• Journal of the Korean Chemical Society
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• v.7 no.3
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• pp.207-210
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• 1963

"Astragalus Membranaceus Bunge", which is a medical herb, grows wild in Manchuria and Korea, is cultivated today in Korea. Any literature about the organic components of "Astragalus Membranaceus Bunge" has been extracted with methanol referring to a literature of "Panax Ginseng C.A. Meyer" and two kinds of colorless crystals were obtained. After recrystallization in absolute alcohol, the melting point has been measured. The one kind was $181-182^{\circ}C$ and the others, $184-186{\circ}C$ respectively. It does not contain nitrogen, sulfur and halogen. By Liebermann's reaction, the one kind was not a carbohydrate but might be a Saponin. Through paper chromatography, taste, melting point, spectrophotometry, and elemental analysis, it was concluded that the other was Sucrose. It has been notified that the compound can be crystallized at the proper temperature, purity, and concentration of the solution and also solvent system.

• 한국약용작물학회:학술대회논문집
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• 2012.05a
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• pp.271-272
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• 2012

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.41 no.8
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• pp.701-710
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• 2008

The wild simulated ginseng (WSG) has been effectively used in folk medicine as a remedy against hepatic disease, hypertension and arthritic disease. However, there is still lack of scientific proof about its antioxidant capability. The present study has been conducted to evaluate the protective role of the WSG ethanol extract in the CCl4-induced oxidative stress and resultant hepatic disfunction in ICR mice. The electron donating abilities and IC50 of WSG etnanol extract were 76.86 ${\pm}$ 1.06% and 33.3 ${\mu}g$/mL (that of ascobic acid was 16.5 ${\mu}g$/mL), respectively. Total antioxidant status of WSG extract was 2.13 ${\pm}$ 0.06 mmoL/mg, while the values of ascorbic acid and BHT were 3.63 ${\pm}$ 0.06 and 3.12 ${\pm}$ 0.02, respectively. ICR mice (aged 3weeks) were fed for 4 weeks on AIN-93M diet and had free access to food and water. The animals were divided into three groups: normal group (intraperitoneally (i.p) injected with PBS at 100 ${\mu}L$/mouse), group C; CCl4-induced and without any treatment. (i.p injected only PBS, 100 ${\mu}L$ /mice), group G; CCl4-induced and treated with WSG (i.p injected with 5 mg WSG extract per mouse, suspended in 100 ${\mu}L$ phosphate buffer). After the i.p. injection of WSG or PBS (5 times for 7weeks), all mice were administered CCl4 in olive oil at the last day of the experiment, except for normal group. The normal group was administered only olive oil. Determination of plasma triglyceride, total cholersterol, fasting glucose and GPT activity was performed using automatic blood analyzer. To evaluate the protective effect against the oxidative stress, DNA fragmentation and TBARS were determined in blood leucocytes and RBC and hepatocyte, respectively. Body and organs weights and food intake did not show significant differences among the groups. Blood total cholesterol of group G was similar to that of normal group, which was the lowest in group C. The fasting blood glucose level was the highest in normal group (205.20 ${\pm}$ 135.24), which were decreased in group C (134.2 ${\pm}$ 79.31) and group G (126.48 ${\pm}$ 77.05). TBARS values in a red blood cell and hepatic tisuue homogenate were lower in group G comparing to the group C. DNA% in tail, tail length (TL) and tail moment (TM) of blood leucoocytes showed the highest values in group C (20.11 ${\pm}$ 2.47, 17.36 ${\pm}$ 2.58, 94.11 ${\pm}$ 12.29) and they were significantly diminished in group G (9.63 ${\pm}$ 1.19, 7.04 ${\pm}$ 1.50, 38.64 ${\pm}$ 7.60). In conclusion, wild simulated ginseng might be a protective agent against the oxidative stress.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.50 no.4
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• pp.383-390
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• 2018

Most neurodegenerative diseases are known to be influenced by oxidative stress. We investigated the anti-oxidative activity of the concentrate of fermented wild ginseng root culture (HLJG0701) containing ginsenosides Rg5 and Rk1. HLJG0701 showed effective DPPH and ABTS radical scavenging ability ($IC_{50}$: 16- and 4-fold dilution, respectively) and was inhibited dose-dependently by the $FeSO_4$-induced lipid peroxidation group (8- and 4-fold dilution: 2.3 and 1.5 nM, respectively). In MTT and LDH assays, 8-, 16-, 32- and 64-fold diluted HLJG0701 significantly increased cell viability by 70, 53, 35, and 26%, respectively. LDH released by HLJG0701 was reduced 1.3-fold with 8-fold diluted HLJG0701 compared to the $H_2O_2$-treated control. In addition, the inhibitory effect of HLJG0701 on oxidative stress in PC12 cells was confirmed by DCF-DA analysis (16-, 4-fold diluted HLJG0701: 50 and 68% ROS inhibition, respectively), TBARS (16- and 4-fold diluted HLJG0701: 50.7 and 46.5% inhibition, respectively), GPx (16- and 4-fold diluted HLJG0701: 133.3 and 227.3% release, respectively), and SOD analysis (16- and 4-fold diluted HLJG0701: 118.2 and 218.2% release, respectively). These results suggested that HLJG0701 protects neuronal cells by its anti-oxidative effects and hence can be a potential preventive material against neurodegenerative diseases.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.45 no.1
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• pp.183-190
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• 2021

Background: The circadian rhythm is the internal clock that controls sleep-wake cycles, metabolism, cognition, and several processes in the body, and its disruption has been associated with aging. The differentiated embryo chondrocyte (Dec) gene is related to circadian rhythm. To our knowledge, there are no reports of the relationship between dec gene expression and KRG effect. Therefore, we treated Dec gene knockout (KO) aging mice with KRG to study anti-aging related effects and possible mechanisms. Methods: We evaluated KRG and expression of Dec genes in an ototoxicity model. Dec genes expression in livers of aging mice was further analyzed. Then, we assessed the effects of DEC KO on hearing function in mice by ABR. Finally, we performed DNA microarray to identify KRG-related gene expression changes in mouse liver and assessed the results using KEGG analysis. Results: KRG decreased the expression of Dec genes in ototoxicity model, which may contribute to its anti-aging efficacy. Moreover, KRG suppressed Dec genes expression in liver of wild type indicating inhibition of senescence. ABR test indicated that KRG improved auditory function in aging mouse, demonstrating KRG efficacy on aging related diseases. Conclusion: Finally, in KEGG analysis of 238 genes that were activated and 158 that were inhibited by KRG in DEC KO mice, activated genes were involved in proliferation signaling, mineral absorption, and PPAR signaling whereas the inhibited genes were involved in arachidonic acid metabolism and peroxisomes. Our data indicate that inhibition of senescence-related Dec genes may explain the anti-aging efficacy of KRG.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.21 no.5
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• pp.483-493
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• 2011

An acid phosphatase (HppA) activated by $NH_4Cl$ was purified 192- and 34-fold from the periplasmic and membrane fractions of Helicobacter pylori, respectively. SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis revealed that HppA from the latter appears to be several kilodaltons larger in molecular mass than from the former by about 24 kDa. Under acidic conditions (pH${\leq}$4.5), the enzyme activity was entirely dependent on the presence of certain mono- and/or divalent metal cations (e.g., $K^+$,$ NH_4{^+}$, and/or $Ni^{2+}$). In particular, $Ni^{2+}$ appeared to lower the enzyme's $K_m$ for the substrates, without changing $V_{max}$. The purified enzyme showed differential specificity against nucleotide substrates with pH; for example, the enzyme hydrolyzed adenosine nucleotides more rapidly at pH 5.5 than at pH 6.0, and vice versa for CTP or TTP. Analyses of the enzyme's N-terminal sequence and of an $HppA^-$ H. pylori mutant revealed that the purified enzyme is identical to rHppA, a cloned H. pylori class C acid phosphatase, and shown to be the sole bacterial 5'-nucleotidase uniquely activated by $NH_4Cl$. In contrast to wild type, $HppA^-$ H. pylori cells grew more slowly. Strikingly, they imported $Mg^{2+}$ at a markedly lowered rate, but assimilated urea rapidly, with a subsequent increase in extracellular pH. Moreover, mutant cells were much more sensitive to extracellular potassium ions, as well as to metronidazole, omeprazole, or thiophenol, with considerably lowered MIC values, than wild-type cells. From these data, we suggest that the role of the acid phosphatase HppA in H. pylori may extend beyond 5'-nucleotidase function to include cation-flux as well as pH regulation on the cell envelope.

• Proceedings of the Plant Resources Society of Korea Conference
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• 2000.10a
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• pp.114-115
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• 2000

Aralia elata is found in mountain areas all over Korean peninsula. Aralia elata is the scientific name for Japanese angelica tree. The tree belongs to the family Araliaceae, commonly known as ginseng family. Bud sprouts from apical shoot tip of the plants are rich in flavor and thus mainly used for both folk medicine and vegetable. The stalks with apical buds are gathered in the early spring and planted in sandy soil or water in the greenhouse. The sprouting buds are then collected and sold as fresh vegetable. Although the plants have been used for food, they have been cultivated in a very small scale. In spring, local farmers just go around mountain areas to search the trees and gather the stalks as much as they get and sell them to the market. No conservation efforts have been made to stop the exploitation or to save the dwindling population. We tried to provide local farmers with the plants that may be used as an alternative to stalks from wild populations. This will bel! p conserve the wild populations. However, it is hard to propagate them either by conventional cuttings or by seed germination in a short period of time. Mass propagation using tissue culture systems have shown a great promise with several woody plants. Recently we developed a mass propagation technique via somatic embryogenesis system using mature and/or juvenile explants for Aralia elata. Several factors affecting somatic embryogenesis system including SE(somatic embryo) induction, embryogenic callus proliferation, SE germination, plant regeneration and transplanting to field frill be presented. And some problems arising for the somatic embryogenesis system will be also discussed.

• Proceedings of the Plant Resources Society of Korea Conference
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• 2000.10b
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• pp.16-17
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• 2000

Aralia elata is found in mountain areas all over Korean peninsula. Aralia elata is the scientific name for Japanese angelica tree. The tree belongs to the family Araliaceae, commonly known as ginseng family. Bud sprouts from apical shoot tip of the plants are rich in flavor and thus mainly used for both folk medicine and vegetable. The stalks with apical buds are gathered in the early spring and planted in sandy soil or water in the greenhouse. The sprouting buds are then collected and sold as fresh vegetable. Although the plants have been used for food, they have been cultivated in a very small scale. In spring, local farmers just go around mountain areas to search the trees and gather the stalks as much as they get and sell them to the market. No conservation efforts have been made to stop the exploitation or to save the dwindling population. We tried to provide local farmers with the plants that may be used as an alternative to stalks from wild populations. This will hel! p conserve the wild populations. However, it is hard to propagate them either by conventional cuttings or by seed germination in a short period of time. Mass propagation using tissue culture systems have shown a great promise with several woody plants. Recently we developed a mass propagation technique via somatic embryogenesis system using mature and/ or juvenile explants for Aralia elata. Several factors affecting somatic embryogenesis system including SE(somatic embryo) induction, embryogenic callus proliferation, SE germination, plant regeneration and transplanting to field will be presented. And some problems arising for the somatic embryogenesis system will be also discussed.lso discussed.

• Molecules and Cells
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• v.27 no.5
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• pp.591-599
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• 2009

Nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs) play important roles in nervous system functions and are involved in a variety of diseases. We previously demonstrated that ginsenosides, the active ingredients of Panax ginseng, inhibit subsets of nAChR channel currents, but not ${\alpha}7$, expressed in Xenopus laevis oocytes. Mutation of the highly conserved Leu247 to Thr247 in the transmembrane domain 2 (TM2) channel pore region of ${\alpha}7$ nAChR induces alterations in channel gating properties and converts ${\alpha}7$ nAChR antagonists into agonists. In the present study, we assessed how point mutations in the Leu247 residue leading to various amino acids affect 20(S)-ginsenoside $Rg_3$ ($Rg_3$) activity against the ${\alpha}7$ nAChR. Mutation of L247 to L247A, L247D, L247E, L247I, L247S, and L247T, but not L247K, rendered mutant receptors sensitive to $Rg_3$. We further characterized $Rg_3$ regulation of L247T receptors. We found that $Rg_3$ inhibition of mutant ${\alpha}7$ nAChR channel currents was reversible and concentration-dependent. $Rg_3$ inhibition was strongly voltage-dependent and noncompetitive manner. These results indicate that the interaction between $Rg_3$ and mutant receptors might differ from its interaction with the wild-type receptor. To identify differences in $Rg_3$ interactions between wild-type and L247T receptors, we utilized docked modeling. This modeling revealed that $Rg_3$ forms hydrogen bonds with amino acids, such as Ser240 of subunit I and Thr244 of subunit II and V at the channel pore, whereas $Rg_3$ localizes at the interface of the two wild-type receptor subunits. These results indicate that mutation of Leu247 to Thr247 induces conformational changes in the wild-type receptor and provides a binding pocket for $Rg_3$ at the channel pore.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.13 no.11
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• pp.5052-5059
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• 2012

This study was carried out to find consumers' attributes and willingness to pay(WTP) of agricultural products cultivated from plants factory system. The agricultural products were sorted into lettuce, strawberry, Ligularia fischeri(wild edible greens), and ginseng. We made the questionaires to survey consumers' purchasing attributes and preference of agricultural products. Finally, 200 valid replies were selected to analyze consumers' attributes and to estimate marginal willingness to pay. We used conjoint analysis and multinomial logit model for empirical analysis. MWTPs of commodities are estimated as follows; Lettuce is 1,016KW(100g), Strawberry is 6,014KW(2kg), Ligularia fischeri is 3,652KW(100g), and Ginseng is 5,905KW(100g). Several attributes of consumers' purchasing behavior were identified from this study. We suggested several implications to formulate more appropriate policy of plants factory system.