• The Journal of Dong Guk Oriental Medicine
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• v.4
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• pp.237-265
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• 1995

The inhibitory effects of Gleditschiae Spina, Cleditschia saponin, two complex prescriptions such as Takrisodokum and Kwaluubangtang, which contain Gleditschiae Spina, and their altered prescriptions on the activity of cyclooxygenase in vitro were investigated. The water extract of Gleditschiae Spina and Gleditschia saponin markedly inhibited the cyclo-oxygenase activity by 59% and 67%, respectively, at a concentration of $1mg/m{\ell}$, on the other hand, Takrisodokum and Kwaluubangtang showed 15% and 7% inhibition, respectively. The extracts with the substraction of Gleditschiae Spina and/or Platycodi Radix inhibited to a much smaller extent than Takrisodokum. However, in case of the extracts with the substraction of Gleditschiae Spina and/or Trichosanthis Semen, only one prescription, which does not contain Trichosanthis Semen, exhibited the same inhibition as Takrisodokum. From above results, Gleditschiae Spina was found to be most important for the effect of Takrisodokum and Kwaluubangtang on their antiinflammatory action. Instead of Gleditschiae Spina, another parts of this plant were added to both complex prescriptions and tested according to above methods, indicating that Gleditschiae Spina is more important than another parts for both prescriptions. When the administered dose of Gleditschiae Spina is increased(twofold and threefold) in both complex prescriptions, the inhibitory effect in Takrisodokum was diminished. however, the effect in Kwaluubangtang was increased.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.30 no.3
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• pp.117-127
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• 2006

Ginseng is a medicinal herb widely used in Asian countries. Dendritic cells(DCs) play a pivotal role in the initiation of T cell-mediated immune responses, making them an attractive cellular adjuvant for use in cancer vaccines. In this study, we examined the effects of Red-ginseng(water extract, edible and fermented ethyl alcohol extract, crude saponin) on the DCs phenotypic and functional maturation. Immature DCs were cultured in the presence of GM-CSF and IL-4, and the generated immature DCs were stimulated by water extract, edible and fermented ethyl alcohol extract, crude saponin and LPS, respectively, for 24hours. The expression of surface co-stimulatory molecules, including MHC(major histocompatibility complex) class II, CD40, CD80 and CD86, was increased on DCs that were stimulated with crude saponin, but antigen-uptake capacity was decreased. The antigen-presenting capacity of Red-ginseng extracts-treated DCs as analyzed by allogeneic T cells proliferation and IL-2, $IFN-{\gamma}$ production was increased. Furthermore, $CD4^+$ and $CD8^+$ syngeneic T cell(OVA-specific) proliferation and $IFN-{\gamma}$ production was significantly increased. However, $CD4^+$ syngeneic T cell secreted higher levels of IL-2 in responding but not $CD8^+$ syngeneic T cell. These results indicate the immunomodulatory properties of Red-ginseng extracts, which might be therapeutically useful in the control of cancers and immunodeficient diseases through the up-regulation of DCs maturation.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.23 no.2 s.54
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• pp.115-121
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• 1999

Effects of single and repeated administration of various nootropic candidates were examined on impaired acquisition by single oral administration of 3 g/kg ethanol (EtOH) in step through test. The inhibitory effect of EtOH on acquisition was significantly reduced by single picrotoxin, but not affected by diazepam, acetyl-L-carnitine and apomorphine. Single or repeated red ginseng total saponin and deprenyl, single piracetam, repeated N-methyl-D-glucamine, but not single or repeated protopanaxadiol, protopanaxatriol and centrophenoxine significantly ameliorated the impairment of acquisition by EtOH. On the other hand, the inhibitory effect of repeated red ginseng total saponin but not that of repeated N-methyl-D-Glucamine, was significantly blocked by pretreatment of $\alpha$-methyl-$\rho$-tyrosine, a inhibitor of catecholamine synthesis. Whereas, the inhibitory effect of repeated deprenyl on EtOH amnesia was exaggerated by $\alpha$-methyl-$\rho$-tyrosine. These results suggest that the amelioration processes of drugs on ethanol amnesia involve complex mechanism between the central GABAergic and dopaminergic neuronal activity in memory and learning, although the effects of repeated drugs administration are not yet clear.

• The Korean Journal of Food And Nutrition
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• v.25 no.3
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• pp.570-578
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• 2012

Compound K(ginsenoside M1) is one of saponin metabolites and has many benefits for human health. This study was to investigate Compound K produced from ginseng crude saponin extract with commercial cellulolytic complex enzyme(cellulase, ${\beta}$-glucanase, and hemicellulase) obtained from Trichoderma reesei. The effect factors(temperature, pH, ginseng crude saponin extract and enzyme concentration, and reaction time) on production of Compound K from ginseng crude saponin extract were determined by one factor at a time method. The selected major factor variables were ginseng crude saponin extract of 2%(w/v), enzyme of 7%(v/v), reaction time of 48 hr. Based on the effect factors, response surface method was proceeded to optimize the enzymatic bioconversion conditions for the desirable Compound K production under the fixed condition of pH 5.0 and $50^{\circ}C$. The optimal reaction condition from RSM was ginseng crude saponin extract of 2.38%, enzyme of 6.06%, and reaction time of 64.04 hr. The expected concentration of Compound K produced from that reaction was 840.77 mg/100 g. Production of Compound K was 1,017.93 mg/100 g and 862.31 mg/100 g, by flask and bench-scale bioreactor($2.5{\ell}$) system, respectively.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.39 no.3
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• pp.206-212
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• 2015

Background: Ginseng total saponin (GTS) contains various ginsenosides. These ginsenosides are widely used for treating cardiovascular diseases in Asian communities. The aim of this study was to study the effects of GTS on cardiac injury after global ischemia and reperfusion (I/R) in isolated guinea pig hearts. Methods: Animals were subjected to normothermic ischemia for 60 minutes, followed by 120 minutes of reperfusion. GTS significantly increased aortic flow, coronary flow, and cardiac output. Moreover, GTS significantly increased left ventricular systolic pressure and the maximal rate of contraction ($+dP/dt_{max}$) and relaxation ($-dP/dt_{max}$). In addition, GTS has been shown to ameliorate electrocardiographic changes such as the QRS complex, QT interval, and RR interval. Results: GTS significantly suppressed the biochemical parameters (i.e., lactate dehydrogenase, creatine kinase-MB fraction, and cardiac troponin I levels) and normalized the oxidative stress markers (i.e., malondialdehyde, glutathione, and nitrite). In addition, GTS also markedly inhibits the expression of interleukin-$1{\beta}$ (IL-$1{\beta}$), IL-6, and nuclear factor-${\kappa}B$, and improves the expression of IL-10 in cardiac tissue. Conclusion: These data indicate that GTS mitigates myocardial damage by modulating the biochemical and oxidative stress related to cardiac I/R injury.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
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• v.37 no.3
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• pp.619-627
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• 1997

It is known that 2-methyl-1,4-naphtoquinone(menadione, MD) induces hepatotoxicities both in vivo and in vitro. These toxic effects are believed to result from oxidative damages to hepatocytes by "active oxygen" species via one-electron reduction of the naphtoquinone. The ginsenoside(GS) is a complex mixture of individual ginsenosides which is known to produce a range of effects on the cardiovascular and central nervous systems. In particular, GS has an antioxidant effect. In this experiment we studied the effect of GS from red panax ginseng(red ginseng total saponin, RGTS) on free radical-induced liver injuries by MD. Administration of MD($150{\mu}M$) caused an increase in aspartate aminotransferase(AST) activities and lipid peroxidation, decrease in alkaline phosphatase(ALP) activities and total bilirubin levels in blood, caused depletion of GSH and changes of antioxidant enzyme(superoxide dismutase, catalase) activities are shown in liver tissue. Administration of RGTS restored the AST levels that increased by MD, but catalase showed no significant changes. RGTS also had an effect of restoring the GSH level and had some synergistic effects with SOD. These data suggest that RGTS may have some protective effects on liver injury which is related with the oxygen free radical.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.32 no.1
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• pp.33-38
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• 2008

To evaluate the antiatopic effect of Korea red ginseng (RG, steamed root of Panax ginseng CA Meyer, Family Araliaceae) fermented by Bifidobacterium longum H-1 (FRG), its inhibitory effect on passive cutaneous anaphylaxis (PCA) reaction and itching in mice was measured. FRG and its ingredient saponin fraction (FSF) potently inhibited PCA reaction and scratching behaviors. FRG at a dose of 200 mg/kg and FSF at a dose of 50 mg/kg significantly inhibited the scratching frequency by 45% and 47%, respectively. FRG and FSF also inhibited the degranulation and protein expression of tumor-necrosis $factor-{\alpha}$ and interleukin-4 of RBL-2H3 cells induced by IgE-complex. However, polysaccharide fraction of FRG (FPF) weakly inhibited it, compared with FSF. The inhibitory effect of FRG against PCA reaction and scratching behaviors more potently inhibited than that of RG. Based on these findings, FRG can improve allergic skin disorders atopic dermatitis by the regulation of $TNF-{\alpha}$, and IL-4 produced by mast cells and basophils and its degranulation.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.41 no.7
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• pp.594-601
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• 2008

Panax ginseng C.A. Meyer (Panax ginseng) has been used for several thousand years to prolong longevity in Asian countries. Ginsenosides are the most active components isolated from ginseng and belong to damarane saponin which are separated into protopanaxadiol and protopanaxtriol. To evaluate the complex effect of ginsenoside in apo E null mice, ginseng extract were intraperioneally (i.p.) injected and provided high-cholesterol diet for 12 weeks. Ginseng extract came from were i.p. injected with dose of 100 mg/kg/day for 4 weeks in the last experimental duration. Ginseng extract used experiment was abundant Rb1, Rc, Re, and Rg1 and PD：PT ratio was 1.2. The high-cholesterol diet induced liver damage was significantly reduced by ginseng extract. Results from plasma lipid profiles and atherogenic index were improved by ginseng extracts. The GE group significantly decreased plasma TG and TC by 73% and 61% compared to apo E (-/-) group. Also ginseng extract tend to decrease lipid profiles and lipidperoxidation contents in liver and heart. Ginseng extract with an abundant amount of Rg1 significantly suppressed the apoptosis induction of cardiac tissue. In conclusion, ginseng extract (PD：PT = 1) was improved lipid profiles and anti-oxidant effects.

• Journal of Plant Biotechnology
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• v.36 no.3
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• pp.294-300
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• 2009

Activation tagging that uses T-DNA vectors containing multimerized transcriptional enhancers from the cauliflower mosaic virus (CaMV) 35S gene is a powerful tool to determine gene function in plants. This approach has been successfully applied in screening various types of mutations and cloning the corresponding genes. We generated an activation tagged hairy root pool of ginseng (Panax ginseng C.A. Meyer) in an attempt to isolate genes involved in the biosynthetic pathway of ginsenoside (triterpene saponin), which is known as the major active ingredient of the root. Quantitative and qualitative variation of ginsenoside in activation tagged hairy root lines were profiled using LC/MS. Metabolic profiling data enabled selection of a specific hairy root line which accumulated ginsenoside at a higher level than other lines. The relative expression level of several genes of triterpene biosynthetic pathway in the selected hairy root line was determined by real time RT-PCR. Overall results suggest that the activation tagged ginseng hairy root system described in this study would be useful in isolating genes involved in a complex metabolic pathway from genetically intractable plant species by metabolic profiling.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.31 no.3
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• pp.137-141
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• 2007

To evaluate the antiatopic effect of Korea Red Ginseng (RG, steamed root of Panax ginseng C.A. Meyer, Family Araliaceae), its inhibitory effect on passive cutaneous anaphylaxis reaction and itching in mice was measured. RG and its ingredient saponin fraction (SF) potently inhibited passive cutaneous anaphylaxis (PCA) reaction and scratching behaviors. RG at a dose of 100 mg/kg and SF at a dose of 50 mg/kg significantly inhibited the scratching frequency by 32% and 38%, respectively. RG and SF also inhibited the degranulation and protein expression of tumor necrosis factor $(TNF)-{\alpha}$ and interleukin (IL)-4 of RBL-2H3 cells induced by IgE-antign complex. However, polysaccharide fraction of RG did not inhibit it. Based on these findings, RG can improve allergic skin disorders atopic dermatitis and contact dermatitis by the regulation of $TNF-{\alpha}$, and IL-4 produced by mast cells and basophils and their membrane stabilization.