• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.39 no.2
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• pp.183-187
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• 2015

Background: Gut microflora play a crucial role in the biotransformation of ginsenosides to compound K (CK), which may affect the pharmacological effects of ginseng. Prebiotics, such as NUTRIOSE, could enhance the formation and consequent absorption of CK through the modulation of gut microbial metabolic activities. In this study, the effect of a prebiotic fiber (NUTRIOSE) on the pharmacokinetics of ginsenoside CK, a bioactive metabolite of ginsenosides, and its mechanism of action were investigated. Methods: Male Sprague-Dawley rats were given control or NUTRIOSE-containing diets (control diet + NUTRIOSE) for 2 wk, and ginseng extract or vehicle was then orally administered. Blood samples were collected to investigate the pharmacokinetics of CK using liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. Fecal activities that metabolize ginsenoside Rb1 to CK were assayed with fecal specimens or bacteria cultures. Results: When ginseng extract was orally administered to rats fed with 2.5%, 5%, or 10% NUTRIOSE containing diets, the maximum plasma concentration ($C_{max}$) and area under the plasma concentration-time curve values of CK significantly increased in a NUTRIOSE content-dependent manner. NUTRIOSE intake increased glycosidase activity and CK formation in rat intestinal contents. The CK-forming activities of intestinal microbiota cultured in vitro were significantly induced by NUTRIOSE. Conclusion: These results show that prebiotic diets, such as NUTRIOSE, may promote the metabolic conversion of ginsenosides to CK and the subsequent absorption of CK in the gastrointestinal tract and may potentiate the pharmacological effects of ginseng.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.38 no.3
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• pp.203-207
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• 2014

Background: There is limited understanding of the effect of dietary components on the absorption of ginsenosides and their metabolites into the blood. Methods: This study investigated the pharmacokinetics of the ginseng extract and its main constituent ginsenoside Rb1 in rats with or without pretreatment with a prebiotic fiber, NUTRIOSE, by liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry. When ginsenoside Rb1 was incubated with rat feces, its main metabolite was ginsenoside Rd. Results: When the intestinal microbiota of rat feces were cultured in vitro, their ginsenoside Rd-forming activities were significantly induced by NUTRIOSE. When ginsenoside Rb1 was orally administered to rats, the maximum plasma concentration (Cmax) and area under the plasma drug concentratione-time curve (AUC) for the main metabolite, ginsenoside Rd, were $72.4{\pm}31.6ng/mL$ and $663.9{\pm}285.3{\mu}g{\cdot}h/mL$, respectively. When the ginseng extract (2,000 mg/kg) was orally administered, Cmax and AUC for ginsenoside Rd were $906.5{\pm}330.2ng/mL$ and $11,377.3{\pm}4,470.2{\mu}g{\cdot}h/mL$, respectively. When ginseng extract was orally administered to rats fed NUTRIOSE containing diets (2.5%, 5%, or 10%), Cmax and AUC were increased in the NUTRIOSE receiving groups in a dose-dependent manner. Conclusion: These findings reveal that intestinal microflora promote metabolic conversion of ginsenoside Rb1 and ginseng extract to ginsenoside Rd and promote its absorption into the blood in rats. Its conversion may be induced by prebiotic diets such as NUTRIOSE.

• YAKHAK HOEJI
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• v.24 no.3_4
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• pp.143-150
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• 1980

The effect of ginseng saponin on chick embryonic dorsal root ganglia organ culture and brain, spinal cord, muscle dissociation cultures was studied. The fiber outgrowth in explanted chick embryonic dorsal root ganglia was markedly induced by water and alcohol extracts of ginseng, total ginseng saponin, protopanaxadiol and protopanaxatriol glycosides as well as ginsenosides R/sub b1/, R/sub d/, R/sub 0/+R/sub a/+R/sub b1/, and R/sub b2/+R/sub c/+R/sub e/ mixtures. The life span of the cultured chick embryonic dorsal root ganglia and potentiation of nerve cell density were also observed with all of these ginseng saponins. The effect of ginseng saponin on chick embryonic dorsal root ganglia organ culture was more marked in the absence of the chick embryonic extract which was known to contain nerve growth factor-like material in the culture media. However, the ginseng saponin did not influence the cultured central nervous system such as brain and spinal cord cells and cultured skeletal muscle cells with respect to the morphological changes, maturation and life span of these cells.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.11 no.5
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• pp.858-862
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• 2001

The purpose of this research was to investigate the effects of nondigestible oligosaccharides (NDO) from red ginseng marc on the growth of Bifidobacterium spp. Red ginseng marc, a fibrous byproduct of ginseng extract from processing, was destarched by ${\alpha}$-amylase and amyloglucosidase treatment, and then treated with a commercial pectinase to produce NDO. The bifidogenic effects of NDO on B. adolescentis, B. animalis, B. breve, and B. longum were investigated in vitro. NDO significantly promoted the growth of Bifidobacterium spp. The growth, decrease of pH, and organic acid formation (acetate, lactate, formate) were markedly different among the species. B. adolescentis showed the best growth and produced the greatest amount of organic acids. When NDO was used as a carbon source in the cocultivation of Bifidobacterium spp. and Clostridium perfringens, the growth of Bifidobacterium spp. was not influenced by the existence of Cl. perfringens. The result strongly suggested that NDO from red ginseng marc could be used as a potential bifidogenic source.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.9 no.1
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• pp.128-134
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• 1985

In order to study the effect of honey concentration on the quality of honeyed ginseng in the process of manufacturing honeyed ginseng, honeyed ginseng was manufactured under the various condition of honey concentration, 40 brix, 50 brix, 60 brix and 70 brix and the approximate composition, the yield and organoleptic test of them were investigated. The results obtained were as follows. 1. The higher honey concentration was used, the yield of honeyed ginseng was increased. 2. The higher honey concentration was used, the amount of total sugar was increased while the amount of crude saponin, crude protein. crude fat, crude fiber and crude ash was decreased. 3. Free sugars of honeyed ginseng consist of rhamnose, xylose, fructose, glucose, sucrose and maltose, 4. The amount of saponin lost in the process of manufacturing honeyed ginseng was 2.5%-5.0%, therefore honey concentration was not so effective on the loss of saponin. 5. According to organoleptic test, H-3 and H-2 treating honey concentration at 60 brix and 50 brix was the best and better of all.

• Korean Journal of Pharmacognosy
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• v.12 no.4
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• pp.185-189
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• 1981

The quality inspection was made on commercial Korean ginseng extract (Company A, B, C, D, E, F, G and H), particularly on samples available in Seoul market area. The results were as follews: 1) Among the ginseng extract products out of eight different manufactures, the moisture content of D company's product showed 46.5%, and other companys' met with the moisture standard for ginseng extracts. And protein, fat, ash, fiber and total sugar were about $9.87{\sim}21.07%,\;0.46{\sim}1.62%,\;6.55{\sim}7.88%,\;0{\sim}0.15%\;and\;58.58{\sim}76.74%$, respectively. And residue of D and F company products showed 3.25% and 3.61% which exceed the standard, and other company products met with residue test specifications. 2) The contents of ginseng saponins were 16.16% and 13.12%, respectively, for the C and H company products. However, other company's showed below 9%. By fractional distribution of ginseng saponins, it is supposed to be white ginseng and lateral ginseng that were mostly used as raw materials for ginseng extract manufacturing.

• Near Infrared Analysis
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• v.1 no.2
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• pp.41-44
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• 2000

The objectives of this study are to discriminate the geographical origin and cultivation years of ginseng based on the near-infrared(NIR) reflectance spectroscopic analysis. Korea and China ginseng samples were prepared for discrimination of geographical origin. 4, 5 and 6 years-old ginseng samples from Korea were prepared for discrimination of cultivation years. Used spectrometer were InfraAlyzer 500, InfraAlyzer 400 and Fiber optic. Sample type of ginseng was 3, whole ginseng radix, slide section and powder type. The accuracy was affected by sample types and instruments. The accuracy for discrimination geographical origin was 97% in calibration model using IA 500 and ginseng powder. For discrimination of cultivation years, the model with slide selection using IA500 were relative accurate. The accuracy was 96.7% for 4-year, 91.3% for 5-year and 89.3% for 6-year old ginseng. The study shows that NIR spectroscopic analysis can be used to discriminate the geographical origin and cultivation years of ginseng with acceptable accuracy.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.46 no.6
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• pp.809-818
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• 2022

Background: The non-saponin fraction (NSF) of Korean Red Ginseng is a powder in which saponin is eliminated from red ginseng concentrate by fractionation. In this study, we examined the effect of NSF on age-associated sarcopenia in old mice. Methods: NSF (50 or 200 mg/kg/day) was administered orally daily to young (3-6-month-old) and old (20-24-month-old) C57BL/6 J mice for 6 weeks. Body weight and grip strength were assessed once a week during the oral administration period. The gastrocnemius and quadriceps muscle were excised, and the muscle fiber size was compared through hematoxylin and eosin staining. In addition, the effect of NSF on sarcopenia and inflammation/oxidative stress-related factors in hindlimb muscles was investigated by western blotting. Flow cytometry analysis was conducted to investigate the effect of NSF on immune homeostasis. Blood samples were collected by cardiac puncture, and the serum levels of insulin-like growth factor 1, pro-inflammatory cytokines, and glutathione were evaluated. Results: NSF significantly alleviated muscle strength, mass, and also fiber size in old mice. Age-associated impairment of immune homeostasis was recovered by NSF through retaining CD11b⁺F4/80⁺ macrophages and regulating inflammatory biomarkers. NSF also decreased the age-induced expression of oxidative stress factors. Taken together, NSF showed the effect of improving sarcopenia by inhibiting low-grade chronic inflammatory/oxidative stress factors. Conclusion: NSF exhibited anti-sarcopenia effects by regulating chronic inflammation and oxidative stress in old mice. Thus, we suggest that NSF is a promising restorative agent that can be used to improve sarcopenia in the elderly as well as maintain immune homeostasis.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.48 no.1
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• pp.52-58
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• 2024

Background: Skeletal muscle denervation leads to motor neuron degeneration, which in turn reduces muscle fiber volumes. Recent studies have revealed that apoptosis plays a role in regulating denervation-associated pathologic muscle wasting. Korean red ginseng (KRG) has various biological activities and is currently widely consumed as a medicinal product worldwide. Among them, ginseng has protective effects against muscle atrophy in in vivo and in vitro. However, the effects of KRG on denervation-induced muscle damage have not been fully elucidated. Methods: We induced skeletal muscle atrophy in mice by dissecting the sciatic nerves, administered KRG, and then analyzed the muscles. KRG was administered to the mice once daily for 3 weeks at 100 and 400 mg/kg/day doses after operation. Results: KRG treatment significantly increased skeletal muscle weight and tibialis anterior (TA) muscle fiber volume in injured areas and reduced histological alterations in TA muscle. In addition, KRG treatment reduced denervation-induced apoptotic changes in TA muscle. KRG attenuated p53/Bax/cytochrome c/Caspase 3 signaling induced by nerve injury in a dose-dependent manner. Also, KRG decreases protein kinase B/mammalian target of rapamycin pathway, reducing restorative myogenesis. Conclusion: Thus, KRG has potential protective role against denervation-induced muscle atrophy. The effect of KRG treatment was accompanied by reduced levels of mitochondria-associated apoptosis.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.33 no.4
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• pp.337-342
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• 2009

The extraction conditions for the production of red ginseng polysaccharide were proposed. The crude fiber content of red ginseng marc (RGM) (15.3%) was much higher than that of white ginseng (WG) (2.1%) and red ginseng (RG) (0.5%). Thus, RGM was selected as the raw material for polysaccharide production. The correlation between the particle size of RGM and the polysaccharide extraction was investigated with a correlation analysis using the SPSS package. The two parameters were found to have a significant correlation (p<0.01). The polysaccharide extraction increased as the particle size of RGM decreased. The optimal concentration of RGM was 6.66% (w/v). The extraction yield increased as both the extraction temperature and the extraction time increased. Finally, the extraction temperature and time were selected as $85^{\circ}C$ and 5 hrs, respectively. Consequently, the extraction conditions for polysaccharide production were optimized and statistically confirmed.