• Herbal Formula Science
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• v.30 no.3
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• pp.175-182
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• 2022

Objective : This study aims to investigate the active ingredients and potential mechanisms of the beneficial herb on human cancers such as the liver by employing network pharmacology. Methods : Ingredients and their target information was obtained from various databases such as TM-MC, TTD, and Drugbank. Related protein for liver cancer was retrieved from the Comparative Toxicogenomics Database and literature. A hypergeometric test and gene set enrichment analysis were conducted to evaluate associations between protein targets of red ginseng (Panax ginseng C. A. Meyer) and liver cancer-related proteins and identify related signaling pathways, respectively. Network proximity was employed to identify active ingredients of red ginseng on liver cancer. Results : A compound-target network of red ginseng was constructed, which consisted of 363 edges between 53 ingredients and 121 protein targets. MAPK signaling pathway, PI3K-Akt signaling pathway, p53 signaling pathway, TGF-beta signaling pathway, and cell cycle pathway was significantly associated with protein targets of red ginseng. Network proximity results indicated that Ginsenoside Rg1, Acetic Acid, Ginsenoside Rh2, 20(R)-Ginsenoside Rg3, Notoginsenoside R1, Ginsenoside Rk1, 2-Methylfuran, Hexanal, Ginsenoside Rd, Ginsenoside Rh1 could be active ingredients of red ginseng against liver cancer. Conclusion : This study suggests that network-based approaches could be useful to explore potential mechanisms and active ingredients of red ginseng for liver cancer.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.47 no.2
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• pp.210-217
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• 2023

Background: Effects of the major ginsenoside Rg1 on mammalian longevity and physical vitality are rarely reported. Purpose: To examine longevity, tumor, and spontaneous locomotor activity in rats consuming Rg1. Methods: A total of 138 Wistar rats were randomized into 2 groups: control (N = 69) and Rg1 (N = 69). Rg1 (0.1 mg/kg per day) were orally supplemented from 6 months of age until natural death. Spontaneous mobility was measured by video-tracking together with body composition (dual energy x-ray absorptiometry) and inflammation markers at 5, 14, 21, and 28 months of age. Results: No significant differences in longevity (control: 706 days; Rg1: 651 days, p = 0.77) and tumor incidence (control: 19%; Rg1: 12%, p = 0.24) were observed between the two groups. Movement distance in the control group declined significantly by ~60% at 21 months of age, together with decreased TNF-α (p = 0.01) and increased IL-10 (p = 0.02). However, the movement distance in the Rg1 group was maintained ~50% above the control groups (p = 0.01) at 21 months of age with greater magnitudes of TNF-α decreases and IL-10 increases. Glucose, insulin, and body composition (bone, muscle and fat percentages) were similar for both groups during the entire observation period. Conclusion: The results of the study suggest a delay age-dependent decline in physical vitality during late life by lifelong Rg1 consumption. This improvement is associated with inflammatory modulation. Significant effects of Rg1 on longevity and tumorigenesis were not observed.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.44 no.2
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• pp.247-257
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• 2020

Background: Multidrug resistance (MDR) to chemotherapy drugs remains a major challenge in clinical cancer treatment. Here we investigated whether and how ginsenoside Rg5 overcomes the MDR mediated by ABCB1 transporter in vitro and in vivo. Methods: Cytotoxicity and colon formation as well as the intracellular accumulation of ABCB1 substrates were carried out in MDR cancer cells A2780/T and A549/T for evaluating the reversal effects of Rg5. The expressions of ABCB1 and Nrf2/AKT pathway were determined by Western blotting. An A549/T cell xenograft model was established to investigate the MDR reversal activity of Rg5 in vivo. Results: Rg5 significantly reversed ABCB1-mediated MDR by increasing the intracellular accumulation of ABCB1 substrates without altering protein expression of ABCB1. Moreover, Rg5 activated ABCB1 ATPase and reduced verapamil-stimulated ATPase activity, suggesting a high affinity of Rg5 to ABCB1 binding site which was further demonstrated by molecular docking analysis. In addition, co-treatment of Rg5 and docetaxel (TXT) suppressed the expression of Nrf2 and phosphorylation of AKT, indicating that sensitizing effect of Rg5 associated with AKT/Nrf2 pathway. In nude mice bearing A549/T tumor, Rg5 and TXT treatment significantly suppressed the growth of drug-resistant tumors without increase in toxicity when compared to TXT given alone at same dose. Conclusion: Therefore, combination therapy of Rg5 and chemotherapy drugs is a strategy for the adjuvant chemotherapy, which encourages further pharmacokinetic and clinical studies.

• Korean Journal of Medicinal Crop Science
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• v.20 no.4
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• pp.270-276
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• 2012

This study was performed to enhance contents of low molecular weight ginsenoside Rh2 and Rg3 using an ultra high pressure and steaming process in wild cultured-Root in wild ginseng. For selective increase in contents of Rg3 and Rh2 in cultured wild ginseng roots, an ultra high extraction was applied at 500MPa for 20 min which was followed by steaming process at $90^{\circ}C$ for 12 hr. It was revealed that contents of ginsenosides, Rb1, Rb2, Rc and Rd, were decreased with the complex process described above, whereas contents of ginsenoside Rh2 and Rg3 were increased up to 4.918 mg/g and 6.115 mg/g, respectively. In addition, concentration of benzo[${\alpha}$]pyrene in extracts of the cultured wild ginseng roots treated by the complex process was 0.64 ppm but it was 0.78 ppm when it was treated with the steaming process. From the results, it was strongly suggested that low molecular weight ginsenosides, Rh2 and Rg3, are converted from Rb1, Rb2, Rc, and Rd which are easily broken down by an ultra high pressure and steaming process. This results indicate that an ultra high pressure and steaming process can selectively increase in contents of Rg3 and Rh2 in cultured wild ginseng roots and this process might enhance the utilization and values of cultured wild ginseng roots.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.33 no.3
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• pp.282-287
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• 2001

This study was carried out to investigate the difference of ginsenoside compositions in crude ginseng saponins prepared by five different methods including three new methods. Two known methods are hot methanol(MeOH) extraction/n-butanol(n-BuOH) fractionation and hot MeOH extraction/Diaion HP-20 adsorption/MeOH elution. Three new methods are hot MeOH extraction/cation AG 50W $absorption/H_2O$ elution/n-BuOH extraction, cool MeOH extraction/Diaion HP-20 adsorption/MeOH elution and direct extraction with ethyl acetate(EtOAc)/n-BuOH. Analysis of ginsenoside composition in the crude saponins by conventional HPLC/RI(Refractive Index) did not show great difference between methods except EtOAc/n-BuOH method. However, HPLC/ELSD (evaporative light scattering detector) employing gradient mobile phase afforded fine resolution of ginsenoside Rf, $Rg_1$ and $Rh_1$, and great difference of ginsenoside compositions between methods. LC/MS revealed that large amount of prosapogenins were produced during the pass through the cation exchange (AG 50W) column being strongly acidic. Six major ginsenosides such as $Rb_1,w;Rb_2,$ Rc, Rd, Re and $Rg_1$, 5 prosapogenins and one chikusetsusaponin were identified by LC/MS. A newly established HPLC method employing ODS column and gradient mobile phase of $KH_2PO_4/CH_3CN$ revealed that malonyl ginsenosides were detected only in the crude saponin obtained from cool MeOH extraction.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.35 no.1
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• pp.31-38
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• 2011

In order to distinguish the cultivation area of Panax ginseng, principal component analysis (PCA) using quantitative and qualitative data acquired from HPLC was carried out. A new HPLC method coupled with evaporative light scattering detection (HPLC-ELSD) was developed for the simultaneous quantification of ten major ginsenosides, namely $Rh_1$, $Rg_2$, $Rg_3$, $Rg_1$, Rf, Re, Rd, $Rb_2$, Rc, and $Rb_1$ in the root of P. ginseng C. A. Meyer. Simultaneous separations of these ten ginsenosides were achieved on a carbohydrate analytical column. The mobile phase consisted of acetonitrile-water-isopropanol, and acetonitrile-water-isopropanol using a gradient elution. Distinct differences in qualitative and quantitative characteristics for ginsenosides were found between the ginseng roots produced in two different Korean cultivation areas, Ganghwa and Punggi. The ginsenoside profiles obtained via HPLC analysis were subjected to PCA. PCA score plots using two principal components (PCs) showed good separation for the ginseng roots cultivated in Ganghwa and Punggi. PC1 influenced the separation, capturing 43.6% of the variance, while PC2 affected differentiation, explaining 18.0% of the variance. The highest contribution components were ginsenoside $Rg_3$ for PC1 and ginsenoside Rf for PC2. Particularly, the PCA score plot for the small ginseng roots of six-year old, each of which was light than 147 g fresh weight, showed more distinct discrimination. PC1 influenced the separation between different sample sets, capturing 51.8% of the variance, while PC2 affected differentiation, also explaining 28.0% of the variance. The highest contribution component was ginsenoside Rf for PC1 and ginsenoside $Rg_2$ for PC2. In conclusion, the HPLC-ELSD method using a carbohydrate column allowed for the simultaneous quantification of ten major ginsenosides, and PCA analysis of the ginsenoside peaks shown on the HPLC chromatogram would be a very acceptable strategy for discrimination of the cultivation area of ginseng roots.

• Proceedings of the Plant Resources Society of Korea Conference
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• 1999.10a
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• pp.46-57
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• 1999

Ginseng(Panax ginseng C.A. Meyer) is important medicinal plant but requires 4-year cultivation for root harvest because of slow growth. In contrast, ginseng callus and hairy roots grow vigorously and may Produce the same or more biologically active compounds for human health than natural ginseng roots. Therefore, ginseng callus and hairy roots can be used for commercial purposes. Polyacetylene, one of anti-cancer compounds in ginseng, was not detected in the callus cultured on the medium containing 2, 4-B, but cells derived from the callus growth was excellent, The ginseng calli cultured on the medium containing 2mg11 CPA and 0.05mg/1 BA was grown vigorously and produced panaxydol, one of ginseng polyacetylene. The biosynthesis of polyacetylene in callus was not affected by addition of NAA and sucrose in media. The SH medium was better than the MS medium for ginseng callus growth and biosynthesis of panaxydol. Another ginseng anti-cancer compounds, ginsenoside-Rg$_3$, Rh$_1$and Rh$_2$ were detected in ginseng hairy roots by heat treatment. Those of Panax ginseng were obtained after root disks of three-year old roots were infected with Agrobacterium rhizogenes Rl000 $A_4$T in dark condition after one month of culture. The optimum growth of hairy roots was achieved in the culture of 1/2 MS liquid medium in dark(22$^{\circ}C$) under 60 rpm gyratory shaking. Hairy roots grew well in 5 ι Erlenmeyer flasks, 1ι roller drums, 10ι jar-fermenters, and especially in 20ι air-lift .culture vessels. All heat treatments had remarkably different ginsenoside contents. Eleven ginsenosides were determined in heat treatment, eight in freeze dried hairy roots. Contents of ginsenoside-Rbl , Rb2, Rc, Rd. Re, Rf, and Rg$_1$tested in all heat treatments were less than those of freeze dried hairy roots. Contents of glnsenoside-Rg$_2$ in heat treatment for 1 hour at 105$^{\circ}C$ was 4.92mg/g dry wt, 3.9 times higher than 1.27 mg/g dry wt of freeze dried hairy roots. The optimum condition of heat treatment for the production of ginsenoside-Rg$_3$and Rhl was 2 hours at 105$^{\circ}C$, and ginsenoside content was 2.58mg/g dry wt and 3.62mg/g dry wt, respectively. The production of ginsenoside-Rh2 was the highest in heat treatment for 2 hours at 105$^{\circ}C$ among treatments examined, and ginsenoside-Rh$_2$content was 1.08mg/g dry wt.

• Natural Product Sciences
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• v.27 no.2
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• pp.86-98
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• 2021

This study was designed to characterize the effect of ginsenoside-Rg2 (Rg2), one of panaxatriol saponins isolated from Korean ginseng root, on the release of catecholamines (CA) in the perfused model of the rat adrenal medulla, and also to establish its mechanism of action. Rg2 (3~30 µM), administered into an adrenal vein for 90 min, depressed acetylcholine (ACh)-induced CA secretion in a dose- and time-dependent manner. Rg2 also time-dependently inhibited the CA secretion induced by 3-(m-chloro-phenyl-carbamoyl-oxy)-2-butynyltrimethyl ammonium chloride (McN-A-343), 1.1-dimethyl-4-phenyl piperazinium iodide (DMPP), and angiotensin II (Ang II). Also, during perfusion of Rg2, the CA secretion induced by high K⁺, veratridine, cyclopiazonic acid, methyl-1,4-dihydro-2,6-dimethyl-3-nitro-4-(2-trifluoro-methyl-phenyl)-pyridine-5-carboxylate (Bay-K-8644) depressed, respectively. In the simultaneous presence of Rg2 and N^ω-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester hydrochloride ʟ-NAME), the CA secretion induced by ACh, Ang II, Bay-K-8644 and veratridine was restored nearly to the extent of their corresponding control level, respectively, compared to those of inhibitory effects of Rg2-treatment alone. Virtually, NO release in adrenal medulla following perfusion of Rg2 was significantly enhanced in comparison to the corresponding spontaneous release. Also, in the coexistence of Rg2 and fimasartan, ACh-induced CA secretion was markedly diminished compared to the inhibitory effect of fimasartan-treated alone. Collectively, these results demonstrated that Rg2 suppressed the CA secretion induced by activation of cholinergic as well as angiotensinergic receptors from the perfused model of the rat adrenal gland. This Rg2-induced inhibitory effect seems to be exerted by reducing both influx of Na⁺ and Ca²⁺ through their ionic channels into the adrenomedullary cells as well as by suppressing Ca²⁺ release from the cytoplasmic calcium store, at least through the elevated NO release by activation of NO synthase, which is associated to the blockade of neuronal cholinergic and AT₁-receptors. Based on these results, the ingestion of Rg2 may be helpful to alleviate or prevent the cardiovascular diseases, via reduction of CA release in adrenal medulla and consequent decreased CA level in circulation.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.42 no.1
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• pp.75-80
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• 2018

Background: The aim of the present study was to evaluate the potential protective effects of six ginsenosides (Rb1, Rb2, Rc, Rd, Rg1, and Rg3) isolated from Panax ginseng against tacrolimus (FK506)-induced apoptosis in renal proximal tubular LLC-PK1 cells. Methods: LLC-PK1 cells were treated with FK506 and ginsenosides, and cell viability was measured. Protein expressions of mitogen-activated protein kinases, caspase-3, and kidney injury molecule-1 (KIM-1) were evaluated by Western blotting analyses. The number of apoptotic cells was measured using an image-based cytometric assay. Results: Reduction in cell viability by $60{\mu}M$ FK506 was ameliorated significantly by cotreatment with ginsenosides Rg1 and Rb1. The phosphorylation of p38, extracellular signal-regulated kinases, and KIM-1, and cleavage of caspase-3, increased markedly in LLC-PK1 cells treated with FK506 and significantly decreased after cotreatment with ginsenoside Rb1. The number of apoptotic cells decreased by 6.0% after cotreatment with ginsenoside Rb1 ($10{\mu}M$ and $50{\mu}M$). Conclusion: The antiapoptotic effects of ginsenoside Rb1 on FK506-induced apoptosis were mediated by the inhibition of mitogen-activated protein kinases and caspase activation.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.40 no.4
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• pp.366-374
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• 2016

Background: In this study, we screened and identified an endophyte JG09 having strong biocatalytic activity for ginsenosides from Platycodon grandiflorum, converted ginseng total saponins and ginsenoside monomers, determined the source of minor ginsenosides and the transformation pathways, and calculated the maximum production of minor ginsenosides for the conversion of ginsenoside Rb1 to assess the transformation activity of endophyte JG09. Methods: The transformation of ginseng total saponins and ginsenoside monomers Rb1, Rb2, Rc, Rd, Rg1 into minor ginsenosides F2, C-K and Rh1 using endophyte JG09 isolated by an organizational separation method and Esculin-R2A agar assay, as well as the identification of transformed products via TLC and HPLC, were evaluated. Endophyte JG09 was identified through DNA sequencing and phylogenetic analysis. Results: A total of 32 ${\beta}$-glucosidase-producing endophytes were screened out among the isolated 69 endophytes from P. grandiflorum. An endophyte bacteria JG09 identified as Luteibacter sp. effectively converted protopanaxadiol-type ginsenosides Rb1, Rb2, Rc, Rd into minor ginsenosides F2 and C-K, and converted protopanaxatriol-type ginsenoside Rg1 into minor ginsenoside Rh1. The transformation pathways of major ginsenosides by endophyte JG09 were as follows: $Rb1{\rightarrow}Rd{\rightarrow}F2{\rightarrow}C-K$; $Rb2{\rightarrow}C-O{\rightarrow}C-Y{\rightarrow}C-K$; $Rc{\rightarrow}C-Mc1{\rightarrow}C-Mc{\rightarrow}C-K$; $Rg1{\rightarrow}Rh1$. The maximum production rate of ginsenosides F2 and C-K reached 94.53% and 66.34%, respectively. Conclusion: This is the first report about conversion of major ginsenosides into minor ginsenosides by fermentation with P. grandiflorum endophytes. The results of the study indicate endophyte JG09 would be a potential microbial source for obtaining minor ginsenosides.