• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.48 no.4
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• pp.373-383
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• 2024

Background: Network pharmacology has emerged as a powerful tool to understand the therapeutic effects and mechanisms of natural products. However, there is a lack of comprehensive evaluations of network-based approaches for natural products on identifying therapeutic effects and key mechanisms. Purpose: We systematically explore the capabilities of network-based approaches on natural products, using Panax ginseng as a case study. P. ginseng is a widely used herb with a variety of therapeutic benefits, but its active ingredients and mechanisms of action on chronic diseases are not yet fully understood. Methods: Our study compiled and constructed a network focusing on P. ginseng by collecting and integrating data on ingredients, protein targets, and known indications. We then evaluated the performance of different network-based methods for summarizing known and unknown disease associations. The predicted results were validated in the hepatic stellate cell model. Results: We find that our multiscale interaction-based approach achieved an AUROC of 0.697 and an AUPR of 0.026, which outperforms other network-based approaches. As a case study, we further tested the ability of multiscale interactome-based approaches to identify active ingredients and their plausible mechanisms for breast cancer and liver cirrhosis. We also validated the beneficial effects of unreported and top-predicted ingredients, in cases of liver cirrhosis and gastrointestinal neoplasms. Conclusion: our study provides a promising framework to systematically explore the therapeutic effects and key mechanisms of natural products, and highlights the potential of network-based approaches in natural product research.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.30 no.1
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• pp.41-48
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• 2006

In the browning reaction of Korean ginseng, it appears that enzymatic and non-enzymatic browning reaction occurred In initial stage of steaming fresh ginseng at low temperature, and then non-enzymatic browning reaction followed in the drying period after steaming. Browning reaction of red ginseng occurred between $60{\sim}90$ min of steaming at $100^{\circ}C$, and browning pigments of red ginseng were mostly water soluble substances. The structural characteristics of water soluble browning reaction products(WS-BRPs) isolated from Korean red ginseng were showed the presence of hydroxyl, amide carbonyl and aliphatic methane groups. From sugar analysis it was identified that L and S-1, melanoidins isolated from red ginseng, contained two kinds of sugars, glucose and xylose, and the other melanoidin S-2 contained the previous and fructose. In order to find out pertinent methods for the acceleration of browning during ginseng processing, various treatment were made on fresh ginseng with sugars, amino acids and inorganic nitrogenous compounds and the extent of browning was measured. Among sugar tested, maltose resulted in the greatest acceleration of browning followed in decreasing order by glucose and lactose, whereas pentoses, fructose, sucrose and raffinose had negligible effect. A marked browning occurred in ginseng treated with basic amino acids, while the extent of browning was not greatly increased when ginseng was treated with aliphatic amino acids, hydroxyl amino acids, or acidic amino acids. The brown color intensity gradually increased with an increase of glucose concentration far up to 0.5M. L, S-1, and S-2 were found to have an ability to donate hydrogen to DPPH, and also they had anti-oxidative activity in the experiments of hydrogen peroxide scavenging, inhibitory activity in the formation of MDA from linoleic acid, auto oxidation of ok-brain homogenates, lipid peroxidation by the enzymatic and non-enzymatic system in liver microsome fraction, and mitochondrial fraction etc. The amounts of acidic polysaccharide(AP) in red ginseng were higher than those of wild and cultured Panax quinquefolius, Panax notoginseng as well as white ginseng (Panax ginseng). In white ginseng, the AP amount is no difference in root ages or sizes, also, the AP amount of ginseng body was similar to that of rhizome, but was higher than that of leaf and epidermis. Addition of red ginseng acidic polysaccharide(RGAP) increased production of nitric oxide(NO) and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-$\alpha$ in the rodent macrophage cultures, and treatment of RGAP in vivo stimulated tumoricidal activities of natural killer (NK) cells.

• Journal of Ginseng Culture
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• v.6
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• pp.116-134
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• 2024

This study aimed to identify the issues in Korean ginseng exports through analyzing the ginseng market. Therefore, the study examined the current ginseng production status in South Korea and China, the major ginseng-producing countries in Northeast Asia, including cultivated areas, harvested areas, and production volumes. For South Korea, specific data on ginseng, such as average prices, operating costs, and production costs, were compiled to demonstrate the production competitiveness of Korean ginseng from a production perspective. Furthermore, as major ginseng-exporting countries, South Korea, China, and Hong Kong's export trends, including export quantities, export values, and export prices, as well as crucial export items and tariff rates, were summarized to showcase the export competitiveness of Korean ginseng. Additionally, this study aimed to understand the consumption patterns of ginseng in China, Hong Kong, and Taiwan by presenting various cases and events in these countries. Based on information related to production, export, and consumption, this study identified obstacles in the ginseng export process, including market downturns, weakened price competitiveness of Korean ginseng, increased market share of competing products like Chinese and Western ginseng, a lack of promotion and marketing, and insufficient development and export of various ginseng products. In response, strategies for overcoming these obstacles were proposed, including diversifying exports, establishing effective production systems, enhancing quality and branding, strengthening promotion and marketing efforts, and developing various ginseng products.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.3 no.1
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• pp.1-34
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• 1979

Our nation is confronted with the situation that the rice, a principal food, short of some essential amino acids, leads to imbalanced meals insufficient in the nutrient of Protein, to bring many difficulties in the elevation of nutritional state in our nation. While. our country has been produced much amounts of Panax Ginseng roots which has a stimulating effects on the metabolism of protein, lipid and nucleic acids in the body. And the leaf and trunk of Panax Ginseng were also produced a considerable amounts as the by-products. Author believe that these by-products (leaf and trunk) of Panax Ginseng might have some components possessing simillar activity with Panax Ginseng root although the quantity and qualify of the functional components may more or less be different. Therefore, this study was demised to observe the supplemental effect of the Panax Ginseng-by-Products on the dietary protein efficiency and nutritional state of rats. The feeds used for this experiment were rice containing 30% barely, fish four, and the leaf, trunk and small root of the Panax Ginseng, and the contents of the general nutrients including protein, lipid and carbohydrate etc. in each feed were analyzed for the combination of each feed. And, being based on analytical values of Protein in food. fish Pour as Protein source was added were rice containing 30% barely to be include 8.6 to 8.7%, 12%, 15% and 18% of protein. Then 2% of the leaf, trunk or small reef of Panax Ginseng was supplemented into each of above protein diet group, ton 16 kinds of diets were Prepared. The male albino rats from a Pure strain, weighing 70g to 80g. were used for experimental animals. They were maintained with coresponding fist for f and 8 weeks, and the growth rate, consumption of diets and protein, efficiency of feed and Protein in animals were determined. The lipids, proteins and cholesterols in serum and liver were also determined quantitatively after they were sacrificed in coresponding term. The results obtained are summarized as follows: 1. Body weigh of diet group containing 8.6 to 8.7%,12%, and 15% of protein are increased remarkably by supplement of 2% of the leaf or small root of Panax Ginseng in comparison with each of controls. But this tendency could not observed in diet group containing 18eA Proteins. 2. Feed efficiency showed same tendency in comparison with changes of gained body weight. Specially, in each of diets containing 8.7%, 12%, 15% and 18% of Proteins, supplement of the leaf of Panax Ginseng showed the better feed efficiency than supplement of the trunk or small root. 3. In feeding group for 8 weeks, protein efficiency showed worst efficiency in diet containing 18% proteins and showed the best efficiency was the diet group containing 12% Proteins. And the efficiency was improved according to supplement of the leaf of Panax Ginseng. 4. Nitrogen contents in serum and liver did not show large differences each other in all diet groups. But contexts of total cholesterol and 1ipid were decreased markedly in diet groups containing 12%, 15% and 18% of proteins in comparison with diet group containing 8.6% to 8.8% of proteins.

• Biomedical Science Letters
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• v.6 no.4
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• pp.253-260
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• 2000

Obesity is the risk factor of atherosclerosis and not only increases triglyceride concentration in blood but also decreases relatively the ratio of TG to HDL-Cholesterol in blood. In case of obesity, systolic blood pressure is also increased in responding the increase of TG in blood. Index of obesity in red ginseng-taking group (ginseng group) was lower as compared with non-red ginseng-taking group (control group). The TG concentration, the ratio of triglyceride to HDL-cholesterol in blood and systolic blood pressure were decreased in the subjects of ginseng group compared with that in control group. It is inferred that long-term intake of ginseng products may help to prevent the risk of atherosclerosis and obesity.

• The Korean Journal of Pesticide Science
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• v.16 no.1
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• pp.35-42
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• 2012

This study was carried out to elucidate the residual characteristics and calculate processing factors of difenoconazole in ginseng and its processed products, such as dried ginseng, red ginseng and their water and alcohol extracts. The pesticide was sprayed onto the ginseng according to its pre-harvest intervals in 2009 (four-year-old ginseng) and 2010 (five-year-old ginseng). Harvested ginseng was processed to dried ginseng, red ginseng and their extracts according to the commercially well-qualified conventional methods provided by the Korea Ginseng Corporation. Limit of detection (LOD) and limit of quantitation (LOQ) of difenoconazole in fresh ginseng were 0.001 and 0.003 mg/kg, respectively. In case of processed ginseng products, their levels were 0.002 and 0.007 mg/kg, respectively. Concentration of difenoconazole in both fresh ginseng and its processed products increased with the experimental period. Processing factors, calculated as a ratio of difenoconazole concentration in processed products to fresh ginseng were found to be 1.71 to 2.17 and 1.62 to 2.03 in case of dried and red ginseng, respectively, while those for their extracts ranged from 1.76 to 2.98. In case of five-year-old dried ginseng and red ginseng as well as their extracts, the ranges of processing factor of difenoconazole were found to be 2.9 to 3.1, 1.9 to 2.2 and 2.4 to 4.7, respectively.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.42 no.4
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• pp.577-584
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• 2018

Background: Ginseng (Panax ginseng) is a widely used traditional herbal supplement that possesses various health-enhancing efficacies. Various ginseng products are available in market, especially in the Korean peninsula, in the form of drinks, tablets, and capsules. The different ginseng types include the traditional red ginseng extract (RGE), white ginseng, and black red ginseng extract (BRGE). Their fermented and enzyme-treated products are also available. Different treatment regimens alter the bioavailability of certain compounds present in the respective ginseng extracts. Therefore, in this study, we aimed to compare the antioxidant and immune-stimulating activities of RGE, BRGE, and fermented red ginseng extract (FRGE). Methods: We used an acetaminophen-induced oxidative stress model for investigating the reduction of oxidative stress by RGE, BRGE, and FRGE in Sprague Dawley rats. A cyclophosphamide-induced immunosuppression model was used to evaluate the immune-stimulating activities of these ginseng extracts in BALB/c mice. Results: Our results showed that most prominently, RGE (in almost all experiments) exhibited excellent antioxidant effects via increasing superoxide dismutase, catalase, and glutathione peroxidase activities in the liver and decreasing serum 8-hydroxy-2'-deoxyguanosine, aspartate aminotransferase, and lactate dehydrogenase levels compared with the groups treated with FRGE and BRGE. Moreover, RGE significantly increased the number of white blood cells, especially T and B lymphocytes, and antibody-forming cells in the spleen and thymus, and it also activated a number of immune cell subtypes. Conclusion: Taken together, these results indicate that RGE is the best supplement for consumption in everyday life for overall health-enhancing properties.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.46 no.2
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• pp.214-224
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• 2022

Red ginseng oil (RGO), rather than the conventional aqueous extract of red ginseng, has been receiving much attention due to accumulating evidence of its functional and pharmacological potential. In this review, we describe the key extraction technologies, chemical composition, potential health benefits, and safety of RGO. This review emphasizes the proposed molecular mechanisms by which RGO is involved in various bioactivities. RGO is mainly produced using organic solvents or supercritical fluid extraction, with the choice of method greatly affecting the yield and quality of the end products. RGO contains a high unsaturated fatty acid levels along with considerable amounts of lipophilic components such as phytosterols, tocopherols, and polyacetylenes. The beneficial health properties of RGO include cellular defense, antioxidation, anti-inflammation, anti-apoptosis, chemoprevention, hair growth promotion, and skin health improvement. We propose several molecular mechanisms and signaling pathways that underlie the bioactivity of RGO. In addition, RGO is regarded as safe and nontoxic. Further studies on RGO must focus on a deeper understanding of the underlying molecular mechanisms, composition-functionality relationship, and verification of the bioactivities of RGO in clinical models. This review may provide useful information in the development of RGO-based products in nutraceuticals, functional foods, and functional cosmetics.

• The Journal of Korean Medical History
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• v.29 no.2
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• pp.49-59
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• 2016

Ginseng, a Korean native herb, has been a symbol of mystic cure-all which provides longevity benefits throughout Korean history. According to Chinese historical records, a major source of wild ginseng has been described as Korean peninsula, which is the most suitable ginseng production area, and the Manchu region near Mt. Baekdu and the Maritime Province. Since Tang dynasty period (618-917 CE), Chinese has also called ginseng as "Goryeo Ginseng", which is named after "Goguryeo" (37 BCE-668 CE), an ancient kingdom of Korea, from which they mainly imported the herb as the region was famous for its high quality of ginseng. To date, it refers to Korean ginseng. This study compares the medicinal properties of ginseng as stated in the ancient Korean medical books with the major Korean historical records regarding the usage of ginseng and its symbolism of longevity in everyday life. By contrasting these findings, we tried to figure out how the actual medicinal properties of ginseng and the anticipation of longevity are related. It was confirmed that the expectations about longevity were widely applied to everyday life. In addition, the study investigates the various usage of ginseng as a motive for decorative patterns and as an ingredient for daily products including snacks, health drinks, various types of food, clothing patterns, and so on. Finally, the usage of ginseng ingredients in the cosmetic products fulfilled the desire of Korean people to purchase, showing the aesthetic recognition and medicinal understandings about the herb. These findings suggest that ginseng is an important medicinal agent that not only symbolizes longevity and good health but also has a great influence on the lives of Koreans.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.13 no.1
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• pp.123-129
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• 1989

In this survey we have studied the opinions of housewives to understand of the preferences of domestic consumers. This survey was conducted using a Questionnaire with 30 questions answered by 1,009 housewives. The following are the main findings. 1. The favorite beverages of housewives were coffee, yulmu tea, ginseng tea and black tea in decreasing order. Over 80% of the housewives recognized ginseng as an excellent and effective food . 2. The over 90% of the housewives had experience in taking ginseng. Their highest expectation of ginseng was its efficacy as a remedy for the hang-over syndrom. 3. The majority of housewives boiled it in water when take ginseng and indicated that ginseng was expensive in general. 4. They knew well about ginseng drink and tea whereas most of the housewives didn't know about ginseng capsules and tablets. 5. The preference for ginseng products differs greatly by the age of the housewife. Therefore, to make ginseng more favorable as a perfect tonic food, new ginseng products must be developed which appeal to the preference of the consumers.