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.

The climacteric is that phase in the aging process during which a woman passes from the reproductive to the non-reproductive stage. The signals, such as hot flashes, vaso-motoric disturbances, perspiration, stiff shoulders, emotional symptoms, are refereed to as climacteric disturbances. Treatment of climacteric symptoms centers on estrogen replacement and transquilizers, but there are many problems to be solved to use these hormones/drugs as far as dosage, duration and complications are concerned. The care of women during the climacteric years should provide relief of distressing symptoms with as high a degree of safety as possible. From this viewpoint, we used red ginseng powder to those patients with high menopausal index successfully. We studied its mechanism of action and proved that red ginseng improved the micro-circulation system via improvement of erythrocyte deferability which enhanced sex steroidgenesis consequently

Using an ethopharmacological technique, we demonstrated that saponin fraction from red ginseng root possessed a potent psychotropic actions on either intermale or maternal aggression models. A series of experiments clearly indicated that one of psychoactive ingredient is ginsenoside Rbl. Although a drug-induced debilitation of motor performance remains a possible cause of the antiaggressive effect of the drug, ginsenoside Rb 1 did not alter the locomotor activity of the mice during agonistic confrontations. Thus, one can eliminate the possibility that the psychoactive effect of ginsenoside Rbl might be concealed by a drugindulced impairment of motor performance. More recently, we developed a new model for copulatory disorder and introduced into the behavioral analysis of drug action. Male mice which has been housed individually from weaning for 5 weeks failed to manifest copulatory behavior when they encountered with the sexually-receptive females. Daily administration of crude ginseng saponin during isolation housing period prevented the development of copulatory disorder, whereas both ginsenoside Rbl and Rgl were ineffective. A further experiment may be needed to explore active ingredient of ginseng saponins. Keywords Panax ginseng, Korean red ginseng, psychotropic action, saponin, ginsenoside Rb1

The analgesic effect of morphine was antagonized and the development of tolerance was suppressed by the modification of the neurologic function in the animals treated with ginseng saponins. The activation of the spinal descending inhibitory systems as well as the supraspinal structures by the administration of morphine was inhibited in the animals treated with ginseng saponins intracerebrally or intrathecally The development of morphine tolerance and dependence, and the abrupt expression of naloxone induced abstinence syndrome were also inhibited by ginsenoside Kbl , Rba, Rgl and Re. These results suggest that ginsenoside Kbl, Rba, Rgl and Re are the bioactive components of panax ginseng on the inhibition of the development of morphine tolerance and dependence, and the inhibition of abrupt abstinence syndrome. In addition, further research on the minor components of Panax ginseng should be investigated. A single or daily treatment with ginseng saponins did not induce any appreciable changes in the brain level of monoamines at the various time intervals and at the various day intervals, respectively The inhibitory or facilitated effects of ginseng saponins on electrically evoked contractions in guinea pig ileum (U-receptor) and mouse was definers (5·receptor) were not mediated through opioid receptors. The antagonism of a x receptor agonist, U-, iO.488H was also not mediated through opioid receptors in the animals treated with ginseng saponins, bolt mediated through serotonergic mechanisms. Ginseng saponins inhibited morphine S-dehydrogenase that catalyzed the production of morphine from morphine, and increased hepatic glutathione contents for the detoxification of morphine. This result suggests that the dual action of the above plays an important role in the inhibition of the development of morphine tolerance and dependence.

Maltol(2-methyl-3-hydroxy-r-pyrone), a component known to be present in Korean Ginseng root showed an antioxidant action but its potency as an antioxidant was low; about 1150th that of other antioxidants such as p-phenylenediamine , BHA and BHT. However, maltol was able to protect the oxidation adamants in biological systems such as adriamycin-induced membrane damage in isolated cardiomyocytes, parquet-induced toxicities in isolated hepatocytes and repercussion injury in isolated hearts. The antioxidant action of maltol was also shown to be effective in vivo. The antioxidant action of this compound was probably due to the removal of hydroxyl radicals. In view of the roles of oxygen radical in various pathological processes, Korean Ginseng root, which contains several antioxidants including maltol, is expected to have beneficial efforts on the oxygen radical-involved processes. Keywords Maltol, Oxygen free radicals, Lipid preoccupation, Repercussion injury and Korean ginseng

It has been well known that extended exposure to reactive oxygens causes severe damage to susceptible biomolecules. In this study, the effects of flavonoids including trifling and kaempferol from Ginseng leaves on single oxygen induced photohemolysis of erythrocytes and free radical scavenging activities were investigated . Each flavonoid aglycone (5-50UM) such as kaempferol, quercetin or baicalein exhibited a high protective effect against the photohemolysis. They protected the cells by scavenging 102 and free radicals. Although the free radical scavenging activities of the flavonoid glycosides were not much lower than those of their corresponding aglycones, their insolubility into lipid bilayers of membrane made them less effective in preventing the photohemolysis induced by 1O2. The 102 and free radical scavenging activities of flavonoids were estimated by the decomposition of the flavonoid by 1O2 and the bleaching of free radicals by the flavonoid, respectively. The solubilization of the flavonoid into micelle or erythrocytes was deduced from spectrophotometric and microscopic observations. The cooperation of L-ascorbic acid and a flavonoid, and a possible involvement of lipoxygenase or cyclooxygenase in the photohemolysis mechanism were discussed. Keywords Panax ginseng C.A Meyer, ginseng leaves, flavonoids, singe1 oxygen, Photohemolysis.

The effects of ginseng saponins, G-Rbl and G-Rc on the rat liver LDH A-gene transcnptional activity was investigated during pro-replicative phase of rat liver after partial hepatectomy. Changes in LDH A-mRNA levels in regenerating rat liver after intraperitoneal administrations of G-Rbl of G-Rc were tested by slot blot hybridization methods. The results showed that G-Rbl (1 mg/100g B.W) and G-Rc (1 ma/100g B.W) caused marked increases of LDH A-mRNA contents by respectively 1.9- and 1.5-fold in rat liver at 5·hours after partial hepatectomy. Dose dependent effect of G-Rbl and G-Rc (1-25 mg/100g B.W) on the LDH A-mRNA levels on regenerating rat liver were also analyzed. The maximal in- creases of liver LDH A-mRNA levels were observed with the doses of 1 mg for G-Rbl and 5 mg for G-Rc However, when the administration doses of G-Kbl and G-Rc were increased to 20 mg, G-Rbl caused a marked decrease of LDH A-mRNA level to 61% of those in sham-operated rat liver In contrast, G-Rc slightly decreased the liver LDH A-mRNA contents by 30% as compared to those of the maximum value but still maintained 22% higher LDH A-mRNA levels then those of sham-operated rate liver. On the basis of these experimental results, we conclude that ginseng saponin, G-Rb 1 and G·Rc have stimulatory effect at the lower concentration (1 mg/100g B.W) and inhibitory effect at the higher concentration (20 moi loos 5.W) on the LDH A-gene transcription during regeneration of rat liver, Additionally we also investigated the stimulatory effects of ginsenosides on the protein and DNA synthetic activities in hepatocyte primary cell cultures isolated from regenerating rat liver. Both of G·Rc and -Re increased the synthetic rates of hepatocytes proteins and DNA at the administration doses of 50 ug and 100 ug/3 ml/dish respectively representing 1.3-1.6 fold increases. From these results we postulate that G-Rc and -Re may have a mitogen enhancer activity for the hepatocyte proliferation during rat liver regeneration period. Keywords Inductive effects of ginsenosides, G-Rb, -Rc, and -Re, rat LDH A-gene transcription, the sin thetic rate of proteins and DNA in regeneration rat liver.

The sequence of ginseng peptide gene was designed and synthesized by the solid phase plasmid pUC19. Escherichia coli JM101 cells were transformed with above hybrid plasmids. Ampicillin resistant transformants were screened and identified by in situ colony hybridization and Southern blot techinques. Finally the gene sequencing was done by the Sanger dideoxy method using primer extension.

Two lignanes, Comp.-I, mp 108-1$0^{\circ}C$ and Comp.-II, mp 50-52$^{\circ}C$ were isolated from Korean ginseng extract by repeated column chromatographic purification. Comp-1 was identified as gomisin-N and Comp. -II as gomisin-A by spectrometric analysis, both of which have already been described as the anti-hepatotoxic lignin components of Schizandra chinensis Bail.

The aqueous extract of fresh ginseng (Panax ginseng C.A. Meyer) contains a macromolecular fraction that showed mitogenic and comitogenic activities in human peripheral blood Iymphocytes. Purification of the crude extract by size (ultrafiltration, Sephadex G-200) and charge (DEAE-cellulose. DEAE-Sepharose) yielded a semi-purified fraction (DS-3). This fraction contains at least three subgroups of anionic macromolecules with apparent molecular weight greater than 600 kilodaltons. It is a glycoprotein with a large amount of glucuronic acid. It acts as a mitogen in both T and B cells of human peripheral blood lymphocytes. It could also potentiate the mitogenic action of Concanavalin A in Iymphocyte T cells. Such potentiation is not due to increased binding of Concanavalin A to the cell surface. Its mitogenic and co-mitogenic effects do depend on the presence of extracellular Ca2+.

Antitumor polyacetylenlc alcohol, panaxytriol (Ci7 H2603), was isolated and purified from a Powder of the root of Panax ginseng C.A. Meyer. Panaxytriol Possesses unusual Property of being soluble in both water and organic solvents. Panaxytriol inhibited the growth of various kinds of human cultured cell lines in dose-dependent fashion in vitro. The in vivo effects of panaxytriol were tested against C57BU6 mice transplanted with Bl6 melanomas. Panaxytriol (8 and 40 mg/kg) administered intramuscularly (im) produced significant tumor growth delays in mice. Although a detailed mechanism of growth inhibition by panaxytriol is unknown, preliminary results appear to implicate a surface membrane site of action. And its action seems to be more dose-dependent than time-dependent. Finally, panaxytriol pharmacokinetics was evaluated in mice given single 8 mgrkg doses intraperitoneally(ip) or im. Serum panaxytriol content was measured using both tumor growth inhibitory assay and a gas chromatographic method. The maximum serum panaxytriol content after ip and im administration was 35.0 and 1.61 ug/ml respectively. These results indicate that the compound may act as cytotoxic substance even in-patients. Keywords Panax ginseng, panaxytriol, tumor growth inhibition

The growth responses of a variety of human Intestinal bacteria to extracts of Pun(1.vKy'n.ieny and five other oriental medicinal Araliaceae were evaluated in vitro and in vivo. The extracts enhanced the growth of Bifidobncterilim breve and B. longum in Media with or without carbon sources, suggesting the bifid factor (5) might be involved in the phenomenon. This effect was most pronounced with water extract of p. ginseng, the growth of 27 bifidobacteria strains belonging to B. ndolexcentium, H. longlrm, and 1. breve and B. iniuntis being greatly stimurated, whereas seven B. bifidum strains and other bacteria such as clostridia and 5.fcherirhia coli had little or no ability to utilizes it (or growth. Methanol extracts of p, ginseng were found to selectively inhibit growth of various clostridia including C. perfringens and C. Paraputrificum, but this effect was not observed on other bacteria including bifidobacteria. The effect of ginseng extract intake(600 mg/day for two weeks) on the fecal microflora, pH, volatile fatty acids, ammonia, putrefactive products, and -glucuronidase, -glucosidase and nitroreductase activities, and on the blood components (triglyceride, total cholesterol and ammonia) were investigated using seven healthy human volunteers. The total concentration of fecal microflora including Bri'idobucterilim app. during the period of ginseng extract intake was significantly unaffected from the proceeding and sub sequent control periods. However, the frequency of occurrence of subjects having C. perfringens was significantly decreased. The fecal pH value was also significantly decreased, suggesting that the intake might increase the activity of Bifidobacterium spp. Other biochemical properties in faces did not changed significantly. The levels of ammonia and triglycerid in blood were decreased with ginseng extract intake. These results may be an indication of at least one of the pharmacological actions of P ginseng as an adaptogen.

The metabolic disturbance and nephrotoxicity induced by sodium dichromate (20 mg/kg, SC) have been diminished by the administration of Korean red ginseng extract (100 mg/kg, PO). Red ginseng has a powerful potency on the blood urea nitrogen (BUN) increment shown in the early 2h after dichromate intoxication. It normalized the dichromate induced hepatic glycogenolysis. The effect of red ginseng on dichromate induced nephrotoxicity was investigated by hematological analysis, and urinalysis. Ginseng treatment significantly reduced the increases in the urinary excretion of protein and glucose. These effects were dose dependent. Ginseng protected the accumulation of BUN and cretonne in the blood, caused by dichromate intoxication. Unlike CaEDTA, ginseng did not change the urinary excretion chromium. And it could not convert htxavalent chromium to trivalent chromium. These results suggest that ginseng treatment is effective in decreasing the metabolic disturbance, one of the earliest signs of dichromate toxicity, resulting in the protective effect of dichromate induced renal damage.

Various rates of 2, 4-2 were sprayed on 2 and 3 year old ginseng plants as fouler spray to define the critical concentration. No apparent plant injury was noticeable for those ginseng plants when application concentration of 2, 4-D doubled the recommended dosage (70 mil 10a). Neither abnormal fouler change occurred nor any inhibition in leaf and stem growth was resulted for the plants treated with 2, 4-D concentrated two times of the recommended dosage. When the rates of 2, 4-D application were increased greater than this level, injury ratings increased linearly with the rates of 2, 4-D application and plant growth was inhibited. Ethylene gas was not produced from the ginseng plant treated with 2 times concentrated 2, 4-D, how- ever the ginseng plants produced 0.03 to 0.09 ppd ethylene gas when the rate of application were increased 3 and 4 times, respectively. On the other hand the soybean treated with the recommended amount of 2i-D produced ethylene gas of 10-20 times higher compared with ginseng plants and died. Photosynthesis ability of the ginseng leaf was significantly decreased by 2, 4.D fouler application but it was recovered 4 weeks after 2, 4-D fouler treatment. The herbicide 2, 4-D was appreciated to 2, 3 and 4 years old ginseng plants as fouler spray with the rates of 0.5, 1.0, 1.5 and 2.0 times of the recommended dosage to define the effects of 2, 4-D on the plant growth and root yield of the ginseng, There were no significant differences in the leaf and stem growth between untreated and 2, 4-D treated plant. Berry maturing of 3 and 4 year old ginseng was not influenced by 2, 4-D. The root weight of 4 years old ginseng plant was not reduced b). application of 2, 4-D concentrated 2 times of the recommended dosage. Application time of the herbicide 2, 4-D had no effects on the leaf or stem growth of 2, 3 and 4 year old year old ginseng plants. When the ginseng seedling was treated with 2, 4-D, detrimental phenomena as stem bending and deceleration of seedling leaf margin occurred, but stem bending was recovere d in a few day.

Ginseng Is renowned for both its medicinal and herbal uses and successful cultivation of Panax ginseng in Asia and Panax quinquefolium in North America has until recently taken place in the native geographical ranges of the plants. As a consequence of the potential high capital return and anticipated increases in consumer consumption, commercial cultivation of American ginseng now occurs well outside the native range of the plant in North America. In fact, the region of greatest expansion of cultivation is in the semi-arid interior region of British Columbia, Canada. Linked with this expansion is the potential domination of the ginseng industry by agricultural corporations. In the interior of British Columbia, the native deciduous forest environment of eastern North America is simulated with elevated polypropylene shade and a surface covering of straw mulch. The architecture of these environments is designed to permit maximum machinery usage and to minimize labor requirements. Further, with only a four- years growth cycle, plant densities in the gardens are high. In this hot, semi-arid environment, producers believe they have a competitive advantage over other regions in North America because of the low precipitation rates. This helps to minimize atmospheric humidity such that the conditions for fungal disease development are reduced. If soil moisture level become limited, supplemental water can be provided by irrigation. The nature of the radiation and energy balance regimes of the shade and many environments promotes high soil moisture levels. Also, the modified environment redlines soil heating. This can result in an aerial environment for the plant that is stressful and a rooting zone environment that is suloptimal. The challenge of further refining the man modified environment for enhanced plant growth and health still remains. Keywords Panax ginseng, Panax quinquefolium, cultivation, ginseng production.

This study was focused on the characterization of mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) for molecular genetically approach of energy Production related mechanism in Panax Ein.fend. The simple and efficient method of mtDNA isolation from ginseng has been developed by modification of recently advanced methods. This procedure can successfully apply to mtDNA isolation of several plants. MtDNA of etiolated shoot and one-year root were digested with restriction endonucleases, but that of 6-year root not Any difference was not observed in the restriction endonuclease digestion patterns among the ginseng variants. Molecular size of ginseng mtDNA was estimated at least 159 kb by the restriction endonuclease fragment analysis. The 4.5 kb extra band at the lane of EcoRll treatment could be observed in restriction patterns digested with the methylation sensitive endonucleases, BstN 1 and EcoRll. For construction of mitochondrial genomic library of ginseng, mtDNA was partially digested with EcoRl, and packaged with EMBL4 phage vector Genomic library was screened and purified for further research including restricttion mapping of ginseng mtDNA, and cloning of the genes. The gene of ATP synthase A subunit was cloned koto the purified EMBL4 library clone No. 16. Now, clone No. 16 is subcloned for structure gene sequence analysis.

Nitrogen compounds of Panax ginseng and their biological activities in plant and animal were reviewed. Major nitrogen compounds found in P. ginseng are free amino acids. Water solilble proteins, indouble proteins and peptides. Minor nitrogen compounds are dencichine. Glycolyroteins, amines, alkaloides, methoxy or alkyl pyrazine derivatives, free nucleosides and nucleic acid bases. 4-methyl-i-thiazoltethanol and pyroglutamic acid the contents of total nitrogen and protein in root Increased until 13 years old which was the highest age tinder investigation. Soluble protein content increased with the root weight and was higher in xylem pith than cortex-epidermis indicating the close relation with root growth. Arginine, which covered 58% of total free amino acids, may serve as storage nitrogen. Arginine seems to be changed into proline in rhizome. threonine in stem and again threonine and arginine in leaf. The greater the root weight the higher the polyamine stimulated Polyamine stimlllated the growth of root callus. Physiological roles of other minor nitrogen compounds are unknown although content is relatively high ((1.if) 6.w). Biochemical and pharmacological activities of some nitrogen compounds for animal were more investigated than physiological role there plant itself. Radiation and U.V protective function (heat stable protein). insulin-like activity in lipogenesis and livolysis (adenosine and pyroglutamic acid), depression of blood sugar content (glycopevtide). htmostatic and nellrotoxic activity (dencichine) and, sedative and hypnotic activity (4-methyl-i-thiazoleethanol) are reported. Heat stable protein increased with root age. The traditional quality criteria appear to be well in accordance with biological activities of nitrogen compounds. Chemical studies of nitrogen compounds seem relatively rare, probably due to difficulty of isolation, subsequently the investigations of biological activities are little.

the ginseng polypeptide (GPP) isolated from the root of Panax ginseng C.A. Meyer was demonstrated to decrease the levels of blood sugar and hepatic glycogen when injected intravenously to rats at a doses of 50-200mg/kg without affecting blood total lipid. When mice were injected subcutaneously daily at a dose of 50 and 100mg/kg for 7 successive days, GPP was also found to decreased blood sugar and hepatic glycoge. In addition, GPP was found to decrease various experimenta hyperglycemias induced by injection of adrenaline, glucose and alloxan. GPP exhibited inhibiting effect on the glycogen enhancement induced by glucose, but strengthening effect on the glycogen decrease induced by adrenaline. When the levels of blood total lipid and liver glycogen were increased by alloxan, GPP was shown to inhibit these changes except its lowering blood sugar. the toxicity of GPP is very low, its LD50 was found to be 1.62$\pm$0.130 g/kg for iv.