• Korean Journal of Medicinal Crop Science
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• v.12 no.1
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• pp.10-16
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• 2004

This study was carried out to investigate the difference of growth characteristics and the content of root chemical components in four years old ginseng by paddy and upland cultivation at farmers' field in Korea. Proportions of silt, clay, liquid phase and porosity were higher in paddy soil than upland soil. The range of liquid phase was $17.5{\sim}19.5%$ in paddy and $7.0{\sim}12.8%$ in upland during growth period. EC and the other contents of OM, $NO_3^-,\;K_2O$, and Mg in paddy soil were higher than those of upland soil, while the contents of $P_2O_5$ and Ca were less than those of upland soil. The levels of chemical components of tested soil exceeded recommended range in EC, $NO_3^-$ and Ca of paddy soil, and in $P_2O_5$ and Ca of upland soil. Stem length, fresh root weight and total dry weight per plant in paddy were greater than those of upland. Root weight in paddy-ginseng showed a great increase on September, while it was not increased in upland because of early defoliation. Net assimilation rate and crop growth rate by paddy and upland cultivation showed distinct differences on May and September, and those of paddy-ginseng were higher than those of upland-ginseng. Yield and ratio of red-colored root showed no significant difference by paddy and upland cultivation, while significant differences were observed in diameter and length of primary root, contents of crude saponin and 50% ethanol extracts of primary root, and water content of root. Hardness of primary root showed no significant difference by paddy and upland cultivation until August, but it showed distinct difference on September, at which the hardness in upland cultivation was drastically decreased.

• Korean Journal of Poultry Science
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• v.34 no.4
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• pp.271-278
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• 2007

The present study was conducted to investigate the effects of dietary supplementation of fermented wild-ginseng culture by-product on egg production, egg quality and blood characteristics in laying hens. A total of 216 ISA Brown laying hens, 55 wk of age, were used in the 6-wk feeding trial. Experimental diets were consisted of basal diet (CON), 2.5% fermented wild-ginseng culture by-product replaced lupin in basal diet (WG1) and 5.0% fermented wild-ginseng culture by-product replaced lupin in basal diet (WG2). Birds were randomly allotted to 18 replicate pens. There were 6 replicates per treatment, and 12 laying hens per replicate. Through the 6-wk feeding trial, egg production was significantly increased in WG1 and WG2 treatments compared to CON (P<0.05). Egg weight was significantly higher in WG2 than CON (P<0.05). WG1 resulted higher yolk color than CON (P<0.05). Albumen height and Haugh unit were significantly improve in WG1 compared to WG2 (P<0.05). Red blood cell was significantly lower in WG2 than CON (P<0.05). LDL-cholesterol was significantly decreased in CON compared to WG2 (P<0.05). In conclusion, fermented wild-ginseng culture by-product could improve egg production and egg weight in laying hens.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.19 no.1
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• pp.242-245
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• 2005

The most common feature of neurodegenerative disease (i.e. Alzheimer's disease, AD) is the increased number of activated microglial cells nearby the pathogenic area of the brain, such as amyloid plaque in AD. An abnormality of protein regulation and an imbalance of clearance against ${\beta}-amyloid\;(A{\beta})$ produced amyloid precursor protein (APP) can turn microglia into the activated feature out of the ramified resting phase. We examined the possibility that ginsenoside Rb1 could attenuate the microglial activation induced by massive $A{\beta}$ that has known to induce a chronic inflammation, which is a major cause of AD by damaging neuronal cells (i.e. apoptosis or necrosis). Aggregated $A{\beta}42\;(5\;{\mu}M)$ peptide was used with lipopolysaccharide (LPS) ($10\;{\mu}g$) for a comparative control up to 48hours. We found that Rb1 reduced the production of nitric oxide as well as proinflammatory cytokines, such as $IL-1{\beta}$ and $TNF-{\alpha}$.

• Applied Microscopy
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• v.10 no.1_2
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• pp.77-86
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• 1980

The distribution of the secretory ducts, fine structures of the secretory epithelial cells, and the ingredients of the metaplasmic inclusions were studied at light and electron microscopical levels in seeds, stems, leaves, and roots of ginseng. The secretory ducts occurred in the hypocotyl of the embryo, in the cortex of the roots, and also both inside and outside of each vascular bundle in the stems and leaves. Especially, it is considered that the circular layers of the secretory ducts in roots may represent their ages. The epithelial cell has well developed nucleolus, mitochondria and smooth endoplasmic reticulum. Sudanophyl and osmiophilic inclusions were found in the epithelial cytoplasm and duct lumen. But these inclusions were not observed when extracted with pyridin or alcohol. In contrast to the lumen with red color, the epithelial cells were blue in color as stained with nile blue, suggesting that the former inclusions are neutral lipid while the latter are acidic lipid. The electron density of the cell inclusions was quite high as fixed with osmium tetroxide, indicating that most of these secretory materials seem to be unsaturated lipid. Therefore, since ginseng secretory ducts are closely associated with the lipid metabolism, it should be called lipid canal or lipid duct.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.44 no.5
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• pp.704-716
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• 2020

Background: Ginsenoside Rh2 (GRh2) is a characterized component in red ginseng widely used in Korea and China. GRh2 exhibits a wide range of pharmacological activities, such as anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and anticancer properties. However, its effects on Toxoplasma gondii (T. gondii) infection have not been clarified yet. Methods: The effect of GRh2 against T. gondii was assessed under in vitro and in vivo experiments. The BV2 cells were infected with tachyzoites of T. gondii RH strain, and the effects of GRh2 were evaluated by MTT assay, morphological observations, immunofluorescence staining, a trypan blue exclusion assay, reverse transcription PCR, and Western blot analyses. The in vivo experiment was conducted with BALB/c mice inoculated with lethal amounts of tachyzoites with or without GRh2 treatment. Results and conclusion: The GRh2 treatment significantly inhibited the proliferation of T. gondii under in vitro and in vivo studies. Furthermore, GRh2 blocked the activation of microglia and specifically decreased the release of inflammatory mediators in response to T. gondii infection through TLR4/NF-κB signaling pathway. In mice, GRh2 conferred modest protection from a lethal dose of T. gondii. After the treatment, the proliferation of tachyzoites in the peritoneal cavity of infected mice markedly decreased. Moreover, GRh2 also significantly decreased the T. gondii burden in mouse brain tissues. These findings indicate that GRh2 exhibits an antieT. gondii effect and inhibits the microglial activation through TLR4/NF-κB signaling pathway, providing the basic pharmacological basis for the development of new drugs to treat toxoplasmic encephalitis.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.47 no.2
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• pp.337-346
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• 2023

Background: Ginsenoside Rb2, a major active component of Panax ginseng, has various physiological activities, including anticancer and anti-inflammatory effects. However, the mechanisms underlying the rejuvenation effect of Rb2 in human skin cells have not been elucidated. Methods: We performed a senescence-associated β-galactosidase staining assay to confirm cellular senescence in human dermal fibroblasts (HDFs). The regulatory effects of Rb2 on autophagy were evaluated by analyzing the expression of autophagy marker proteins, such as microtubule-associated protein 1A/1B-light chain (LC) 3 and p62, using immunoblotting. Autophagosome and autolysosome formation was monitored using transmission electron microscopy. Autophagic flux was analyzed using tandem-labeled GFP-RFP-LC3, and lysosomal function was assessed with Lysotracker. We performed RNA sequencing to identify potential target genes related to HDF rejuvenation mediated by Rb2. To verify the functions of the target genes, we silenced them using shRNAs. Results: Rb2 decreased β-galactosidase activity and altered the expression of cell cycle regulatory proteins in senescent HDFs. Rb2 markedly induced the conversion of LC3-I to LC3-II and LC3 puncta. Moreover, Rb2 increased lysosomal function and red puncta in tandem-labeled GFP-RFP-LC3, which indicate that Rb2 promoted autophagic flux. RNA sequencing data showed that the expression of DNA damage-regulated autophagy modulator 2 (DRAM2) was induced by Rb2. In autophagy signaling, Rb2 activated the AMPK-ULK1 pathway and inactivated mTOR. DRAM2 knockdown inhibited autophagy and Rb2-restored cellular senescence. Conclusion: Rb2 reverses cellular senescence by activating autophagy via the AMPK-mTOR pathway and induction of DRAM2, suggesting that Rb2 might have potential value as an antiaging agent.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.30 no.4
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• pp.482-489
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• 2020

We previously identified β-sitosterol (BS) as one of the most abundant compounds found in Korean red ginseng oil. BS is a widely prevalent vegetable-derived phytosterol with many known health benefits. Here, we investigated the efficacy of BS against Brucella (B.) abortus infection. BS showed no effect on bacterial growth but attenuated internalization, intracellular survival and MAPKs-linked intracellular signaling in RAW264.7 cells. BS treatment in cells is also associated with increased nitrite concentration during infection at 24 h. Slightly enhanced resistance to B. abortus infection was observed in mice orally given BS, which could be mediated by induced production of proinflammatory cytokines. Taken together, our study demonstrates the contribution of BS treatment against B. abortus infection although further investigation is encouraged to maximize its beneficial effects against intracellular infection.

• The Korean Journal of Mycology
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• v.9 no.2
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• pp.49-66
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• 1981

The objectives of this investigation were to produce artificially an antitumor constituent by submerged culture of the mycelium of Coriolus versicolor (Fr.) Quel., to characterize the influence of various modifications of the nutrient and culture conditions with respect to the pro­duction, to determine chemical composition of the antitumor constituent, and to examine effects of the constituent on the immune response of mice. Submerged agitation of the mycelium in flasks containing a nutrient solution showed its adequate growth. Especially the mycelial growth in the medium containing glucose and yeast extract was abundant. The addition of cotton seed flour or ginseng waste to the medium increased the yield of mycelial growth and the production of the antitumor constituent. The replacement of glucose with starch also yielded the adequate growth. The antitumor constituent extracted from the mycelium and isolated from the culture filtrate was a protein-bound polysaccharide. The analyses of this constituent by GLC and amino acid autoanalysis showed that it contained four monosaccharides and fifteen amino acids. The protein-free polysaccharide of the constituent was also found to exert greater antitumor activity against sarcoma-180 in mice than the entire constituent. The antitumor constituent was found to potentiate the immune response of mice against sheep red blood cell. The protein-bound polysaccharide exerted more favorable influence on the immunity than the protein-free moiety.

• Journal of the Korean Applied Science and Technology
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• v.28 no.3
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• pp.259-266
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• 2011

Caffeic acid is a kind of phytochemicals occurred in coffee, which is worked as a carcinogenesis restrainer and antioxidants on the human body. In this study, as one type of caffeic acid derivatives, methoxypolyethylene glycol caffeate(MPC) was synthesized by the esterification between caffeic acid and methoxypolyethylene glycol with N,N'-dicyclohexyl carbodiimide, 4-dimethylamino pyridine. The synthesized product was confirmed by using FT-IR and $^1H$-NMR, thin-layer chromatography. And these compound was investigated as antioxidant, Tyrosinase hindrance and skin moisturizers. In the free radical scavenging study, antioxidant effect of MPC was averagely high than the red ginseng extract that be used as a natural antioxidants. The result of Tyrosinase anti-activity test was better than embryo bud of rice extract at low concentration. At the iNOS anti-activity tested by using Raw 264.7 cell, and confirmed anti-inflammatory function. For the MPC handled with sodium lauryl sulfate, was tested for the skin moisture content and skin moisture loss.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.30 no.1
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• pp.249-255
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• 2009

Currently, drug-induced liver injury (DILl) has been reported to be common cause of acute hepatitis, and oriental medicine and folk remedies are no exception. However, because many studies about DILl have been reported by western medical society. they has taken the initiative of DILl not only for western drugs but also herbs. So, academia of oriental medicine should make an effort to progress herb-related DILl studies. We describe a patient of acute liver injury which had been caused by comfrey, albizzia julibrissin, ulmus davidiana var. japonica, red ginseng. We hope that this report helps for studying the diagnosis and management of herb-derived DILl. and for establishing a standard of oriental therapy to DILL.