• Korean Journal of Biological Psychiatry
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• v.4 no.1
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• pp.102-107
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• 1997

Ginseng root, as a folk medicine, has been used in far eastern countries for thousands of years. Ginseng extract has been shown to have a variety of effects on the activity of the central nervous system, promoting stimulation as well as inhibition of the cortical activity. A survey of the relevant literatures has indicated that the putative anxiolytic activity of red ginseng has not been scientifically investigated. Therefore, the present study was designed to assess anxiolytic effect of gingseng total saponins(GTS). The putative anxiolytic effects of several fractions of GTS were investigated in mice using an elevated plus maze paradigm. Single dose administration of TS Fr.-I showed anxiolytic action in mice. Anxiolytic effect induced by TS Fr.-I was similar to that induced by diazepam. TS Fr.-II, TS Fr.-III and TS Fr.-IV did not show the anxiolytic action compared with that of TS Fr.-I. It was suggested that regulation of GABAergic neurotransmission may be important in the action of GTS. The Interaction of GTS fractions with benzodiazepine receptor was performed using rat cortical membranes. GTS inhibited the binding of [3H] Ro 15-1788 on the benzodiazepine receptor. Among from TS fractions, the binding activity of GTS in the TS Fr.-IV was highest, which did not show the anxiolytic activity. From these results, we conclude that GTS has anxiolytic action, and this is not related to benzodiazepine receptor binding activity.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.26 no.4
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• pp.178-186
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• 2002

The present study was attempted to investigate the effects of total ginseng saponin (G75), panaxadiol-type (PDS) and panaxatriol-type saponin (PTS) on contractile responses of vasoconstrictors in aortic smooth muscle stripes of normotensive (NR) and spontaneous hypertensive rats (SHR). Phenylephrine (an adrenergic $\alpha$$\_$1/-receptor agonist) and high potassium (a membrane depolarizing agent) caused greatly contractile responses in both NR and AHR aorta, respectively. Phenylephrine- and high potassium-induced contractile responses were greater in NA than those in SHR aortic smooth muscle stripes. In NR, the contractile responses of high potassium (5.6$\times$10$\^$-2/ M) were not affected in the presence of GTS (300 $\mu$g/ml), PDS (300 $\mu$g/ml), and PTS (300 $\mu$g/ml), respectively whereas phenylephrine (10$\^$-6/ M)-induced contractile responses were markedly inhibited. In SHR, the contractile responses of high potassium (5.6$\times$10$\^$-2/ M) were not affected in the presence of GTS (300 $\mu$g/ml), PDS (300 $\mu$g/ml), and moderate doses of PTS (150-300 $\mu$g/ml), respectively but greatly blocked by high concentration of PTS (600 $\mu$g/ml). Phenylephrine (10$\^$-6/ M)-induced contractile responses were inhibited in a dose dependent fashion (150-600 $\mu$g/ml) by the pretreatment with PTS while not altered in the presence of GTS (300 $\mu$g/ml) and PDS (300 $\mu$g/ml), respectively. Taken together, these experimental results suggest that ginseng saponins cause vascular relaxation through blockade of adrenergic $\alpha$$\_$1/-receptors and some unknown mechanisms, and that there is some difference in sensitivity of vascular smooth muscle between NR and SHR in responses to ginseng saponins. It seems that panaxatriol type of some ginseng saponins has the greatest potency in vascular relaxation.

• Proceedings of the Ginseng society Conference
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• 1998.06a
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• pp.168-173
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• 1998

A single administration of cocaine (CO), morphine (MOR) and methamphetamine (MA) showed hyperactivity in mice. Ginseng total saponin (GTS), ginsenosides Rbl and Rgl inhibited the hyperactivity induced by the drugs. The repeated administration of CO, MOR and MA showed the development of psychological dependence showing a.: the development of conditioned place preference (CPP) in mice and the development of dopamine (DA) receptor supersensitivity showing as sensitization of the drugs. GTS and Rgl inhibited the development of not only psychological dependence but also of DA receptor supersensitivity induced by CO and MA Rbl prevented also the development of psychological dependence and DA receptor supersensitivity induced by CO and MA but not by MOR. These results suggest that the development psychological dependence induced by the drugs is closely related with the development of DA receptor supersensitivity since both phenomena were inhibited by them. Apomorphine induced climbing behavior was also inhibited by G75 but not by both of Rbl and Rgl, indicating that GTS modulate dopaminergic action at both of pre and postsynaptic sites, but both of Rbl and Rgl , only at the presynaptic site. These results suggest that active components acting at the postsynaptic site exist in GTS. In this study, it was found that GTS, ginsenosides Rbl and Rgl inhibited tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) and these components exerted inhibitory effects on both Cal' currents and $\Delta$ Cm in rat adrenal chromaffin cells. These results suggest that G75 and ginsenosides regulate catecholamine synthesis and secretion. Meanwhile, it has been demonstrated that Rbl, at high doses has more powerful inhibition of cartecholamine secretion at the presynaptic site than Rbl. Therefore, it was presumed that inhibition of morphine induced psychological dependence by Rgl, but not by Rbl results from differences in the extent of this inhibitory action on dopaminergic synthesis and secretion.

• Proceedings of the Ginseng society Conference
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• 1998.06a
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• pp.83-89
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• 1998

Ginseng total saponins (GTS) injected intracerebroventricularly (i.c.v.) at doses from 0.1-1 vs inhibited the i.c.v. injection stress-induced plasma corticosterone levels in mice. The inhibitory action of GTS was blocked by co-administered NG-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME; 1.5 us, i.c.v.), an. inhibitor of nitric oxide synthase (NOS). Of the ginsenosides Rbl, Rba, Rc, Rd, Re, Rf, Rgl,20(S)-Rg3, and 20(R)-Rg3 injected i.c.v. at doses from 0.01 to 0.3ug(or 1 uE),20(5)-Rg3 and Rc significantly inhibited the o.c.v. injection stress-induced Plasma corticosterone levels. The inhibitory actions of 20(S)-Rg3 and Rc were blocked by co-administered L-NAME (1.5 n, i.c.v.). These results suggest that G75, 20(S)-Rg3 and Rc may inhibit the i.c.v. injection stress-induced hypothalamo-pituitary-adrenal response by inducing NO production in the brain.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.24 no.4
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• pp.168-175
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• 2000

Relatively little is known about the signaling mechanism of ginseng saponins (ginsenosides), active ingredients of ginseng, in non-neuronal cells. Here, we describe that ginsenosides utilize a common pathway of receptor-mediated signaling pathway in Xenopus oocytes: increase in intracellular $Ca^{2+}$ concentration via phospholipase C (PLC) and $Ca^{2+}$ mobilization. Ginsenosides induced a marked and robust artivation of $Ca^{2+}$-activated Cl- channels in Xenopus oocytes. The effect of ginsenosides was completely reversible, in a dose-dependent manner with EC$_{50}$ of 4.4 $\mu\textrm{g}$/mi, and specifically blocked by niflumic acid, an inhibitor of $Ca^{2+}$-activated Cl- channel. Intracellular injection of BAPIA abolished the effect of ginsenosides. Intracellular injection of GTP${\gamma}$S also abolished the effect of ginsenosides. The effect of gin senosides on $Ca^{2+}$-activated Cl- currents was greatly reduced by the intracellular injection of heparin, an IP$_3$ receptorantagonist or the pretreatment of PLC inhibitor. These results indicate that ginsenosides activate endogenous $Ca^{2+}$-activated Cl- channels via the activation of PLC and the release of $Ca^{2+}$ from the IP$_3$-sensitive intracellular store following the initial interaction with membrane component(s) from extracellular side. This signaling pathway of ginsenosides may be one of the action mechanisms for the pharmacological effects of ginseng.ts of ginseng.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.22 no.2
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• pp.126-132
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• 1998

In the present study, we examined effects of ginseng saponins (ginsenosides) on pp60c-src protein tyrosine kinase (PTK) activity, intracellular calcium concentration ([$Ca^{2+}$]i), and cell proliferation in NIH3T3 cells. Eight different ginsenosides [ginsenoside-Rb1 (G-$Rb_1$), -$Rb_2$, -Rc, -Rd, -Re, -Rf, -$Rg_1$, -$Rg_2$) and ginseng total saponin (GTS) were used for these experiments. All ginsenosides and GTS tested stimulated the activation of $pp60^{c-src}$ kinase, and especially G-$Rb_1$,-Rd,-$Rg_1$, and -$Rg_1$ showed a higher stimulatory effect than others at 16.7 $\mu\textrm{g}$/ml of ginsenosides with a 18 hr-incubation, increasing the activity by 4.5, 3.5, 3.5, and 3.0-fold, respectively, over that of untreated control. In addition, both G-Rd and -$Rg_2$)Rg2 increased ($Ca^{2+}$), to 202 and 334 nM, respectively, about 2-3-fold above the basal level within 7min at 250 $\mu\textrm{g}$/yml of ginsenosides. The increases of ($Ca^{2+}$), were eliminated by Pretreatment of EGTA, an extracellular calcium chelator, suggtasting that they result from an influx of calcium ion from extracellular medium rather than an efflux from intracellular calcium store, endoplasmic reticulum (ER). All ginsenosides studied enhanced cell proliferation to 1.2-1.4-fold over that of untreated control at 5~250 $\mu\textrm{g}$/ml of concentrations. Interestingly the promotion of cell proliferation by ginsenosides corresponded with the activation of c-src kinase, which is an early step in the mitogenic signaling cascade. Taken together, we suggest that some ginsenosides may lead to cellProliferation via the activation of cellular signal transduction Pathway involving $pp60^{c-src}$ kinase.

• Applied Microscopy
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• v.39 no.1
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• pp.1-7
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• 2009

Experimental induction of polycystic ovary (PCO) resembling some aspects of human PCO syndrome was produced using the long-acting compound estradiol valerate (EV). Our previous study on the role of Korean red ginseng total saponins (GTS) in a steroid-induced PCO rat model demonstrated that electro-acupuncture modulates nerve growth factor (NGF) concentration in the ovaries. In fact, the involvement of a neurogenic component in the pathology of PCO-related ovarian dysfunction is preceded by an increase in sympathetic outflow to the ovaries. In the present study, we tested the hypothesis that therapeutic GTS administration modulates sympathetic nerve activity in rats with PCO. This was done by analyzing NGF protein and NGF mRNA expression involved in the pathophysiological process underlying steroid-induced PCO. EV injection resulted in significantly higher ovarian NGF mRNA expression in PCO rats compared to control rats, and PCO ovaries were counteracted by GTS administration with significantly lower expression of NGF mRNA compared to EV treated ovaries. However, NGF protein was unaffected in both EV and GTS treated ovaries compared to control rats. These results indicate that EV modulates the neurotrophic state of the ovaries, which may be a component of the pathological process by which EV induces cyst formation and anovulation in rodents.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.46 no.6
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• pp.750-758
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• 2022

Background: Mild cognitive impairment (MCI) is a transitional condition between normality and dementia. Ginseng is known to have effects on attenuating cognitive deficits in neurogenerative diseases. Ginsenosides are the main bioactive component of ginseng, and their protein targets have not been fully understood. Furthermore, no thorough analysis is reported in ginsenoside-related protein targets in MCI. Methods: The candidate protein targets of ginsenosides in brain tissues were identified by drug affinity responsive target stability (DARTS) coupled with label-free liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS) analysis. Network pharmacology approach was used to collect the therapeutic targets for MCI. Based on the above-mentioned overlapping targets, we built up a proteineprotein interaction (PPI) network in STRING database and conducted gene ontology (GO) enrichment analysis. Finally, we assessed the effects of ginseng total saponins (GTS) and different ginsenosides on mitochondrial function by measuring the activity of the mitochondrial respiratory chain complex and performing molecular docking. Results: We screened 2526 MCI-related protein targets by databases and 349 ginsenoside-related protein targets by DARTS. On the basis of these 81 overlapping genes, enrichment analysis showed the mitochondria played an important role in GTS-mediated MCI pharmacological process. Mitochondrial function analysis showed GTS, protopanaxatriol (PPT), and Rd increased the activities of complex I in a dose-dependent manner. Molecular docking also predicted the docking pockets between PPT or Rd and mitochondrial respiratory chain complex I. Conclusion: This study indicated that ginsenosides might alleviate MCI by targeting respiratory chain complex I and regulating mitochondrial function, supporting ginseng's therapeutic application in cognitive deficits.

• Molecules and Cells
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.52-62
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• 2006

In previous reports we demonstrated that ginsenosides, active ingredients of Panax ginseng, affect some subsets of voltage-dependent $Ca^{2+}$ channels in neuronal cells expressed in Xenopus laevis oocytes. However, the major component(s) of ginseng that affect cloned $Ca^{2+}$ channel subtypes such as ${\alpha}_{1C}$(L)-, ${\alpha}_{1B}$(N)-, ${\alpha}_{1A}$(P/Q)-, ${\alpha}_{1E}$(R)- and ${\alpha}_{1G}$(T) have not been identified. Here, we used the two-microelectrode voltage clamp technique to characterize the effects of ginsenosides and ginsenoside metabolites on $Ba^{2+}$ currents ($I_{Ba}$) in Xenopus oocytes expressing five different $Ca^{2+}$ channel subtypes. Exposure to ginseng total saponins (GTS) induced voltage-dependent, dose-dependent and reversible inhibition of the five channel subtypes, with particularly strong inhibition of the ${\alpha}_{1G}$-type. Of the various ginsenosides, $Rb_1$, Rc, Re, Rf, $Rg_1$, $Rg_3$, and $Rh_2$, ginsenoside $Rg_3$ also inhibited all five channel subtypes and ginsenoside $Rh_2$ had most effect on the ${\alpha}_{1C}$- and ${\alpha}_{1E}$-type $Ca^{2+}$ channels. Compound K (CK), a protopanaxadiol ginsenoside metabolite, strongly inhibited only the ${\alpha}_{1G}$-type of $Ca^{2+}$ channel, whereas M4, a protopanaxatriol ginsenoside metabolite, had almost no effect on any of the channels. $Rg_3$, $Rh_2$, and CK shifted the steady-state activation curves but not the inactivation curves in the depolarizing direction in the ${\alpha}_{1B}$- and ${\alpha}_{1A}$-types. These results reveal that $Rg_3$, $Rh_2$ and CK are the major inhibitors of $Ca^{2+}$ channels in Panax ginseng, and that they show some $Ca^{2+}$ channel selectivity.