• Proceedings of the PSK Conference
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• 2002.10a
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• pp.334.3-334.3
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• 2002

Ginseng(the root of Panax ginseng C.A. Meyer, Araliaceae) has been used for thousands of years as a traditional medicine in Asian countries. The main components of Ginseng are ginsenoside Rb1, Rb2 and Rc. These compounds are transformed by intestinal microflora. The main metabolite of ginsenosides was compoud K (IH-901). The transformed compound K shows an antimetastic or anticarcinogenic effect by blocking tumor invasion or preventing chromosomal aberration and tumorigenesis. Therefore. we isolated and characterzed ginseng saponin-metabolizing bacteria from human intestinal microffora. Among 200 tested intestinal bacteria. we found 78 bacteris to transform glnseng senseng saponins to compound K. These bacteria were seperated into three group: the first group highy produced ginsenside Rd (29) the second grop produced potently ginsenoside F2 (21) and the third produced compound K(28)

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.39 no.4
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• pp.322-330
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• 2015

Background: UV-irradiated keratinocytes secrete various proinflammatory cytokines. UV-induced skin damage is mediated by growth factors and proinflammatory cytokines such as granulocyte macrophage colony stimulating factor (GM-CSF). In a previous study, we found that the saponin of Korean Red Ginseng (SKRG) decreased the expression of GM-CSF in UVB-irradiated SP-1 keratinocytes. In this study, we attempted to find the inhibitory mechanism of SKRG on UVB-induced GM-CSF expression in SP-1 keratinocytes. Methods: We investigated the inhibitory mechanism of SKRG and ginsenosides from Panax ginseng on UVB-induced GM-CSF expression in SP-1 keratinocytes. Results: Treatment with SKRG decreased the expression of GM-CSF mRNA and protein induced by irradiation of UVB in SP-1 keratinocytes. The phosphorylation of ERK was induced by UVB at 10 min, and decreased with SKRG treatment in SP-1 keratinocytes. In addition, treatment with SKRG inhibited the UVB-induced phosphorylation of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), which is known to be an upstream signal of ERK. From these results, we found that the inhibition of GM-CSF expression by SKRG was derived from the decreased phosphorylation of EGFR. To identify the specific compound composing SKRG, we tested fifteen kinds of ginsenosides. Among these compounds, ginsenoside-Rh3 decreased the expression of GM-CSF protein and mRNA in SP-1 keratinocytes. Conclusion: Taken together, we found that treatment with SKRG decreased the phosphorylation of EGFR and ERK in UVB-irradiated SP-1 keratinocytes and subsequently inhibited the expression of GM-CSF. Furthermore, we identified ginsenoside-Rh3 as the active saponin in Korean Red Ginseng.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.44 no.5
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• pp.673-679
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• 2020

Background: Panax notoginseng saponin (PNS) is the extraction from the roots and rhizomes of Panax notoginseng (Burk.) F. H. Chen. PNS is the main bioactive component of Xuesaitong, Xueshuantong, and other Chinese patent medicines, which are all bestselling prescriptions in China to treat cardiocerebrovascular diseases. Notoginsenoside R₁ and ginsenoside Rg₁, Rd, Re, and Rb₁ are the principal effective constituents of PNS, but a systematic research on the rare saponin compositions has not been conducted. Objective: The objective of this study was to conduct a systematic chemical study on PNS and establish the HPLC fingerprint of PNS to provide scientific evidence in quality control. In addition, the cytotoxicity of the new compounds was tested. Methods: Pure saponins from PNS were isolated by means of many chromatographic methods, and their structures were determined by extensive analyses of NMR and HR-ESI-MS studies. The fingerprint was established by HPLC-UV method. The cytotoxicity of the compounds was tested by 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5 -diphenyltetrazolium bromide assay. Results and Conclusion: Three new triterpenoid saponins (1-3) together with 25 known rare saponins (4-28) were isolated from PNS, except for the five main compounds (notoginsenoside R1 and ginsenoside Rg1, Rd, Re, and Rb1). In addition, the HPLC fingerprint of PNS was established, and the peaks of the isolated compounds were marked. The study of chemical constituents and fingerprint was useful for the quality control of PNS. The study on antitumor activities showed that new Compound 2 exhibited significant inhibitory activity against the tested cell lines.

• Preventive Nutrition and Food Science
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.24-30
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• 2016

Fresh ginseng roots were aged in an oven at $80^{\circ}C$ for 14 d. The in vitro and in vivo antioxidant activities of this aged ginseng, in comparison with those of the white and red ginsengs, were evaluated. In in vitro antioxidant assays, the ethanolic extracts from aged ginseng showed significantly higher free radical scavenging activity and reducing power than those of the white and red ginsengs. In in vivo antioxidant assays, mice were fed a high fat diet supplemented with white, red, or aged ginseng powders. High fat feeding resulted in a significant increase in lipid peroxidation and a substantial decrease in antioxidant enzymes activities in the animals. However, diet supplementation of ginseng powders, particularly aged ginseng, markedly reduced lipid peroxidation and enhanced the antioxidant enzymes activities. The results illustrate that the aged ginseng has greater in vitro and in vivo antioxidant capacity than the white and red ginsengs. The aged ginseng also showed considerably higher total saponin, phenolic, and flavonoid contents, indicating that its antioxidant capacity may have been partly due to its high levels of antioxidant compounds. This new ginseng product may be useful as a functional food with strong antioxidant potential.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.37 no.4
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• pp.475-482
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• 2013

The main active components of Panax ginseng are ginsenosides. Ginsenoside Rb1 and Rg1 are accepted as marker substances for quality control worldwide. The analytical methods currently used to detect these two compounds unfairly penalize steamed and dried (red) P. ginseng preparations, because it has a lower content of those ginsenosides than white ginseng. To manufacture red ginseng products from fresh ginseng, the ginseng roots are exposed to high temperatures for many hours. This heating process converts the naturally occurring ginsenoside Rb1 and Rg1 into artifact ginsenosides such as ginsenoside Rg3, Rg5, Rh1, and Rh2, among others. This study highlights the absurdity of the current analytical practice by investigating the time-dependent changes in the crude saponin and the major natural and artifact ginsenosides contents during simmering. The results lead us to recommend (20S)- and (20R)-ginsenoside Rg3 as new reference materials to complement the current P. ginseng preparation reference materials ginsenoside Rb1 and Rg1. An attempt has also been made to establish validated qualitative and quantitative analytical procedures for these four compounds that meet International Conference of Harmonization (ICH) guidelines for specificity, linearity, range, accuracy, precision, detection limit, quantitation limit, robustness and system suitability. Based on these results, we suggest a validated analytical procedure which conforms to ICH guidelines and equally values the contents of ginsenosides in white and red ginseng preparations.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.48 no.1
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• pp.59-67
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• 2024

Background: Alzheimer's disease (AD) has memory impairment associated with aggregation of amyloid plaques and neurofibrillary tangles in the brain. Although anti-amyloid β (Aβ) protein antibody and chemical drugs can be prescribed in the clinic, they show adverse effects or low effectiveness. Therefore, the development of a new drug is necessarily needed. We focused on the cognitive function of Panax ginseng and tried to find active ingredient(s). We isolated panaxcerol D, a kind of glycosyl glyceride, from the non-saponin fraction of P. ginseng extract. Methods: We explored effects of acute or sub-chronic administration of panaxcerol D on cognitive function in scopolamine- or Aβ_25-35 peptide-treated mice measured by several behavioral tests. After behavioral tests, we tried to unveil the underlying mechanism of panaxcerol D on its cognitive function by Western blotting. Results: We found that pananxcerol D reversed short-term, long-term and object recognition memory impairments. The decreased extracellular signal-regulated kinases (ERK) or Ca²⁺/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II (CaMKII) in scopolamine-treated mice was normalized by acute administration of panaxcerol D. Glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP), caspase 3, NF-kB p65, synaptophysin and brainderived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) expression levels in Aβ_25-35 peptide-treated mice were modulated by sub-chronic administration of panaxcerol D. Conclusion: Pananxcerol D could improve memory impairments caused by cholinergic blockade or Aβ accumulation through increased phosphorylation level of ERK or its anti-inflammatory effect. Thus, panaxcerol D as one of non-saponin compounds could be used as an active ingredient of P. ginseng for improving cognitive function.

• Preventive Nutrition and Food Science
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• v.14 no.2
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• pp.156-161
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• 2009

Effects of extrusion conditions (barrel temperature and moisture content) and fermentation time on the antioxidant properties of root hair of tissue cultured raw mountain ginseng (MG) were investigated. The barrel temperature/ moisture combinations were: $110^{\circ}C$/25% (MG1), $140^{\circ}C$/25% (MG2), $110^{\circ}C$/35% (MG3) and $140^{\circ}C$/35% (MG4). Red ginseng (RG) was also investigated. The contents of 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and polyphenolic increased after fermentation in RG and even more in MG, while extruded ginseng samples exhibited little change. The increases noted with MG and RG occurred during the first 4 days of fermentation. DPPH radical scavenging activity decreased after extrusion and was significantly higher in MG (20.93%) than RG (1.63%) on the first day of fermentation. DPPH radical scavenging activity in the barrel temperature/moisture combinations were 19.01% (MG1), 14.45% (MG2), 20.37% (MG3) and 15.78% (MG4). The content of polyphenolic compounds in ginseng samples displayed a similar trend. Acidic polysaccharide in RG and MG1${\sim}$MG4 were higher than MG, but decreased during fermentation. Crude saponin in RG and MG1${\sim}$MG4 decreased after 15 days of fermentation, while increasing in MG.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.40 no.1
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• pp.47-54
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• 2016

Background: The roots of Panax ginseng contain noble tetracyclic triterpenoid saponins derived from dammarenediol-II. Dammarene-type ginsenosides are classified into the protopanaxadiol (PPD) and protopanaxatriol (PPT) groups based on their triterpene aglycone structures. Two cytochrome P450 (CYP) genes (CYP716A47 and CYP716A53v2) are critical for the production of PPD and PPT aglycones, respectively. CYP716A53v2 is a protopanaxadiol 6-hydroxylase that catalyzes PPT production from PPD in P. ginseng. Methods: We constructed transgenic P. ginseng lines overexpressing or silencing (via RNA interference) the CYP716A53v2 gene and analyzed changes in their ginsenoside profiles. Result: Overexpression of CYP716A53v2 led to increased accumulation of CYP716A53v2 mRNA in all transgenic roots compared to nontransgenic roots. Conversely, silencing of CYP716A53v2 mRNA in RNAi transgenic roots resulted in reduced CYP716A53v2 transcription. HPLC analysis revealed that transgenic roots overexpressing CYP716A53v2 contained higher levels of PPT-group ginsenosides ($Rg_1$, Re, and Rf) but lower levels of PPD-group ginsenosides (Rb1, Rc, $Rb_2$, and Rd). By contrast, RNAi transgenic roots contained lower levels of PPT-group compounds and higher levels of PPD-group compounds. Conclusion: The production of PPD- and PPT-group ginsenosides can be altered by changing the expression of CYP716A53v2 in transgenic P. ginseng. The biological activities of PPD-group ginsenosides are known to differ from those of the PPT group. Thus, increasing or decreasing the levels of PPT-group ginsenosides in transgenic P. ginseng may yield new medicinal uses for transgenic P. ginseng.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.13 no.1
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• pp.60-65
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• 1989

The Quality characteristics of pH, ginsenosides, fatty acid, phenolic compounds were studied for their changes during growth of Candia parapsilosis. The yeast growth not only scarcely affected the total amount of saponins and ginsenosidvs of recd ginseng tail root extract, but also was not affected by the saponin C. pnrapsilosis did not utilize the ginsenosides as a carbon source. Glucose, fructose and free sugars were utilized in the initial phase of growth, whereas sucrose and maltose were used as the growth continued and completely redured after 43 hours of incubation. Unsaturated fatty acids were significantly reduced with cell growth, showing a relationship between unsaturated fatty acid content and the yeast growth, whereas the amount of saturate[1 tatty acids in red ginseng extract was not affected by the yeast growth. Generally, there were no changes in major organic acids and phenolic compounds (vanillie acid , m-coumaric acid) except the 50% reduction in maltol and ferulic acid in the ginseng extract. The amounts of amlno acids were gradually decreased, but that of arginine was remarkably reduced.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.37 no.1
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• pp.67-72
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• 2005

Antioxidative activity of crude saponin fraction (CSF) prepared from Basidiomycota cultured with fresh ginseng (Panax ginseng C.A. Meyer) as substrate was investigated by analyzing CSFs for ginsenoside and phenolic compounds. On TLC chromatogram, ginsenosides such as $Rg_{2},\;Rg_{3}$, and $Rh_{1}$ which were rare in fresh ginseng, were identified. CSF of Phellinus linteus culture product showed the highest total phenolic content and electron donating ability (EDA), suggesting phenolic compounds contribute to EDA. In vitro lipid peroxidation was inhibited most by CSF of Ganoderma lucidum, indicating that the highest EDA does not imply highest inhibition against lipid peroxidation. Tyrosinase was also inhibited mostly by CSF of G. lucidum. These results suggest culture of Basidiomycota with fresh ginseng has more active substances than fresh ginseng alone.