• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.35 no.2
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• pp.155-161
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• 2011

Leaf characteristics of mature 2, 3 and 4-year-old North American ginseng (Panax quinquefolius L.) leaves on fruiting and non-fruiting(NF) plants were studied. Leaflets of the 2-year-old plants had the lowest fresh and dry weight, area, volume and internal gas volume. Inflorescence removal in 3-year-old plants did not affect leaf characteristics or ginsenoside concentration but in 4-year-old plants it increased leaf fresh (38.6%) and dry (43.9%) weight, leaf area (29.1%), specific leaf mass (11.4%), leaf volume (43.1%), and leaf thickness (12.1%), and decreased leaf water content (6.2%). Cultivated ginseng, although an understorey plant, had the specific leaf mass, 35.6 g $m^{-2}$ (range, 36 to 39 g $m^{-2}$) and a chlorophyll a/b ratio of 2.40 to 2.61, both suggesting the ability to perform like a sunny habitat plant. Also, specific leaf mass of 35.6 g $m^{-2}$ is similar to that reported for perennial plants, 36.8 g $m^{-2}$, rather than that for annuals, 30.9 g $m^{-2}$.

• Journal of the Korean Applied Science and Technology
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• v.35 no.4
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• pp.995-1002
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• 2018

Hairy root culture of ginseng is industrially prospected because the cultivation period of ginseng is relatively long. In this study, the effect of medium concentration and sucrose concentration on hairy root culture of ginseng was evaluated. The optimization of ginseng hairy roots transformed by Agrobacterium rhizogene were performed liquid medium. The MS(Murashinge & Skoog basal medium) concentration was selected with 1/2 strength MS and the optimal sucrose concentration was determined at 2-3%(w/v). At the optimum culture condition, The yield (the ratio of weight of grown hairy root cultures to weight of fresh ginseng hairy roots) and production rate of ginseng root were 19.42 times and 5.73 g/l-day. The major ginsenosides were Rb group, Re and Rg1. The produced total ginsenoside content in the solid medium was 9.87 (mg/g) and increased 1.34 times in the liquid medium (13.23 mg/g). In solid culture, the contents of ginsenosides Rb, Re and Rg1 were 2.14, 3.65 and 1.87 mg/g, respectively. In liquid culture, the contents of ginsenosides Rb, Re and Rg1 were 3.54, 4.12 and 2.63 mg/g, respectively.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.42 no.2
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• pp.218-224
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• 2018

Background: Compound K (CK) is a ginsenoside, a metabolite of Panax ginseng. There is interest both in increasing skin health and antiaging using natural skin care products. In this study, we explored the possibility of using CK as a cosmetic ingredient. Methods: To assess the antiaging effect of CK, RT-PCR was performed, and expression levels of matrix metalloproteinase-1, cyclooxygenase-2, and type I collagen were measured under UVB irradiation conditions. The skin hydrating effect of CK was tested by RT-PCR, and its regulation was explored through immunoblotting. Melanin content, melanin secretion, and tyrosinase activity assays were performed. Results: CK treatment reduced the production of matrix metalloproteinase-1 and cyclooxygenase-2 in UVB irradiated NIH3T3 cells and recovered type I collagen expression level. Expression of skin hydrating factors-filaggrin, transglutaminase, and hyaluronic acid synthases-1 and -2-were augmented by CK and were modulated through the inhibitor of ${\kappa}B{\alpha}$, c-Jun N-terminal kinase, or extracellular signal-regulated kinases pathway. In the melanogenic response, CK did not regulate tyrosinase activity and melanin secretion, but increased melanin content in B16F10 cells was observed. Conclusion: Our data showed that CK has antiaging and hydrating effects. We suggest that CK could be used in cosmetic products to protect the skin from UVB rays and increase skin moisture level.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.41 no.4
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• pp.602-607
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• 2017

Background: Panax ginseng is a traditional herb used for medicinal purposes in eastern Asia. P. ginseng contains various ginsenosides with pharmacological effects. In this study, floralginsenoside A (FGA), ginsenoside Rd (GRD), and ginsenoside Re (GRE) were purified from P. ginseng berry. Methods: Chemical structures of FGA, GRD, and GRE were determined based on spectroscopic methods, including fast atom bombardment mass spectroscopy, ID-nuclear magnetic resonance, and infrared spectroscopy. Inhibitory activities of these compounds on melanogenesis were studied by measuring the expression of protein and melanin content in the melan-a cell line. This inhibitory activity was confirmed by observing pigmentation and tyrosinase activities of zebrafish. Results: GRD, GRE, and FGA were not cytotoxic at concentrations less than $20{\mu}M$, $80{\mu}M$, and $160{\mu}M$ in melan-a cells, respectively. GRD, GRE, and FGA inhibited melanin biosynthesis in melan-a cells by 15.2%, 22.9%, and 23.9% at $20{\mu}M$, $80{\mu}M$, and $160{\mu}M$, respectively. FGA was observed to display the most potent inhibitory effect. In addition, FGA decreased microphthalmia-associated transcription factor protein expression in a dose-dependent manner. Moreover, FGA induced extracellular signal-regulated kinase phosphorylation level in melan-a cells. In addition, melanin pigment content and tyrosinase activity in zebrafish treated with FGA at $160{\mu}M$ were reduced. Conclusion: FGA showed the most potent inhibition of melanogenesis in both in vitro and in vivo studies. This study suggests that FGA purified from P. ginseng may be an effective melanogenesis inhibitor.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.36 no.1
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• pp.93-101
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• 2012

This study evaluated the anti-cholinesterases (ChEs) and antioxidant activities of white ginseng (WG) and black ginseng (BG) roots of Panax ginseng (PG), P. quinquefolium (PQ), and P. notoginseng (PN). Ginsenosides $Rg_1$, Re, Rf, $Rb_1$, Rc, $Rb_2$, and Rd were found in white PG, whereas Rf was not found in white PQ and Rf, Rc, and $Rb_2$ were not detected in white PN. The major ginsenoside content in steamed BG including $RK_3$, $Rh_4$, and 20(S)/(R)-$Rg_3$ was equivalent to approximately 70% of the total ginsenoside content. The WG and BG inhibited acetylcholinesteras (AChE) and butyrylcholinesterase (BChE) in a dose dependent manner. The efficacy of BG roots of PG, PQ, and PN on AChE and BChE inhibition was greater than that of the respective WG roots. The total phenolic contents and 2, 2-diphenyl-1-picryl-hydrazyl (DPPH) scavenging activity were increased by heat treatment. Among the three WG and BG, white PG and steamed black PQ have significantly higher contents of phenolic compounds. The best results for the DPPH scavenging activity were obtained with the WG and BG from PG. These results demonstrate that the steamed BG roots of the three studied ginseng species have both high ChEs inhibition capacity and antioxidant activity.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.46 no.2
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• pp.290-295
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• 2022

Background: Dried and red ginseng are well-known types of processed ginseng and are widely used as healthy food. The dried and red ginseng quality may vary with the storage period of raw ginseng. Therefore, herein, the effect of the storage period of fresh ginseng on processed ginseng quality was evaluated through multicomponent quantification with statistical analysis. Methods: A method based on ultrahigh performance liquid chromatography coupled to triple quadrupole mass spectrometry in multiple-reaction monitoring mode (UPLC-MRM-MS) was developed for quantitation of ginsenosides and oligosaccharides in dried and red ginseng. Principal component analysis and partial least squares discriminant analysis were conducted to evaluate the dynamic distributions of ginsenosides and oligosaccharides after different storage periods. Results: Eighteen PPD, PPT and OLE ginsenosides and nine reducing and nonreducing oligosaccharides were identified and quantified. With storage period extension, the ginsenoside content in the processed ginseng increased slightly in the first 2 weeks and decreased gradually in the following 9 weeks. The content of reducing oligosaccharides decreased continuously as storage time extending, while that of the nonreducing oligosaccharides increased. Chemical conversions occurred during storage, based on which potential chemical markers for the storage period evaluation of fresh ginseng were screened. Conclusion: According to ginsenoside and oligosaccharide distributions, it was found that the optimal storage period was 2 weeks and that the storage period of fresh ginseng should not exceed 4 weeks at 0 ℃. This study provides deep insights into the quality control of processed ginseng and comprehensive factors for storage of raw ginseng.

• The Korean Journal of Food And Nutrition
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• v.24 no.4
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• pp.528-534
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• 2011

This study was conducted to investigate the changes in saponin content and antioxidant activity of crude ginseng and extruded ginseng by using different solvent extraction methods. Each of the fractions was first extracted by 80% ethanol followed by ether treatment to remove the lipid components. Water soluble components were separated by ethylacetate and water saturated butanol. Four fraction, including 80% ethanol, ethylacetate, butanol and water were obtained from crude and extruded ginsengs to analyze saponin content and antioxidant activity. Saponin content and antioxidant capacity of each of the four fractions were measured by LC/MS analysis and ORAC(Oxygen Radical Absorbance Capacity) assay, respectively. It was found that a major portion of saponin was present in ethyl acetate and water saturated butanol fractions. When extracted by 80% ethanol, ginsenoside Rb1 and Rg1 were mostly found in crude ginseng, while ginsenoside Re and Rb1 were detected in extruded ginseng. Even though Rh1 and Rg3 were found in a very small quantity in crude ginseng, there was a significant quantity of both in extruded ginseng when extracted by 80% ethanol. Similar tendency was also observed in extruded ginseng fraction when extracted with ethyl acetate and butanol. In crude ginseng, the level of Rg1 was the highest among other ginsenosides upon extraction by ethyl acetate, while Rh1 and Rg3 were predominantly found by employing similar solvent extraction in the extruded ginseng. Also, Rg1, Re and Rb1 were also found in the extruded ginseng with small quantity. Rg1, Re and Rb1 were found in crude ginseng by butanol extraction, while Rb1 and Re were extracted from the extruded ginseng. Overall, there was no difference in the saponin content between crude ginseng and extruded ginseng when extracted by butanol and water, but twice as much of saponin was obtained by 80% ethanol extraction and 6 times more saponin were obtained in ethyl acetate fraction in the extruded ginseng. Antioxidant capacity of crude ginseng as determined by ORAC assay was higher in 80% ethanol(high in many different kinds of biological compounds) and water saturated butanol(high in polar saponin) fractions than the ethyl acetate and water fractions. No difference in antioxidant capacity was observed between crude and extruded ginseng. However, antioxidant capacity of ethyl acetate and water fractions in extruded ginseng was significantly higher than crude ginseng($P$ >0.05). All the fractions in both, crude and extruded ginseng possessed antioxidant capacity and even water fractions that contained almost no saponin had some antioxidant capacity. While determining correlation coefficient between fractions in extruded ginseng by Pearson correlation, it was observed that 80% ethanol fraction was in correlation with ethyl acetate($P$ >0.01) and ethanol($P$ >0.001) and in the case of ethylacetate, correlation was observed only with butanol fraction($P$ >0.05).

• Journal of the Korean Applied Science and Technology
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• v.34 no.2
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• pp.305-314
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• 2017

The purpose of this study was to develop the high efficiency of ginseng by using microwave low temperature vacuum drying technology. In red ginseng manufacturing processes, the study results compared the hot-air drying red ginseng dried during 24hours in $60-70^{\circ}C$ and redried during 72hours in $40^{\circ}C$ after the steaming ginseng with the red ginseng dried in microwave low temperature vacuum dryer on condition that 900 watt, 2.45 MHz, 50 mmHg during 5 hours and redried during 2 hours on 750 mmHg after the steaming ginseng about observation of tissue, sensory evaluation and a change of ginsenoside and crude saponin content. As a result, the red ginseng in microwave low temperature vacuum was had high brightness, the surface turned into porosity tissue and added more flavor, decreased bitterness highly on the contrary increased sweetness at the same time that elevated the comprehensive preference. Moreover, In a short time, the content of ginsenosides $Rg_1$ and $Rb_1$ increased about sixfold, eightfold in one time zone but there were no wide difference in content of $Rg_3$ as compared to the hot-air drying red ginseng. Finally, content of crude saponin was increased widely at 10-20 minutes and stayed high crude saponin content consistently. Therefore, this result indicated that the red ginseng in microwave low temperature vacuum increased extraction yields of the ginsenosides and crude saponin through a change of porosity tissue and improved flavor and texture compare with the general hot air dried red ginseng in a short time. According to these results, that provided that could increase the preference about red ginseng.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.24 no.3
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• pp.153-156
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• 2000

In order to improve the qualities of red ginseng extract and decrease precipitate formation in ginseng drink, red ginseng extract were hydrolyzed with ${\alpha}$-Amylase and characteristics of the hydrolyzed ginseng extract were investigated. 1.08% of isomaltose were produced and glucose content was increased from 2.83% to 11.03% in the hydrolyzed red ginseng extract. Total ginsenoside content of the hydrolyzed ginseng extract were decreased from 1,661 mg/100g extract to 1,389 mg/100g extract. The hydrolyzed ginseng extract enhanced the growth of Lactobacillus casei, Lactobacillus rhamnosus and Lactobacillus helveticus. Bitterness and astringency of the hydrolyzed ginseng extract were lower than those of the ginseng extract Precipitate formations in ginseng drink prepared with the hydrolyzed ginseng extract were significantly reduced in the storage conditions of 40$^{\circ}C$ for 4 weeks compared to those of control.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.35 no.5
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• pp.1003-1006
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• 2003

The quality of dried ginseng products (white ginseng, red ginseng, and taeguk ginseng) was investigated according to the National Standards. All the dried ginseng products met the general quality standard established: moisture content of 14.0% or less, ash content of 5.0% or less, and water-saturated n-butanol extracts of 2.0% or more. Ginsenoside $Rb_1$, Rf, and $Rg_1$, the effective components of Korean ginseng were detected by HPLC analysis. However, uniformity of individual products within a package was not kept for almost all of the products except for red ginseng products.