• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.29 no.1
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• pp.37-43
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• 2005

We performed in vitro and in vivo studies to know whether the inhibitory effects of ginsenosides on $5-HT_{3A}$ receptor channel acctivity are coupled to anti-nausea and anti-vomiting action. In vitro study, we investigated the effect of compound K (CK) and M4, which are ginsenoside metabolites, on human $5-HT_{3A}$ receptor channel activity expressed in Xenopus oocytes using two-electrode voltage clamp technique. Treatment of CK or M4 themselves had no effect in both oocytes injected with $H_2O\;and\;5-HT_{3A}$ receptor cRNA. In oocytes injected with $5- HT_{3A}$ receptor cRNA, M4 treatment inhibited more potently 5-HT-induced inward peak current $(I_{5-HT})$ than CK with dose-dependent and reversible manner. The half-inhibitory concentrations $(IC_{50})$ of CK and M4 were $36.9\;\pm\;10.1\;and\;7.3\;\pm\;2.2\;{\mu}M$, respectively. The inhibition of $I_{5-HT}$ by M4 was non-competitive and voltage-independent. These results indicate that M4 might regulate $5-HT_{3A}$ receptors. In vivo experiments, injection of cisplatin (7.5 mg/kg, i.v.) induced both nausea and vomiting with 1 h latency. These episodes reached to peak after 2 h and persisted for 4 h. Pre-treatment of GTS (500 mg/kg, p.o.) significantly reduced cisplatin-induced nausea and vomiting by $51\;\pm\;8.4\;and\;48.8\;\pm\;6.4\%$ during 4 h compared to GIS­untreated group, respectively. These results show the possibility that in vitro inhibition of $5-HT_{3A}$ receptor channel activity by ginsenosides might be coupled to in vivo anti-emetic activity.

• Journal of Food Hygiene and Safety
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• v.16 no.3
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• pp.221-226
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• 2001

Various sterilization methods were applied to the powder of ginseng for the improving hygienic quality. Ultra-violet (UV) and Infrared ray (IR) treatments could not inhibit highly growth of bacteria in ginseng powder. However, high hydrostatic pressure treatment showed high inhibition rate against bacterial growth in ginseng powder. Changes of viable cell count by the pressure showed positive relationship between growth inhibition rates and the pressures applied. When powder was treated with 2,000 kg/$\textrm{cm}^2$ for 10 min at $25^{\circ}C$, initial viable cell count of the powder, 2.0$\times$10$^4$CFU/g, was decreased to 1.0$\times$10$^4$CFU/g. When it treated with 3,000, 4,000 and 5,000 kg/$\textrm{cm}^2$ of pressures under the same condition, viable cell counts were 8.0$\times$10$^3$, 7.0$\times$10$^3$and 1.8$\times$ 10$^3$CFU/g, respectively. Ginseng saponins of the powders were all detected when analyzed by TLC chromatography after treatment with the Pressures. Therefore, it was considered that saponin of ginseng powder was stable under the condition of 5,000 kg/$\textrm{cm}^2$ of pressure, even though the treatment induced coagulation of the powder.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.24 no.1
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• pp.29-34
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• 2000

The effects of each component (water extracts, alcohol extracts, lipophillic extracts, total saponin, panaxadiol, panaxatriol) of red ginseng on the antioxidative enzyme activities were investigated in the liver in order to screen antioxidative components of red ginseng. 20∼25g ICR mouse which were pretreated with 50 mg/kg body weight of red ginseng component for 15 days. The ability of red ginseng component to protect against oxidative damage to the mouse liver was examined by determining the level of lipid peroxidation (MDA), hydroperoxide (H$_2$O$_2$) and the activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase. The hepatic total-SOD activity was highest in lipophilic extracts group and panaxadiol group next (p<0.01). The content of hepatic hydroperoxide was lowest in the order of panaxatriol group and alcohol extracts group (p < 0.01). The hepatic catalase activity in the liver was highest in order of lipophillic extracts group (p <0.01) and total saponin group (p<0.05). Finally the lipid peroxidation (MDA) level was lowest in lipophillic extracts group, alcohol extracts group and panaxadiol next (p <0.01). In conclusion, the order of effectiveness of antioxidants was to be lipophillic extracts>panaxadiol >total saponins.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.31 no.3
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• pp.147-153
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• 2007

Effect of puffing treatment on saponins, total sugars, acidic polysaccharide, phenolic compounds, microstructure and pepsin digestibility of dried red ginseng tail root were tested. Puffing samples of dried red ginsneng tail root were pre-pared at 20rpm, 15 $kg/cm^2$, $120{\sim}150^{\circ}C$, and for 30 min by a rotary type apparatus of 5 L capacity. Crude saponin content of puffing red ginseng tail root was increased 26.5% compared to non-puffing, especially $Rg_3$ content was increased from 0.49 mg/g to 0.72 mg/g. Total sugar content was not changed, but acidic polysaccharide content was slightly decreased from 7.15% to 6.44% by puffing treatment. Total phenolic compounds was increased from 7.86% to 9.94% by puffing. In terms of individual phenolic compounds, salicylic acid was quantified in puffing tail root, but gentisic acid was quantified in non-puffing. Syringic acid was the most predominant phenolic acid, increased to about 6 times by puffing treatment. On the other hand, gallic acid, p-coumaric acid, caffeic acid and ferulic acid were highly decreased. Microstructure of cross-section in puffing tail root was shown to more uniform shape compared to non-puffing. Pepsin digestibilities of puffing and non puffing red ginseng tail root were 22.4% and 46.2%, respectively (p<0.05). The results indicated that puffing treatment might be useful increasing the bioactive components, preference and digestibility.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.31 no.1
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• pp.1-13
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• 2007

We found that the main bacterial metabolite M1 is an active component of orally administered protopanxadiol-type ginsenosides, and that the anti-metastatic effect by oral administration of ginsenosides may be primarily mediated through the inhibition of tumor invasion, migration and growth of tumor cells by their metabolite M1. Pharmacokinetic study after oral administration of ginsenoside Rb1 revealed that M1 was detected in serum for 24 h by HPLC analysis but Rb1 was not detected. M1, with anti-metastatic property, inhibited the proliferation of murine and human tumor cells in a time- and concentration-dependent manner in vitro, and also induced apoptotic cell death (the ladder fragmentation of the extracted DNA). The induction of apoptosis by M1 involved the up-regulation of the cyclin-dependent kinase(CDK) inhibitor $p27^{Kip1}$ as well as the down-regulation of a proto-oncogene product c-Myc and cyclin D1 in a time-dependent manner. Thus, M1 might cause the cell-cycle arrest (G1 phase arrest) in honor cells through the up/down-regulation of these cell-growth related molecules, and consequently induce apoptosis. The nucleosomal distribution of fluorescence-labeled M1 suggests that the modification of these molecules is induced by transcriptional regulation. Tumor-induced angiogenesis (neovascularization) is one of the most important events concerning tumor growth and metastasis. Neovascularization toward and into tumor is a crucial step for the delivery of nutrition and oxygen to tumors, and also functions as the metastatic pathway to distant organs. M1 inhibited the tube-like formation of hepatic sinusoidal endothelial (HSE) cells induced by the conditioned medium of colon 26-L5 cells in a concentration-dependent manner. However, M1 at the concentrations used in this study did not affect the growth of HSE cells in vitro.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
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• v.50 no.2
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• pp.85-91
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• 2010

The large amount of tissue culture medium (TCM), which contains some of the active secretory components of Korean wild ginseng (KWG; Panax ginseng) such as saponins, is usually discarded after harvest of KWG. The present study was aimed to investigate the efficacy of oral administration of the TCM-KWG on growth performance and diseases resistance in broiler chickens. A day old broiler chickens randomized in 6 groups (n = 60/groups) were administered orally with 0, 2, 4, 8, 16 and 32 mL/L TCMKWG through drinking water for 5 weeks and examined the change of weight gain, feed intake and blood components. Also, five weeks old broiler chickens (n = 15/groups) were challenged orally with Salmonella (S.) gallinarum and investigated the mortality in broiler chickens. An average weight gain and feed intake significantly didn't change in TCM-KWG administration groups as compared to control group. The concentration of calcium (Ca), phosphate (Pi) and potassium (K) in serum were increase by TCM-KWG administration in broiler chickens. We also found that oral administration of TCM-KWG through drinking water significantly reduced the mortality in broiler chickens experimentally infected with virulent S. gallinarum. The results of this study indicated that TCM-KWG administration may elevate the resistance on disease and improved the skeleton formation and body homeostasis of chickens, and TCM-KWG can be used as a cost-effective and environmentally alternative additives to control of the disease and growth.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.29 no.4
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• pp.159-166
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• 2005

Ginsenosides, a group of Panax ginseng saponins, exert the lowering effects of plasma cholesterol levels in animals. We had reported earlier that ginsenoside Rb2 upregulate low-density lipoprotein receptor (LDLR) expression via a mechanism that is dependent of the activation of sterol response element binding protein 2 (SREBP-2) expression. This study was conducted to determine the effects of ginsenoside Rb2 on the expression of the hepatic LDLR expression at cellular levels using HepG2 cells, and to evaluate whether the sterol response element binding protein 1 (SREBP-l) was involved in the regulation of LDLR expression. Incubation of HepG2 cells in serum-free medium supplemented with cholesterol $(10{\mu}g/ml)$ for 8 hours decreased the mRNAs of LDLR mRNA by $12\%$ and SREBP-l mRNA by $35\%$. Ginsenoside Rb2 antagonized the repressive effects of cholesterol and increased both LDLR and SREBP-l mRNA expression to 1.5- and 2-fold, respectively. Furthermore, Western blot and confocal microscopic analyses with SREBP-l polyclonal antibody revealed that ginsenoside Rb2 enhanced the maturation of the SREBP-1 from the inactive precursor form in ER membrane to the active transcription factor form in nucleus. These results suggest that ginsenoside Rb2 upregulates LDLR expression via a mechanism that is dependent of the activation of not only SREBP-2 expression, but also SREBP-1 expression and maturation, and also indicate that the pharmacological value of ginsenoside Rb2 may be distinguished from that of lovastatin which is reported that it upregulate LDLR through SREBP-2 only, not through SREBP-1.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.42 no.3
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• pp.361-369
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• 2018

Ginsenosides, dammarane-type triterpene saponins obtained from ginseng, have been used as a natural medicine for many years in the Orient due to their various pharmacological activities. However, the therapeutic potential of ginsenosides has been largely limited by the low bioavailability of the natural products caused mainly by low aqueous solubility, poor biomembrane permeability, instability in the gastrointestinal tract, and extensive metabolism in the body. To enhance the bioavailability of ginsenosides, diverse micro-/nano-sized delivery systems such as emulsions, polymeric particles, and vesicular systems have been investigated. The delivery systems improved the bioavailability of ginsenosides by enhancing solubility, permeability, and stability of the natural products. This mini-review aims to provide comprehensive information on the micro-/nano-sized delivery systems for increasing the bioavailability of ginsenosides, which may be helpful for designing better delivery systems to maximize the versatile therapeutic potential of ginsenosides.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.43 no.3
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• pp.488-495
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• 2019

Background: Timosaponin AIII (TA3) is a steroidal saponin extracted from Anemarrhena asphodeloides. Here, we investigated the anticancer effects of TA3 in MG63 human osteosarcoma cells. TA3 attenuates migration and invasion of MG63 cells via regulations of two matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs), MMP-2 and MMP-9, which are involved with cancer metastasis in various cancer cells. TA3 reduced enzymatic activities and transcriptional expressions of MMP-2 and MMP-9 in MG63 cells. TA3 also inhibited Src, focal adhesion kinase, extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK1/2), c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK), p38, ${\beta}-catenin$, and cAMP response element binding signaling, which regulate migration and invasion of cells. TA3 induced apoptosis of MG63 cells via regulations of caspase-3, caspase-7, and poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP). Then, we tested several ginsenosides to be used in combination with TA3 for the synergistic anticancer effects. We found that ginsenosides Rb1 and Rc have synergistic effects on TA3-induced apoptosis in MG63 cells. Methods: We investigated the anticancer effects of TA3 and synergistic effects of various ginseng saponins on TA3-induced apoptosis in MG63 cells. To test antimetastatic effects, we performed wound healing migration assay, Boyden chamber invasion assays, gelatin zymography assay, and Western blot analysis. Annexin V/PI staining apoptosis assay was performed to determine the apoptotic effect of TA3 and ginsenosides. Results: TA3 attenuated migration and invasion of MG63 cells and induced apoptosis of MG63 cells. Ginsenosides Rb1 and Rc showed the synergistic effects on TA3-induced apoptosis in MG63 cells. Conclusions: The results strongly suggest that the combination of TA3 and the two ginsenosides Rb1 and Rc may be a strong candidate for the effective antiosteosarcoma agent.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.27 no.5
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• pp.993-999
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• 1998

Methanol extract of roots of Amblytropis pauciflora Kitagawa showed the antimicrobial activity to three test strains. Antimicrobial spectra of various extracts of Amblytropis pauciflora Kitagawa were tested against 24 strains of bacteria and fungi. The crude methanol extract inhibited the growth of 12 strains of bacteria and Asp. fumigatus with the exception of yeasts. The properties of the antimicrobial substance were very stable under heat(at 12$0^{\circ}C$), acid(pH 3.0) and alkali(pH 11.0) treatment. Only the root harvested in spring showed the antimicrobial activity. Among the components extracted by butanol, ginseng saponin Rg1 and various saponin-like materials were detected by TLC analysis using a plate of silica gel 60F254. The antimicrobial compound was purified by methanol extraction, activated charcoal column chromatography, Sep-pak(C18) pretreatment and reverse phase HPLC. The purified compound was detected at 13.520 min as a single peak(about 98% purity) through the HPLC analysis.