• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.36 no.1
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• pp.40-46
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• 2012

Ginseng, the root of Panax ginseng Meyer, has been used frequently in traditional oriental medicine and is popular globally. Ginsenosides, which are the saponins in ginseng, are the major components having pharmacological and biological activities, including anti-diabetic and anti-tumor activities. In this study, we investigated the effects of total saponin from Korean red ginseng(TSKRG) on thrombin-produced thromboxane $A_2$ ($TXA_2$), an aggregating thrombogenic molecule, and its associated microsomal enzymes cyclooxygenase (COX)-1 and $TXA_2$ synthase (TXAS). Thrombin (0.5 U/mL) increased $TXA_2$ production up to 169 ng/$10^8$ platelets as compared with control (0.2 ng/$10^8$ platelets). However, TSKRG inhibited potently $TXA_2$ production to the control level in a dose-dependent manner, which was associated with the strong inhibition of COX-1 and TXAS activities in platelet microsomes having cytochrome c reductase activity. The results demonstrate TSKRG is a beneficial traditional oriental medicine in platelet-mediated thrombotic diseases via suppression of COX-1 and TXAS to inhibit production of $TXA_2$.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.42 no.3
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• pp.370-378
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• 2018

Background: Ginseng has been the subject of many experimental and clinical studies to uncover the diverse biological activities of its constituent compounds. It is a traditional medicine that has been used for its immunostimulatory, antithrombotic, antioxidative, anti-inflammatory, and anticancer effects. Ginseng may interact with concomitant medications and alter metabolism and/or drug transport, which may alter the known efficacy and safety of a drug; thus, the role of ginseng may be controversial when taken with other medications. Methods: We extensively assessed the effects of Korean Red Ginseng (KRG) in rats on the expression of enzymes responsible for drug metabolism [cytochrome p450 (CYP)] and transporters [multiple drug resistance (MDR) and organic anion transporter (OAT)] in vitro and on the pharmacokinetics of two probe drugs, midazolam and fexofenadine, after a 2-wk repeated administration of KRG at different doses. Results: The results showed that 30 mg/kg KRG significantly increased the expression level of CYP3A11 protein in the liver and 100 mg/kg KRG increased both the mRNA and protein expression of OAT1 in the kidney. Additionally, KRG significantly increased the mRNA and protein expression of OAT1, OAT3, and MDR1 in the liver. Although there were no significant changes in the metabolism of midazolam to its major metabolite, 1'-hydroxymidazolam, KRG significantly decreased the systemic exposure of fexofenadine in a dose-dependent manner. Conclusion: Because KRG is used as a health supplement, there is a risk of KRG overdose; thus, a clinical trial of high doses would be useful. The use of KRG in combination with P-glycoprotein substrate drugs should also be carefully monitored.

• 대한생식의학회:학술대회논문집
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• 2000.06a
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• pp.13-28
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• 2000

Human spermatozoa exhibit a capacity to generate ROS and initiate peroxidation of the unsaturated fatty acids in the sperm plasma membrane, which plays a key role in the etiology of male infertility. The short half-life and limited diffusion of these molecules is consistent with their physiologic role in key biological events such as acrosome reaction and hyperactivation. The intrinsic reactivity of these metabolites in peroxidative damage induced by ROS, particularly $H_2O_2$ and the superoxide anion, has been proposed as a major cause of defective sperm function in cases of male infertility. The number of antioxidants known to attack different stages of peroxidative damage is growing, and it will be of interest to compare alpha-tocopherol and ascorbic acid with these for their therapeutic potential in vitro and in vivo. Both spermatozoa and leukocytes generate ROS, although leukocytes produce much higher levels. The clinical significance of leukocyte presence in semen is controversial. Seminal plasma confers some protection against ROS damage because it contains enzymes that scavenge ROS, such as catalase and superoxide dismutase. A variety of defense mechanisms comprising a number of antioxidants can be employed to reduce or overcome oxidative stress caused by excessive ROS. Determination of male infertility etiology is important, as it will help us develop effective therapies to overcome excessive ROS generation. ROS can have both beneficial and detrimental effects on the spermatozoa and the balancing between the amounts of ROS produced and the amounts scavenged at any moment will determine whether a given sperm function will be promoted or jeopardized. Accurate assessment of ROS levels and, subsequently, OS is Vital, as this will help clinicians both elucidate the fertility status and identify the subgroups of patients that respond or do not respond to these therapeutic strategies. The overt commercial claims of antioxidant benefits and supplements for fertility purposes must be cautiously looked into, until proper multicentered clinical trials are studied. From the current data it appears that no Single adjuvant will be able to enhance the fertilizing capacity of sperm in infertile men, and a combination of the possible strategies that are not toxic at the dosage used would be a feasible approach.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.35 no.2
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• pp.243-249
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• 2011

Korean red ginseng (KRG), the steamed root of Panax ginseng Meyer, has a variety of biological properties, including anti-inflammatory, antioxidant and anticancer effects. Aflatoxin $B_1$ ($AFB_1$) produced by the Aspergillus spp. causes acute hepatotoxicity by lipid peroxidation and oxidative DNA damage, and induces liver carcinoma in humans and laboratory animals. This study was performed to examine the protective effects of KRG against hepatotoxicity induced by $AFB_1$ using liver-specific serum marker analysis, histopathology, and terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP nick-end labeling. In addition, to elucidate the possible mechanism of hepatoprotective effects, superoxide dismutase, catalase, glutathione peroxidase, and malondialdehyde were analyzed. Rats were treated with 250 mg/kg of KRG (KRG group) or saline ($AFB_1$ group) for 4 weeks and then received 150 ${\mu}g/kg$ of $AFB_1$ intraperitoneally for 3 days. Rats were sacrificed at 12 h, 24 h, 48 h, 72 h, or 1 wk after $AFB_1$ treatment. In the KRG pre-treatment group, serum alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, and malondialdehyde levels were low, but superoxide dismutase, catalase, and glutathione peroxidase activities were high as compared to the $AFB_1$ alone group. Histopathologically, $AFB_1$ treatment induced necrosis and apoptosis in hepatocytes, and led to inflammatory cells infiltration in the liver. KRG pre-treatment ameliorated these changes. These results indicate that KRG may have protective effects against hepatotoxicity induced by $AFB_1$ that involve the antioxidant properties of KRG.

• Korean Journal of Plant Resources
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• v.21 no.4
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• pp.324-328
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• 2008

One hundred-eighty extracts of soil collected from ginseng (Panax ginseng C.A. Meyer) fields were subjected to lettuce germination test, electrolyte leakage, cell viability and antioxidant enzyme activity test. Regardless of various cultivation periods, there was no significant difference in soil pH, the content of organic matter and available phosphate in ginseng fields. Based on lettuce seed germination test, six soil extracts showing inhibition of germination and/or seedling growth were selected for further study. Selected soil extracts markedly inhibited cell viability of ginseng cultured cells but leakage of electrolytes were not affected by the treatment. Enzyme activity of superoxide dimutase in ginseng cultured cells was not affected by the treatment with the soil extracts. However, those of peroxidase and catalase were significantly inhibited by the treatment with soil extracts which showed inhibition of lettuce seed germination and seedling growth.

• Korean Journal of Microbiology
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• v.44 no.4
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• pp.358-361
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• 2008

Effect of extract of fermented dropwort (Oenanthe stolonifera) on growth of intestinal harmful/useful bacteria and enzyme activity were investigated in vitro. The extract showed strong inhibition on harmful microbes including Vibrio and Salmonella, but mild inhibition on Bifidobacterium longum in both agar plate and liquid cultivation. Minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) value of B. longum was the highest among tested microbes. Inhibition effect of fermented extract on harmful microbes increased according to fermentation period. Extract of fermented dropwort showed inhibitory effects on activity of microbial ${\beta}$-glucuronidase and tryptophanase. The inhibitory effects were also proportional to fermentation period. As consequence, it is assumed that the uptake of fermented dropwort might be useful for human intestinal health.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.21 no.6
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• pp.1415-1423
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• 2007

Carbon tetrachloride ($CCl_4$)-induced liver injury depends on a toxic agent that has to be metabolized by the liver NAPDH-cytochrome P450 enzyme system to a highly reactive intermediate. Alternations in the activity of cytochrome P450 enzymes affect the susceptibility to hepatic injury from $CCl_4$. In this study, we evaluated the potential protective activity of the traditional Korean medicinal herb, Corni fructus (CF), against an experimental model of hepatotoxicity induced by $CCl_4$. The CF exhibited a hepatoprotective activity against $CCl_4-induced$ liver damage in Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats, as measured by GOT, GPT, ALP and histological observation. The CF also showed significant decrease of malodialdehyde (MDA) and increase of glutathion (GSH), catalase activity in rat liver homogenate. In addition, the expression of CYP2E1, as measured by reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and Western blot analysis, was significantly decreased in the liver of CF treated SD rats. But $CCl_4$ and CF has no significant effect on 1A1 and 3A1 isoform of cytochrome P450. Based on these findings, it is suggested that hepatoprotective effects of CF possibly related to antioxidative effects and regulation of CYP2E1 expression.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.22 no.10
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• pp.1446-1451
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• 2012

Levodopa or L-3,4-dihydroxyphenylalanine (L-DOPA) is the precursor of the neurotransmitter dopamine. L-DOPA is a famous treatment for Parkinson's disease symptoms. In this study, electroenzymatic synthesis of L-DOPA was performed in a three-electrode cell, comprising a Ag/AgCl reference electrode, a platinum wire auxiliary electrode, and a glassy carbon working electrode. L-DOPA had an oxidation peak at 376 mV and a reduction peak at -550 mV. The optimum conditions of pH, temperature, and amount of free tyrosinase enzyme were pH 7, $30^{\circ}C$, and 250 IU, respectively. The kinetic constant of the free tyrosinase enzyme was found for both cresolase and catacholase activity to be 0.25 and 0.4 mM, respectively. A cyclic voltammogram was used to investigate the electron transfer rate constant. The mean heterogeneous electron transfer rate ($k_e$) was $5.8{\times}10^{-4}$ cm/s. The results suggest that the electroenzymatic method could be an alternative way to produce L-DOPA without the use of a reducing agent such as ascorbic acid.

• The Korean Journal of Mycology
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• v.42 no.4
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• pp.333-340
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• 2014

The aim of this study was to isolate a potential multifunctional biocontrol agent from bacteria for control of multiple plant diseases as an alternative to fungicides. A total of 201 strains were isolated from soil undamaged by repeated cultivation in Sunchang and their ability to produce antibiotics, siderophores and extracellular enzymes such as protease, cellulase and amylase was investigated. Selected strain SCS3 produced cellulose, protease and amylase. This strain also produced siderophores and showed excellent antifungal activity against various phytopathogens. SCS3 was identified as Bacillus subtilis using 16S rRNA sequencing, and named Bacillus subtilis SCS3. Finally, physiological and biochemical characteristics of B. subtilis SCS3 were examined. From the results, B. subtilis SCS3 was found to be a useful multifunctional biocontrol agent against various phytopathogens.

• Proceedings of the Membrane Society of Korea Conference
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• 1998.10a
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• pp.15-18
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• 1998

Membrane reactors are systems which combine a chemical reactor with a membrane separation process allowing to carry out simultaneously conversion and product separation. The catalyst can be immobilized on the membrane or simply compartmentalized in a reaction space by the membrane. Membrane reactors are today investigated to produce optically pure isomers and/or resolve racemic mixture of enantiomers. The interest towards these systems is due to the increasing demand of enantiomerically pure compounds to be used in the pharmaceutical, food, and agrochemical industries. In fact, enantiomers can have different biological activities, which often influence the efficacy or toxicity of the compound. On the basis of current literature there are basically two schemes on the use of membrane technology to produce enantiomers. In one case, the membrane itseft is intrinsically enantioselective: the membrane is the chiral system which selectively separates the wanted isomer on the basis of its conformation. In the other, a kinetic resolution using an enantiospecific biocatalyst is combined with a membrane separation process; the membrane separates the product from the substrate on the basis of their relative chemical properties (i.e. solubility). This kind of configuration is widely used to carry out kinetic resolutions of low water soluble substrams in biphasic membrane reactors [Giomo, 1995, 1997; Lopez, 1997]. These are systems where enzyme-loaded membranes promote reactions between two separate phases thanks to the properties of enzymes, such as lipases, to catalyse reactions at the org ic/aqueous interface; the two phases are maintained in contact and separated at the membrane level by operating at appropriate transmembrane pressure. A schematic representation of biphasic membrane reactor is shown in figure 1, while an example of enantiospecific reaction and product separation carried out with these systems is reported in figure 2.