• Journal of Pharmaceutical Investigation
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• v.24 no.4
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• pp.227-231
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• 1994

The stability of red ginseng saponin in aqueous solution was studied with the acceleration test method. The degradation rate constant of ginsenoside Rb1, an index component of red ginseng saponin, was $2.371{\times}10^{-4}\;day^{-1}$ at $20^{\circ}C$, and the shelf-life was about 570 days. The pH-rate profile demonstrated that the most stable range was pH 6-8. Mannitol and benzyl alcohol, common excipients for injection, exerted no influence on the degradation reaction of ginsenoside Rb1.

• Proceedings of the Ginseng society Conference
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• 1990.06a
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• pp.29-35
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• 1990

Using an ethopharmacological technique, we demonstrated that saponin fraction from red ginseng root possessed a potent psychotropic actions on either intermale or maternal aggression models. A series of experiments clearly indicated that one of psychoactive ingredient is ginsenoside Rbl. Although a drug-induced debilitation of motor performance remains a possible cause of the antiaggressive effect of the drug, ginsenoside Rb 1 did not alter the locomotor activity of the mice during agonistic confrontations. Thus, one can eliminate the possibility that the psychoactive effect of ginsenoside Rbl might be concealed by a drugindulced impairment of motor performance. More recently, we developed a new model for copulatory disorder and introduced into the behavioral analysis of drug action. Male mice which has been housed individually from weaning for 5 weeks failed to manifest copulatory behavior when they encountered with the sexually-receptive females. Daily administration of crude ginseng saponin during isolation housing period prevented the development of copulatory disorder, whereas both ginsenoside Rbl and Rgl were ineffective. A further experiment may be needed to explore active ingredient of ginseng saponins. Keywords Panax ginseng, Korean red ginseng, psychotropic action, saponin, ginsenoside Rb1

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.37 no.4
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• pp.442-450
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• 2013

The aim of this study was to determine and compare the preventive effect of Korean White Ginseng and Red Ginseng on oxidative stress in $H_2O_2$-treated HepG2 cells. The roots of ginseng were extracted with 70% methanol and partitioned with butanol to obtain saponin fractions, which have been known as bioactive constituents of ginseng. 2',7'-Dichlorofluorescein diacetate (DCF-DA) assay and malondialdehyde (MDA) content were measured for evaluating intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation. Also, mRNA expressions and activities of antioxidant enzymes were analyzed to determine the antioxidant activity of saponin or non-saponin fractions of ginsengs. According to DCF-DA assay, $H_2O_2$-induced MDA release and ROS generation were significantly reduced by treatment with saponin fractions of white and red ginseng roots. Also, saponin fractions increased effectively intracellular antioxidant enzyme activities including catalase, glutathione peroxidase and superoxide dismutase in $H_2O_2$-treated HepG2 hepatoma cells. In general, red ginseng was more effective than white ginseng for reducing oxidative stress. These results indicate that administration of red ginseng may certainly contribute relatively stronger than white ginseng to prevent from damaging liver function by oxidative stress.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.17 no.1 s.31
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• pp.478-493
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• 1996

The components of Red-ginseng radix extract solution for herb- acupuncture were analyzed by HPLC. According to the Medical Product Safety Administration Guidelines for safety assessment, mice and rats were used for acute toxicity test. The results were summarized as follows; 1. In the Saponin contents(%) of Red-ginseng radix extract, Ginsenoside $Rb_1$ Saponin was 0.27% in raw material, 1.67% in extract powder and Ginsenoside Rc Saponin was 0.16% in raw material, 1.12% in extract powder and Ginsenoside Rd Saponin was 0.08% in raw material, 0.54% in extract powder. 2. There were no abnormal findings in acute toxicity test treated with Red-ginseng radix extract solution for herb-acupuncture and $LD_{50}$ could not be measured.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.22 no.1
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• pp.1-10
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• 1998

In the present study, to determine whether the antioxidative components of Korean red ginseng protect against radiation damage and the possible relationship among the radioprotective effects and antioxidant actions, the effects of total saponin (200 mg/kg, ip) and lipophilic fraction (200 mg/kg, oral) preferment of mice on the survival ratio, major antioxidant enzymes (SOD, catalase and glutathione peroxidase) activities, glutathione levels and lipid peroxidation in the liver were exiled for 2 weeks after whole ${\gamma}$-body ${\gamma}$-irradiation (6.5 Gy). The 30-day survival ratio increased from 10% to 57% and 40% for mice treated with total saponin and lipophilic fraction, respectively. On day 14 after ${\gamma}$-irradiation, the ginseng total saponin pretreatment produced a slight increase of antioxidant enzymes activities and significantly Increased reduced glutathione (GSH) contents (p<0.05) in the liver compared with non-treated group. Pretreatment with ginseng total saponin significantly deceased GSSG/total GSH ratio (p<0.05) without change of GSSG in the liver and inhibited the radiation-induced incense in the hepatic malondialdehyde levels. (p<0.05) In these results, GSH plays an important role in the liver in several detoxifications and the reduction of lipid peroxides. Thus, it appears that total saponin of red ginseng exerts its radioprotective effect by accelerating the production of endogenous antioxidants, such as glutathione from radiation induced damages and thereby oxygen free radicals.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.19-27
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• 1997

The present study was conducted to assess the effect of total saponins from Korean red ginseng on the biosynthesis of inositol phospholipids in vivo and also effects on the metabolic enzymes, such as phosphatidylinositol-specific phospholipase C(Pl-PLC) and PI-kinases. The administration of 0.1% saponin solution, 0.1 ml 3 times a day intraperitoneally to 5 mice for 30 days has increased a 23% of the body weight when it compared with a control group. The amounts of 32P-phoschorus radioactivity incorporated into the phosphoinositides from the liver and brain tissues have increased a 310% and 260%, respectively, in the saponin treated mice. The activities of PI-PLC from liver and brain were stimulated in the various amounts by the conditions treated with saponins. The PI-kinases from liver and brain were also activated by saponins, but its effect was lower than that of PI-PLC. From these results, it was confirmed that red ginseng saponins have affected positively not only on the biosynthesis of phosphoinositides but also on the PI-PLC and PI-kinases related to the cellular signal transduction.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.20 no.2
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• pp.139-148
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• 1996

This study was designed to examine the effects of red ginseng total saponin and extract on spatial working memory in mice using Morris water maze. Two kinds of red ginseng saponin (No. 1 and No. 2) and three kinds of red ginseng extract (No. 1, No. 2 and No. 3) to have different PD/ PT ratio (No. 1=1.24, No.2=1.47 No.3=2.41) were prepared by mixing the different parts of red ginseng In different ratio. In acute administration of total saponin No. 1 or No. 2, escape time to reach to a hidden platform In a fixed location for training trials was significantly decreased as compared with control group and swimming time in the quadrant that had contained the platform was also significantly increased as compared with control group. In acute treatment of extract No. 1 or 1 No. 2, swimming time in the platformless quadrant was increased dose dependently as compared with control group, especially at dose of 200 mg/kg,bw swimming time was significantly Increased. Oral treatment of extract No. 1 (100 mg/kg, bw) for 7 days produced an increase of swimming time In the platformless quadrant but a decrease of swimming time in No.3-treated group (100 mg/kg, bw). These results show that red ginseng may improve spatial discrimination learning and spatial working memory of mice

• The Journal of Traditional Korean Medicine
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• v.15 no.1
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• pp.97-105
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• 2006

To study on antioxidant effects in the liver of 40-week-old mouse, the sample were orally pretreated 5mg/kg/day for 5 days with red ginseng saponin components(total saponin, protopanaxadiol saponin, protopanaxatriol saponin, ginsenoside-Rd, ginsenoside-Re, compound-K) for 5 days. The ability of saponin to protect the mouse liver from oxidative damage was examined by determining the activity of superoxide dismutase(SOD), glutathione peroxidase(GPx) and the contents of glutathione, the level of malondialdehyde, The only protopanaxadiol among the ginseng saponin fractions was significantly increased the hepatic SOD activity(p<0.01). The red ginseng saponin induced a slight increase of GPx activity, especially ginsenoside Rd, compound K and protopanaxatriol treatments significantly increased its activity. The content of glutathione was significantly increased by total saponin, protopanaxadiol and ginsenoside Rd(p<0.01), but the oxidized glutathione level was lowered in all the red ginseng saponin. Finally, the level of malondialdehyde was significantly decreased by ginsenoside Rd and protopanaxadiol. In conclusion, protopanaxadiol and ginsenoside Rd among the saponin fraction were especially increased in the activity of hepatic antioxidative enzyme and decreased the lipid peroxidation that was expressed in term of MDA formation. This comprehensive antioxidant effects of red ginseng saponin seems to be by a certain action of saponin other than a direct antioxidant action.

• Food Science and Preservation
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• v.6 no.3
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• pp.324-327
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• 1999

This study was carried out to establish the extraction method of red ginseng extract without saponin decomposition. Red ginseng was extracted with impulse vacuum system and multi-stage extraction method. Crude saponin content of red ginseng extract (RGE) from impulse vacuum system was 5.4-5.9%, while that of RGE from multi-stage extraction method was 8.2-8.3%. However, HPLC Patterns indicated that saponins of RGE from impulse vacuum system were hardly decomposed, while those of RGE from multi-stage extraction method were decomposed, especially in ginsenoside -Rgl and -Re saponin. Also, the yields of red ginseng by impulse vacuum system were 15 to 20 times higher than that of multi-stage extraction method.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.16 no.1
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• pp.44-52
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• 1992

This study investigated ginsenosides and tissue characteristics of roots injured by physiological disorder, rusty and rough skin. After separation to cortex and stele parts of healthy, rusty (red) and rough skin roots, respectively, the contents of saponin and ginsenosides were analyzed. And also, the histological and cytological characteristics of cortex and stele parts were investigated. Crude saponin contents were little different among healthy, rusty (red) and rough skin root and ginsenesides as - Rgl, - Re and - Rbl were largely detected both in stele and cortex part. The ratio of PT/PD showed about 1:1 in three kinds of root. In histological study, destoryed cells in epidermis of rusty(red) root, and those in epidermis and exodermis of rough skin root were observed. The cells in cortex of rusty (red) and rough skin root have generally nucleus with unfixed shape, unequal cell wall, large number of vacuole and mitochondris, and unidentified dark substances compared to healthy root. But in cell of stele tissue, most of organellE seems to be normal except a small number of cells in rough skin root.