• Journal of Ginseng Research
• /
• v.26 no.3
• /
• pp.111-131
• /
• 2002

Korean ginseng (Panax ginseng C.A. Meyer) received a great deal of attention from the Orient and West as a tonic agent, health food and/or alternative herbal therapeutic agent. However, controversy with respect to scientific evidence on pharmacological effects especially, evaluation of clinical efficacy and the methodological approach still remains to be solved. Author reviewed those articles published since 1980 when pharmacodynamic studies on ginseng have intensively started. Special concern was paid on metabolic disorders including diabetes mellitus, circulatory disorders, malignant tumor, sexual dysfunction, and physical and mental performance to give clear information to those who are interested in pharmacological study of ginseng and to promote its clinical use. With respect to chronic diseases such as diabetes mellitus, atherosclerosis, high blood pressure, malignant disorders, and sexual disorders, it seems that ginseng plays preventive and restorative role rather than therapeutics. Particularly, ginseng plays a significant role in ameliorating subjective symptoms and preventing quality of life from deteriorating by long term exposure of chemical therapeutic agents. Also it seems that the potency of ginseng is mild, therefore it could be more effective when used concomitantly with conventional therapy. Clinical studies on the tonic effect of ginseng on work performance demonstrated that physical and mental dysfunction induced by various stresses are improved by increasing adaptability of physical condition. However, the results obtained from clinical studies cannot be mentioned in the indication, which are variable upon the scientist who performed those studies. In this respect, standardized ginseng product and providing planning of the systematic clinical research in double-blind randomized controlled trials are needed to assess the real efficacy for proposing ginseng indication. Pharmacological mode of action of ginseng has not yet been fully elucidated. Pharmacodynamic and pharmacokinetic researches reveal that the role of ginseng not seem to be confined to a given single organ. It has been known that ginseng plays a beneficial role in such general organs as central nervous, endocrine, metabolic, immune systems, which means ginseng improves general physical and mental conditons. Such multivalent effect of ginseng can be attributed to the main active component of ginseng,ginsenosides or non-saponin compounds which are also recently suggested to be another active ingredients. As is generally the similar case with other herbal medicines, effects of ginseng cannot be attributed as a given single compound or group of components. Diversified ingredients play synergistic or antagonistic role each other and act in harmonized manner. A few cases of adverse effect in clinical uses are reported, however, it is not observed when standardized ginseng products are used and recommended dose was administered. Unfavorable interaction with other drugs has also been suggested, which the information on the products and administered dosage are not available. However, efficacy, safety, interaction or contraindication with other medicines has to be more intensively investigated in order to promote clinical application of ginseng. For example, daily recommended doses per day are not agreement as 1-2g in the West and 3-6 g in the Orient. Duration of administration also seems variable according to the purpose. Two to three months are generally recommended to feel the benefit but time- and dose-dependent effects of ginseng still need to be solved from now on. Furthermore, the effect of ginsenosides transformed by the intestinal microflora, and differential effect associated with ginsenosides content and its composition also should be clinically evaluated in the future. In conclusion, the more wide-spread use of ginseng as a herbal medicine or nutraceutical supplement warrants the more rigorous investigations to assess its effacy and safety. In addition, a careful quality control of ginseng preparations should be done to ensure an acceptable standardization of commercial products.

• Applied Biological Chemistry
• /
• v.22 no.4
• /
• pp.198-209
• /
• 1979

L-Tyrosine, 2-chloro-L-tyrosine, 2-bromo-L-tyrosine, and 2-iodo-L-tyrosine were synthesized by ${\beta}-tyrosinase$ obtained from cells of Escherichia intermedia A-21, through the reversal of the ${\alpha},{\beta}-elimination$ reaction, and their molecular structures were analyzed by element analysis, NMR spectroscopy, mass spectrometry and IR spectroscopy. Rates of synthesis and hydrolysis of halogenated tyrosines by ${\beta}-tyrosinase$, inhibition of the enzyme activity by halogenated phenols, and effects of addition of m-bromophenol on the synthesis of 2-bromotyrosine were determined. The results obtained were as follows: 1) In the synthesis of halogenated tyrosines, the yield of 2-chlorotyrosine from m-chlorophenol were approximately 15 per cent, that of 2-bromotyrosine from m-bromophenol 13.8 per cent, and that of 2-iodotyrosine from m-iodophenol 9.8 per cent. 2) Rate of synthesis of halogenated tyrosines by ${\beta}-tyrosinase$ was slower than that of tyrosine and the rates were decreased in the order of chlorine, bromine and iodine, that is, by increasing the atomic radius. Relative rate of 2-chlorotyrosine synthesis was determined to be 28.2, that of 2-bromotyrosine to be 8.13, and that of 2-iodotyrosine to be 0.98, respectively, against 100 of tyrosine. However 3-iodotyrosine was not synthesized by the enzyme. 3) The relative rate of 2-chlorotyrosine hydrolysis by ${\beta}-tyrosinase$ was 70.7, that of 2-bromotyrosine was 39.0, and that of 2-iodotyrosine was 12.6 against 100 of tyrosine, respectively. The rate of hydrolysis appeared to be decreased in the order of chlorine, bromine and iodine, that is, by increasing the atomic radius or by decreasing the electronegativity. But 3-iodotyrosine was not hydrolyzed by the enzyme. 4) The activity of ${\beta}-tyrosinase$ was inhibited by phenol markedly. Of the halogenated phenols, o-, or m-chlorophenol and o-bromophenol gave marked inhibition on the enzyme action, however inhibition by iodophenol was not strong. Plotting by Lineweaver-Burk method, a mixed-type inhibition by m-chlorophenol was observed and its Ki value was found to be $5.46{\times}10^{-4}M$. 5) During the synthesizing reaction of 2-bromotyrosine by the enzyme, sequential addition of substrate which was m-bromophenol with time intervals and in a small amount resulted in better yield of the product. 6) The halogenated tyrosines which were produced by ${\beta}-tyrosinase$ from pyruvate, ammonia and m-halogenated phenols were analysed to determine their molecular structures by element analysis, NMR spectroscopy, mass spectrometry, and IR spectroscopy. The result indicated that they were 2-chloro-L-tyrosine, 2-bromo-L-tyrosine, and 2-iodo-L-tyrosine, respectively.

• Journal of Distribution Research
• /
• v.17 no.5
• /
• pp.1-23
• /
• 2012

The conflict between major corporations and small and medium-sized businesses is being aggravated, the trickle down effect is not working properly, and, as the controversy surrounding the effectiveness of the business limiting system continues to swirl, the plan proposed to protect the business domain of small and medium-sized businesses, resolve polarization between these businesses and large corporations, and protect small family run stores is the suitable business type designation system for small and medium-sized businesses. The current status of carrying out this system of selecting suitable business types among small and medium-sized businesses involves receiving applications for 234 items among the suitable business types and items from small and medium-sized businesses in manufacturing, and then selecting the items of the consultative group by analyzing and investigating the actual conditions. Suitable business type designation in the service industry will involve designation with priority on business types that are experiencing social conflict. Three major classifications of the service industry, related to the livelihood of small and medium-sized businesses, will be first designated, and subsequently this will be expanded sequentially. However, there is the concern that when designated as a suitable business type or item, this will hinder the growth motive for small to medium-sized businesses, and designation all cause decrease in consumer welfare. Also it is highly likely that it will operate as a prior regulation, cause side-effects by limiting competition systematically, and also be in violation against the main regulations of the FTA system. Moreover, it is pointed out that the system does not sufficiently reflect reverse discrimination factor against large corporations. Because conflict between small to medium sized businesses and large corporations results from the expansion of corporations to the service industry, which is unrelated to their key industry, it is necessary to introduce an advanced contract method like a master franchise or local franchise system and to develop local small to medium sized businesses through a franchise system to protect these businesses and dealers. However, this method may have an effect that contributes to stronger competitiveness of small to medium sized franchise businesses by advancing their competitiveness and operational methods a step further, but also has many negative aspects. First, as revealed by the Ministry of Knowledge Economy, the franchise industry is contributing to the strengthening of competitiveness through the economy of scale by organizing existing individual proprietors and increasing the success rate of new businesses. It is also revealed to be a response measure by the government to stabilize the economy of ordinary people and is emphasized as a 'useful way' to revitalize the service industry and improve the competitiveness of individual proprietors, and has been involved in contributions to creating jobs and expanding the domestic market by providing various services to consumers. From this viewpoint, franchises fit the purpose of the suitable business type system and is not something that is against it. Second, designation as a suitable business type may decrease investment for overseas expansion, R&D, and food safety, as well negatively affect the expansion of overseas corporations that have entered the domestic market, due to the contraction and low morale of large domestic franchise corporations that have competitiveness internationally. Also because domestic franchise businesses are hard pressed to secure competitiveness with multinational overseas franchise corporations that are operating in Korea, the system may cause difficulty for domestic franchise businesses in securing international competitiveness and also may result in reverse discrimination against these overseas franchise corporations. Third, the designation of suitable business type and item can limit the opportunity of selection for consumers who have up to now used those products and can cause a negative effect that reduces consumer welfare. Also, because there is the possibility that the range of consumer selection may be reduced when a few small to medium size businesses monopolize the market, by causing reverse discrimination between these businesses, the role of determining the utility of products must be left ot the consumer not the government. Lastly, it is desirable that this is carried out with the supplementation of deficient parts in the future, because fair trade is already secured with the enforcement of the franchise trade law and the best trade standard of the Fair Trade Commission. Overlapping regulations by the suitable business type designation is an excessive restriction in the franchise industry. Now, it is necessary to establish in the domestic franchise industry an environment where a global franchise corporation, which spreads Korean culture around the world, is capable of growing, and the active support by the government is needed. Therefore, systems that do not consider the process or background of the growth of franchise businesses and harm these businesses for the sole reason of them being large corporations must be removed. The inhibition of growth to franchise enterprises may decrease the sales of franchise stores, in some cases even bankrupt them, as well as cause other problems. Therefore the suitable business type system should not hinder large corporations, and as both small dealers and small to medium size businesses both aim at improving competitiveness and combined growth, large corporations, small dealers and small to medium sized businesses, based on their mutual cooperation, should not include franchise corporations that continue business relations with them in this system.