of catecholamines (CAs) from bovine adrenal chromaffin cells, a model of sympathetic nerves, evoked by acetylcholine (ACh) due to the blockade of $Na^+$ influx through nicotinic ACh receptor-operated cation channels, and it has been concluded that the inhibitory effect may be associated with the anti-stress action of ginseng. However, the saponins, which showed the great reduction of the CA secretion, were mainly the protopanaxiatriols. The protopanaxadiol and oleanolic acid saponins had a little or little such effect. Recent studies demonstrated that the oligosaccharides connected to the hydroxyl groups of the aglycones of the saponins are in turn hydrolyzed by gastric acid and enzymes in the intestinal bacteria when the ginseng is orally administrated. In this study, the effects of their major 6 kinds of metabolites on the secretion of CAs were investigated. All metabolites (M1, 2, 3 and 5 derived from the protopanaxadiols, and M4 and 11 from the protopanaxiatriols) reduced the ACh-evoked secretion from the cells. In the metabolites, the M4 inhibition was the most potent ($IC_{50}({\mu}M):M4(9)$ < M2 (18) < M3 (19) < M1l (22) < M5 (36) < MI (38)). Although M4 also reduced the CA secretion induced by high $K^+$, a stimulation activating voltage-sensitive $Ca^{2+}$ channels, the inhibitory effect was much less than that on the ACh-evoked secretion. M4 inhibited the ACh-induced $Na^+$ influx into the cells in a concentration-dependent manner similar to that of the inhibition of the ACh-evoked secretion. When the cells were washed by the incubation buffer after the preincubation of the cells with M4 and then incubated without M4 in the presence of ACh, the M4 inhibition was not completely abolished. On the other hand, its inhibition was maintained even by increasing the external ACh concentration. These results indicate that the saponins are metabolized to the more active substances in the digestive tract and the metabolites attenuate the secretion of CAs from bovine adrenal chromaffin cells stimulated by ACh due to the noncompetitive blockade of the ACh-induced $Na^+$ influx into the cells. These findings may further explain the anti-stress action of ginseng.