• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.46 no.3
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• pp.454-463
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• 2022

Background: Gintonin-enriched fraction (GEF), a non-saponin fraction of ginseng, is a novel glycolipoprotein rich in hydrophobic amino acids. GEF has recently been shown to regulate lipid metabolism and browning in adipocytes; however, the mechanisms underlying its effects on energy metabolism and whether it affects sarcopenic obesity are unclear. We aimed to evaluate the effects of GEF on skeletal muscle atrophy in high-fat diet (HFD)-induced obese mice. Methods: To examine the effect of GEF on sarcopenic obesity, 4-week-old male ICR mice were used. The mice were divided into four groups: chow diet (CD), HFD, HFD supplemented with 50 mg/kg/day GEF, or 150 mg/kg/day GEF for 6 weeks. We analyzed body mass gain and grip strength, histological staining, western blot analysis, and immunofluorescence to quantify changes in sarcopenic obesity-related factors. Results: GEF inhibited body mass gain while HFD-fed mice gained 22.7 ± 2.0 g, whereas GEF-treated mice gained 14.3 ± 1.2 g for GEF50 and 11.8 ± 1.6 g for GEF150 by downregulating adipogenesis and inducing lipolysis and browning in white adipose tissue (WAT). GEF also enhanced mitochondrial biogenesis threefold in skeletal muscle. Furthermore, GEF-treated skeletal muscle exhibited decreased expression of muscle-specific atrophic genes, and promoted myogenic differentiation and increased muscle mass and strength in a dose-dependent manner (p < 0.05). Conclusion: These findings indicate that GEF may have potential uses in preventing sarcopenic obesity by promoting energy expenditure and attenuating skeletal muscle atrophy.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.13 no.2
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• pp.107-113
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• 1981

Free sugars were isolated from ginseng root and its products and analyzed by using high performance liquid chromatogrphy. To isolate free sugars from aqueous sample solution fat-soluble components, crude saponin and protein were removed from the solution by extracting with benzene, water-saturated butanol and 80% ethanol, respectively. Free sugars found from both ginseng root and its products were fructose, glucose, sucrose and maltose, and the only sugar detected from red ginseng root and its products was rhamnose. Major sugar detected from fresh ginseng and white ginseng roots was sucrose, while sucrose and maltose were major sugars of red ginseng root.

• Journal of the East Asian Society of Dietary Life
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• v.17 no.3
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• pp.393-401
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• 2007

This study was performed to investigate the antioxidant activity of Korean ginseng using an ORAC(Oxygen Radical Absorbance Capacity) assay. Four fractions each (80% ethanol, ethyl acetate, water saturated 1-butanol, and water) were obtained from different ginseng samples (White Ginseng: ; 6 yrs-., 5 yrs-., ; Cork Ginseng: ; 5 yrs-., 4 yrs-.). The saponin content of each fraction was quantified by LC/MS, and the antioxidant capacity of the ginseng was measured by the ORAC assay. The ORAC method, which was recently validated using automatic liquid handling systems, has been adapted for manual handling with the use of a conventional fluorescence microplate reader. Furthermore, the ORAC assay provides a direct measure of hydrophilic chain-breaking antioxidant capacity against peroxy radical, which is the exiting and emission of 2,2'-Azobis (2-methylpropionamidine)-dihychloride (AAPH). As a result of our experiments, ginsenosides Rg1 and Rb1 were the two major saponins found in the ginseng samples, and Rc, Rb2, Re, Rd, Rg3, and Rh1 were detected in a small quantities. For the antioxidant capacities of the fractions (80% ethanol, ethyl acetate, butanol, and water), we found that the organic solvent fraction had similar antioxidant capacities, and were higher than the capacity of the water fraction. When determining the similarities in each fraction, only the ethyl acetate fraction showed similarity compared to other fractions (p>0.05). The antioxidant capacity of ginseng may come from phenolic compounds and some nonpolar saponins. However, based on the results of this study, we hypothesize that some acidic polysaccharides and other biological components may contribute to its antioxidant capacity. Additional research is required to determine other possible biological response modifiers that contribute to the antioxidant capacity of ginseng.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.34 no.4
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• pp.544-548
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• 2005

The objective of this study was to determine the effect of die temperature and dimension on extraction pattern, extract yield, and crude saponin content of extruded white ginseng. The extrusion variables were die temperature $(110\;and\;120^{\circ}C)$ and die dimension (3 holes with 1.0 mm, 2 holes with 2.0 mm, and 1 hole with 3.0 mm diameter). The browness and redness were indicator of active components in ginseng extract. Both were used to evaluate the effect of die temperature and die dimension on release pattern and release rate constant. Browness and redness of extract achieved its lowest value at die temperature $110^{\circ}C$ and 2 holes with 2.0 mm diameter, indicating the lowest extraction rate constant. Extract yield highly increased by extrusion treatment. Extract yield and crude saponin content were the highest at die temperature $120^{\circ}C$ and 1 hole with 3.0 mm diameter. In conclusion, extrusion process has contributed significantly in improvement of release rate of its active components.

• Journal of Yeungnam Medical Science
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• v.23 no.1
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• pp.52-61
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• 2006

Background: Korean ginseng (KG) has been used as a general tonic, and for voiding dysfunction for a long time in oriental society. However, scientific basic studies on the use of KG, have been rare, especially for voiding and erectile dysfunction. This study was performed to investigate the effects of KG on voiding and erectile function by examining the effects of total saponin (TS) on the bladder, urethral and penile cavernosal smooth muscle. Materials and methods: To examine the effects of TS, NewZeland white rabbits were used to obtain tissue strips from the smooth muscle of the bladder, proximal urethra and corpus cavernosum. Adult Sprague Dawley rats were used to examine the changes in urodynamic findings and penile erection after administration of TS. Results: In proximal urethral strips, the rate of relaxation of the proximal urethra was increased from $9.0{\pm}2.9$ to $33.7{\pm}4.8%$ in a dose-dependent manner when the concentration of TS was added accumulatively from 0.25 mg/ml to 4.0 mg/ml (p<0.05). However, no significant response was observed in the bladder strips within these concentration ranges. For the corpus cavernosal strips, the rate of relaxation ranged from $5.8{\pm}2.1$ to $36.7{\pm}5.8%$, increasing in a dose-dependent manner when TS was increased from 1.0 mg/ml to 4.0 mg/ml (p<0.05). After administration of 0.1 ml of TS (32 mg/ml) in the rat, the bladder pressure was $37.5{\pm}8.5$ mmHg at $52.1{\pm}7.0$ sec. during isovolumetric bladder contraction, showing no significant differences from $35.7{\pm}7.8mmHg$ and $50.7{\pm}7.2$ sec, respectively, before treatment. However, when 0.1 ml of TS (32 mg/ml) was administered, the relative reduction of urethral pressure was $6.9{\pm}0.5mmHg$ at $62{\pm}7.5$ sec, which was significantly higher compared to $4.6{\pm}1.1mmHg$ at $45{\pm}10$ sec before treatment (p<0.05). For the cavernosal injection study, the change in intracavernosal pressure (${\Delta}ICP$) was examined after administering 0.1 ml of TS. The cumulative additions of TS at concentrations from 0.5 mg/ml to 32 mg/ml increased ${\Delta}ICP$ from $1.3{\pm}0.5$ to $21.3{\pm}7.8mmHg$ in a dose-dependent manner (p<0.05). The duration of tumescence was from $0.3{\pm}0.1$ to $5.2{\pm}0.2$ min, showing dose-dependent increase (p<0.05). Furthermore, the cumulative addition of TS at concentrations from 0.5 mg/ml upto 32 mg/ml did not cause any significant change in systemic blood pressure. Conclusion: These results suggest that ginseng improves voiding functions, which is mainly achieved by TS relaxing the proximal urethra, the most important part of the bladder outlet function. In addition, ginseng safely induced a penile erection hemodynamically by relaxing the corpus cavernosum.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.33 no.2
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• pp.104-110
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• 2009

It is well known that the saponin of Korean red ginseng (KRG) has an anti-oxidant effect and could suppress the accumulation of lipid peroxidation. The aim of the present study was to observe the inhibitory effect of KRG on mice with noise-induced hearing loss, and to determine its optimal dose. BALB/c mice with a normal hearing level and normal Preyer's reflexes were used in the study. The mice in the permanent-threshold-shift (PTS) group were exposed to noise (120-dB SPL, white noise band) in a noise booth for 3 h a day, for three consecutive days. The mice in the experimental group were given heat-processed red-ginseng extract (50 mg/kg, 100 mg/kg, and 200 mg/kg), and those in the control group were given normal saline alone during their noise exposure. The mice in the temporary-threshold-shift (TTS) group were exposed to noise (120 dBSPL, white noise band) in a noise booth for 3 h. The mice in the experimental group were given heat-processed red-ginseng extract (50 mg/kg, 100 mg/kg, and 200 mg/kg), and those in the control group were given normal saline alone before their noise exposure. The hearing levels of the mice were measured through auditory brainstem response (ABR) immediately and I, 3, 5, 7, and 14 days after their noise exposure. Cochleae were removed from the mice 14 days after their noise exposure. lmmunochemical and immunofluorescent staining were performed to observe the expression of 8-oxoG in cochlea. In the PTS group, the hearing function of the mice in all the groups was not recovered after their noise exposure. In the TTS group, however, the hearing function of the mice in all the groups was recovered within 14 days. Reduced hearing impairment and early recovery were observed in the mice that were given 200 mg/kg KRG, and early recovery was observed in the mice that were given 100 mg/kg KRG The immunopositive staining of 8-oxoG was detected in the stria vascularis in the control group but was diminished in the mice that were given 200 mg/kg KRG The ingestion of more than 100 mg/kg KRG demonstrated a protection and recovery effect on the noiseinduced-TTS group. Since KRG has been reported to be a safe compound even up to hundreds of mg/kg, a higher concentration of it may effectively protect and recover TTS.