• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.27 no.2
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• pp.56-61
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• 2003

This study was designed to compare the antidiabetic activities between Ginseng Radix Alba (GRA), Ginseng Radix Rubra (GRR) and Panax Quinquefoli Radix (PQR) in multiple low dose (MLD) streptozotocin (STZ) (20 mg/kg i.p injection far 5 days) induced diabetic rats. In the glucose tolerance test, 500 mg/kg of each ginseng ethanol extract was administered intraperitoneally 30 min before glucose challenge. While GRA failed to lower blood glucose level, GRR and PQR both significantly prevented the hyperglycemia when compared with the control group. In the MLD STZ-induced diabetic rats, 300 mg/kg of each ginseng ethanol extract was administered intraperitoneally for 2 weeks. Plasma glucose and insulin levels were markedly improved in all treatment groups. While GRR showed the highest antidiabetic activity, and GRA and PQR revealed somewhat equipotent antidiabetic activities, but less than that in GRR-treated group as far as blood parameters and diabetic symptoms such as polyphagia and polydipsia are concerned. Blood glucose levels were closely associated with plasma insulin levels, and this result may suggest that ginseng ethanol extracts showed the activity to enhance insulin secretion as well as preventing destruction of pancreatic islet cells. To elucidate the relationship between antidiabetic activity and ginsenoside profiles, seven major ginsenosides were quantified by HPLC. We figured out the fact that protopanaxatriol (PPT): proptopanaxadiol (PPD) ratio might play an important role in its hypoglycemia effects.

• Proceedings of the Ginseng society Conference
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• 1988.08a
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• pp.28-32
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• 1988

Recently, we isolated a toxic substance named 'toxohormone-L' from ascites fluid of patients with various malignant tumors. The toxohormone-L stimulated lipolysis in rat adipocytes and induced anorexia in rats. Both the lipolytic and the anorexigenic actions of toxohormone-L were found to be inhibited by ginsenoside $Rb_2$ in Korean red ginseng. Isolated rat adipocytes are well known to possess opposite pathways of lipid metabolism: lipolysis and lipogenesis. Both of the metabolism respond to various biologically active substances such as epinephrine, ACTH and insulin. Epinephrine and ACTH stimulate lipolysis and insulin accelerates lipogenesis. Recently. Korean red ginseng powder was found to contain adenosine and an acidic substance which inhibited epinephrine-induced lipolysis and stimulated insulin-mediated lipogenesis from added glucose. The chemical structure of this acidic substance is determined to be pyro-glutamic acid (Pyro-Glu), Pyro-Glu exhibits selective modulations toward the opposite metabolic pathways in rat adipocyte; It inhibits the lipolysis but stimulates the lipogenesis. We call these substances (adenosine, Pyro-Glu) 'selective modulators' or 'insulin-like substances'. Based on these results, physiological significances of these substances in Korean red ginseng were discussed.

• The Korean Journal of Food And Nutrition
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• v.7 no.4
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• pp.383-391
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• 1994

A substance that inhibit the lipolytic action of Toxohormone-L was a crude acidic polysaccharide isolated from Korean red and white ginseng. The total inhibitory activities (units) of PGI and PG4 fraction in white ginseng and those of PG,, PG4 and PG43 fraction in red ginseng were higher than other fractions in vitro test. Each water extract of ginseng was effective against the lipolysis induced by the Toxohormone-L at the concentration over 10~100$\mu$l/ml. The total inhibitory activities (units) were highest at the concentration of 100ug/ml and 1,000ug/ml in the 4-year and 5-year old white ginseng root respectively, while, it was higher in the 6-year old ginseng than other ages regardless of the reaction concentration In the red ginseng. The inhibitory effect of ginsenos1de - Rb2 on the lipolysis by Toxohormone-L was higher than other ginsenosides at the concentration of 100 $\mu$g to 500 $\mu$g/ml of reaction mixture, and total inhibitory activities (units) of ginsenoside -Rb2 were also higher than other treatments.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.27 no.3
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• pp.103-109
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• 2003

We investigated the effect of ginseng total saponin (GTS) on the regeneration process of experimentally crush injured rat sciatic nerves. The bilateral sciatic nerves of fifty adult male Sprague-Dawley rats were compressed surgically with a straight hemostat for 30 seconds with 1 mm width. Twenty rats were divided into four groups to test the dose-dependent effect of GTS (0, 50, 100, or 150 mg/kg, i.p.). Saline for vehicle control group or GTS dissolved in saline was administerd for three weeks. After that period of time, the numbers of total myelinated axon and degenerated myelin in the sciatic nerves of bilateral legs were examined and analyzed using image analysis system to confirm a morphological effect of GTS. We found that the most effective concentration of GTS for the regeneration of damaged sciatic nerve was 150 mg/kg. In another set of experiment, thirty rats were divided into two groups as saline-treated vehicle group and GTS-treated group (150 mg/kg, i.p.) for three weeks. Every week we examined the numbers of total myelinated axon and degenerated myelin in the sciatic nerves of bilateral legs using image analysis system to evaluate the effect of GTS on injured nerves. We found that the regeneration of damaged sciatic nerves was facilitated in GTS-treated group compared to saline-treated group until two weeks. However, after that period of time we could not observe the significant difference between saline-treated group and GTS-treated group. These results suggest that GTS is a useful adjuvant therapy for the regeneration of the peripheral nerve injury in short period of treatment.

• Korean Journal of Agricultural Science
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• v.32 no.2
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• pp.205-214
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• 2005

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of ground corn as an additive to ginseng residue silages. The silages were made with corn (CS), red ginseng (GS), red ginseng residue +0.5% ground corn (GS0.5), w/w bases, red ginseng residue+1.0% ground corn (GS1.0) and red ginseng residue+silage inoculant, lactic acid bacteria (GSL). The raw materials were cut only for corn forage in 2cm length. The ginseng residue without cutting were mixed without or with additives, ground corn and inoculant, and ensiled each into two 2,000ml glass bottles. The bottles with silages were stored at a dark place at room temperature and formented for 60 days. The crude protein contents were higher for all red ginseng silages as 17.7, 18.8, 18.3 and 17.8% for GS, GS0.5, GS1.0 and GSL than that of corn silage as 8.8% (p<0.05). The calcium content were higher in GS, GS0.5, GS1.0 and GSL as 0.99, 1.13, 0.99 and 1.03% than that in CS as 0.31% (p<0.05). The pH of silages fermented for 60 days was similar each other; CS, GS, GS0.5, GS1.0 and GSL as 3.8, 3.7, 3.3, 3.5 and 3.7, respectively. However the pH of GS0.5 was the lower than that of corn silage. The total concentration of volatile fatty acids were higher for CS as 87.3 mM/dl than those of GS, GS0.5, GS1.0 and GSL as 44.7, 37.8, 46.3 and 47.2 nM/dl. However, the percentage of lactic acid concentration of ginseng silages such as GS, GS0.5, GS1.0 and GSL, 60.2, 77.2, 83.4 and 77.3% was higher than that in CS, 53.7% (p<0.05). The in vivo dry matter digestibilities for 72hr fermentation was higher in ginseng silages (GS, GS0.5, GS1.0 and GSL as 76.5, 75.8, 72.9 and 77.3%, respetively) than that in for CS as 52.1% (p<0.05). It can be concluded that silage added with ground corn (GS0.5 and GS1.0) and lactic acid inoculant were high in its quality, and the GS0.5 can be suggested as a practical method for red ginseng residues silage making.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.32 no.4
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• pp.324-331
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• 2008

Introduction : Korean red ginseng has been shown to have an preventive effect on atheroma formation and enhancing effect on nitric oxide synthesis in endothelial cell inducing vasodilatation. However, there are few studies showing the effect of Korean red ginseng on blood pressure and vascular(endothelial) pathologic changes together. We designed this study to show changes of blood pressure and vascular pathologic findings with Korean red ginseng administration compared with Chinese red ginseng and control for 3 months in rats. Materials and methods : We studied the in vitro hypotensive effect and effect on vascular pathologic changes of Korean red ginseng compared with Chinese red ginseng and control. Rats were randomly assigned to three groups(Korean red ginseng, Chinese red ginseng and control) and evaluated by blood pressure and aortic vascular(endothelial) pathologic changes monthly during 3-month administration. All results were analyzed by paired T-test, ANOVA and post-hoc. Results : Blood pressure lowering effect was noted on Korean red ginseng and Chinese red ginseng compared to control. Especially, in Korean red ginseng group, hypotensive effect was showed in first and second month, but, in Chinese red ginseng group, it was just noted in first month. In case of vascular(aortic endothelial) pathologic finding, endothelial wall thickening and elastic fiber tearing were noted in Chinese red ginseng group compared with Korean red ginseng group and control with statistical significance.(p<0.05) Discussion : These results suggested Korean red ginseng could have more hypotensive effect and maintenance rather than Chinese red ginseng. And the difference of hypotensive effect between Korean red ginseng and Chinese red ginseng might has some association with difference of vascular pathologic findings in each group. However, further evaluation and research of other mechanism will be needed to convince this hypothesis.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.32 no.3
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• pp.210-219
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• 2008

The purpose of this study is to examine the effect of red ginseng on the performance of aerobics anaerobics exercise and peripheral central fatigue. For this purpose, we measured $\dot{V}O_2max$, $\dot{V}O_2$ at recovery, anaerobic power, blood lactate, Branched-Chain Amino Acid(BCAA) etc in thirty male subjects. They were divided into three group; EGG: endurance training + red ginseng supplementation group(n=7), EPG: endurance training + placebo supplementation group(n=7), GG: only red ginseng supplementation group(n=10). 6 subjects were excepted because they were intermediate test absence(test at four week : EGG=1, EPG=2; test at eight week : EGG=1). EGG and GG took red ginseng twice a day for total 8weeks. Moreover, EGG and EPG were exercised during 45 minutes, three times a week for 12 weeks. The result of this study are shown as follow: In case of $\dot{V}O_2max$, %$\dot{V}O_2$/$\dot{V}O_2max$ and plasma BCAA concentration, no statistically significant change were found among three groups. But, it was showed that three groups tended to increased slightly in $\dot{V}O_2max$, % $\dot{V}O_2$/$\dot{V}O_2max$ and plasma BCAA concentration. For conclusion, the present data provide a new evidence that ingestion of ergogenic aids contained with red ginseng may improve aerobic exercise performance and central fatigue.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.23 no.3 s.55
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• pp.172-175
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• 1999

The effect of Korean red ginseng extract on the pharmacokinetics of ethanol was examined in 14 male rats and 10 healthy male volunteers. Aqueous red ginseng extract (200 mg/kg), or an equivalent volume of water was administered orally to the rats and followed immediately by treatment with $50\%$ (v/v) ethanol orally (3.2 g/kg). The area under the curve (AVC) and elimination rate constant (Ke) of ethanol were $29.2{\pm}6.2\;g{\cdot}min{\cdot}dl^{-},\;0.51{\pm}0.06\;mg{\cdot}dl^{-}{\cdot}min.^{-}$ in ginseng-treated group and $28.0{\pm}5.6\;g{\cdot}min.{\cdot}dl^{-},0.5{\pm}0.1\;mg{\cdot}dl^{-}{\cdot}min.^{-}$ in control group. These differences were not significant. The volunteers were given orally with 3g of aqueous ginseng, or an equivalent volume of water, followed immediately by Korean alcoholic beverage, Soju (2.4 ml/kg). The AUC and Ke of ethanol for volunteers were $10.6{\pm}2.0\;g{\cdot}min.{\cdot}dl^{-}$ and $0.21{\pm}0.05\;mg{\cdot}dl^{-}{\cdot}min.^{-}$ in ginseng-treated group and $11.0{\pm}2.2\;g{\cdot}min.{\cdot}dl^{-}$ and $0.22{\pm}0.04\;mg{\cdot}dl^{-}{\cdot}min.^{-}$ in control group. These differences were not also significant. These results suggest that an application of red ginseng extract does not have any clinically significant effect on the pharmacokinetics of ethanol.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.24 no.4
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• pp.188-195
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• 2000

Using Ginseng saponins (crude saponin and total saponin) and ginsenoside Rbl Rb2, Rc, Rd, Re, Rhl, and Rh2 in this study, we have examined the effects of the compounds on the induction of differentiation in normal rat mammary epithelial cells and 7,12-dimethylbenz[a]anthracene (DMBA)-induced mammary tumor cells in culture. When normal rat mammary organoids were cultured in 100-mm culture plates in the presence or absence of ginseng saponins, there were four different cell colonies after two weeks in culture: cobble stone, spindle, honey comb, and senescence type colonies. Ginseng saponins showed different effects on the development of each colonies. Scrape-loading dye transfer tech-nique was performed to measure the effects of total saponin, Rhl, and Rh2 on intercellular junctional communication. Intercellular communication was not observed at short cultilral time, e.g., four or seven days, but when it cultured it up to two weeks, cell to cell communication was observed in saponin-treated cells. Reconstituted basement membrane, Matrigel, supported the growth and development several different multicellular structures from normal mammary organoids (e.g., ductal, webbed, stellate, and squamous colonies) or DMBA-induced mammary tumor (e.g., alveolar unit, foamy alveolar unit, squamous metaplasia, lobule-ductal, stellate, and webbed colony). In ginseng saponin-treated groups, webbed colonies were more and squamous colonies were less than control group. Moreover, the ductal colonies, marker tructure of well-differentiate mammary epithelial cells, were developed more in saponin-treated group than in control group. In conclusion, ginseng saponins affected on the differentiation of normal rat mammary epithelial cells and DMBA-induced mammary tumor cells in culture.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.27 no.4
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• pp.165-170
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• 2003

The clinical efficacies of Korean Red Ginseng for improving sexual function has been reported only by self-reporting questionnaires.AVS-Penogram is a method evaluating natural penile blood flow changes by Gamma-camera after intravenous injection of Techmetium 99$\^$m/-RBC and also stimulating by erotic video tape. To more objectively evaluate the efficacies of Korean Red Ginseng for erectile function, we applied AVS-Penogram as a objective diagnostic tool. AVS-Penogram studies were done in 28 patients with erectile dysfunction after administration of Red Ginseng(19) or placebo(9) group. The pattern of AVS-Penogram before medication were normal type in 4, impossible in 2, unstable in 20, delayed in 1, and mixed in 1. The unstable type were the most prevalent observed in 71.4% of all patients. The patterns of AVS-penogram were 2.2. 13.1 in Red Ginseng group, while in placebo group normal 2, unstable 7. After 4 weeks in Red Ginseng group, there were 3 cases of improved penogram findings, while only 1 in placebo group. There were no statistical significancies in the type of penogram changes on both group. But the maximum radioactivity were improved in 11 patients(57.9%) in Red Ginseng group, while 2(22.2%) in placebo group. There were statistical significancies in comparing the maximal radioactivity of penogram on both group. These AVS-Penogram findings shows, encouraging results of by increased penile blood flow Korean Red Ginseng our medication. Further study is more needed to reconfirm these results by more concentrated active formulations of sapanonin St other active ginsenosides. These promising results will lead to develop a new remedy for erectile dysfunction by Korean Red Ginseng