• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.41 no.4
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• pp.462-470
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• 2012

Mountain cultivated ginseng (MCG) is a type of Panax ginseng C. A. Mayer, grown in the mountains by artificial seeding. In general, it has been known that the biophysical activities of MCG is greater than that of ginseng. However, the in vivo efficacy of MCG on cancer has not been studied. In this study, we investigated the anti-carcinogenic effect of MCG and ginseng using the 7,12-dimethylbenz[a]anthracene (DMBA)-12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol- 13-acetate (TPA) two stage mouse skin carcinogenesis model. Six weeks of female ICR mice were divided into control, MCG, and ginseng diet groups and were subjected into two different experimental protocols. In the first study, each experimental diet was fed with TPA promotion for 24 weeks. The result showed that supplementation of MCG reduced tumor incidence, tumor multiplicity, and tumor size compared to those of the control and ginseng groups. In the second study, 3 groups of mice were supplied with each diet 4 weeks before DMBA tumor initiation, until the end of experiment. The result showed that tumor incidence, tumor multiplicity, and tumor size were reduced in the ginseng diet group compared to those of the control and MCG groups. TPA-induced BrdU incorporation was also significantly reduced in the ginseng diet group. Taken together, these results suggest that MCG is chemotherapeutic, whereas ginseng has a chemopreventative effect on mouse skin cancer.

• Journal of Pharmacopuncture
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• v.13 no.1
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• pp.5-14
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• 2010

Objectives : This study was performed to examine the anticancer effect of mountain ginseng Pharmacopuncture(MGP) to the nude mouse of lung carcinoma induced by NCI-H460 human nonsmall lung cancer cells. Methods : Human lung cancer (NCI-H460) cells were cultured and applied to evaluate anti-tumor activity in nude mice. After confirmed tumor growth in mice, MGP was treated per 0.1ml/kg dose to intraperitoneal and intravenous injection everyday for four weeks. And checked the changes in body weights, tumor volume, mean survival time and percent, increase in life span, histo-pathological findings, organ weights, and blood chemistry levels. Results : The results of in vivo study showed that MGP may have potential as growth inhibitor of solid tumor induced NCI-H460 without marked side effects. MGP inhibited dosage-dependently the growth of NCI-H460 cell-transplanted solid tumor compared with the control group. And mean survival time of MGP treated group was prolonged comparing with control group. Generally the group of intravenous injection is more effective than intraperitoneal injection. Conclusion : These results were suggested that MGP may be a useful anticancer agent for therapy of human lung cancer. And follow study need for the certain evidence.

• Journal of Pharmacopuncture
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• v.14 no.4
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• pp.81-88
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• 2011

Objectives: The purpose of this report is to find out how Mountain Ginseng Pharmacopuncture(MGP) and Sweet Bee Venom(SBV) treatments are effective on prostate cancer patients by monitoring Prostate specific antigen(PSA) values. Methods: We treated two prostate cancer patients with MGP and SBV from October 2008 to April 2011. One patient had localized prostate cancer, the other was in the terminal stage of prostate cancer with lung and bone metastasis and both had been receiving western anticancer therapy. We had monitored the changes of PSA value. Results: In case 1, MGP and SBV treatments seemed to be helpful in preventing the recurrence of localized prostate cancer. In case 2, PSA value was decreased by MGP treatment. Conclusions: It is conceivable that MGP and SBV are effective treatments for patients with prostate cancer.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.24 no.4
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• pp.598-601
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• 2010

This experiment was performed to investigate whether the combined-preparation of water extracts of germinated brown rice (WGR), water extracts of cultured mountain ginseng (WCG) and 70% ethanol extracts of Longanae Arillus (ELA) has hypnotic effects and/or enhances pentobarbital-induced sleep behaviors through the GABAergic system. The combined-preparation of WGR and WCG reduced sleep latency and prolonged sleep time induced by pentobarbital. ELA also reduced sleep latency and prolonged sleep time induced by pentobarbital. However, WGR or WCG itself did not induce sleep. The combined-preparation of WGR, WCG and ELA strongly reduced sleep latency and prolonged sleep time via chloride influx into primary cultured cerebellar granule cells. In conclusion, the combined-preparation of WGR, WCG and ELA augments pentobarbital-induced sleep behaviors through the modification of GABAergic system.

• Food Science and Biotechnology
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• v.15 no.3
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• pp.369-373
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• 2006

Water extracts obtained from cultured mountain ginseng (CMG) were evaluated for their ability to stimulate immune cells and inhibit cancer cell proliferation. The lymphocyte subpopulation in mouse splenocytes in vivo was significantly increased by the administration of the CMG extract (27.4 mg/mouse). Interleukin-2 and ${\gamma}$-interferon in the mice serum increased up to 30% in CMG extract-treated mice. At a concentration of 1.37 mg/mL, nitric oxide increased up to 400% in the macrophage cell line treated with CMG extract. The CMG extract significantly retarded the proliferation of human acute promyelocytic (HL60), human histiocytic (U937), and mouse lymphocytic (L1210) leukemia cell lines in vitro at concentrations over 2.74-13.7 mg/mL. In addition, CMG extract treatments (1.37 mg/mL and 2.74 mg/mL) lead to the increased expression of the p53 gene and protein in cultured U937 leukemia cell lines. These results indicate that water extracts of CMG are capable of both immune cell stimulation and cancer cell growth inhibition.

• Plant Biotechnology Reports
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• v.2 no.2
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• pp.113-122
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• 2008

Nitric oxide (NO) affects the growth and development of plants and also affects plant responses to various stresses. Because NO induces root differentiation, we examined whether or not it is involved in increased ROS generation. Treatments with sodium nitroprusside (SNP), an NO donor, 2-phenyl-4,4,5,5-tetramethylimidazoline-1-oxyl-3-oxide (PTIO), a specific NO scavenger, and $N{\omega}-nitro-{\text\tiny{L}}-arginine$ methyl ester hydrochloride (${\text\tiny{L}}-NAME$), an NO synthase (NOS) inhibitor, revealed that NO is involved in the adventitious root growth of mountain ginseng. Supply of an NO donor, SNP, activates NADPH oxidase activity, resulting in increased generation of $O_2{^{{\cdot}-}}$, which subsequently induces growth of adventitious roots. Moreover, treatment with diphenyliodonium chloride (DPI), an NADPH oxidase inhibitor, individually or with SNP, inhibited root growth, NADPH oxidase activity, and $O_2{^{{\cdot}-}}$ anion generation. Supply of the NO donor, SNP, did not induce any notable isoforms of enzymes; it did, however, increase the activity of pre-existing bands of NADPH oxidase, superoxide dismutase, catalase, peroxidase, ascorbate peroxidase, and glutathione reductase. Enhanced activity of antioxidant enzymes induced by SNP supply seems to be responsible for a low level of $H_2O_2$ in the adventitious roots of mountain ginseng. It was therefore concluded that NO-induced generation of $O_2{^{{\cdot}-}}$ by NADPH oxidase seems to have a role in adventitious root growth of mountain ginseng. The possible mechanism of NO involvement in $O_2{^{{\cdot}-}}$ generation through NADPH oxidase and subsequent root growth is discussed.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.40 no.4
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• pp.334-343
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• 2016

Background: Progressed tissue culture techniques have allowed us to easily obtain mass products of tissue-cultured mountain ginseng over 100 yr old (TCMG-100). We investigated the effects of TCMG-100 extract on erectile function using in vitro and in vivo studies. Methods: To examine the relaxation effects and mechanisms of action of TCMG-100 on rabbit cavernosal strips evaluated in an organ bath. To investigate the long-term treatment effect of TCMG-100, 8-wk administration was performed. After administration of TCMG-100, intracavernosal pressure, cyclic guanosine monophosphate and nitric oxide (NO) levels of cavernosal tissue, serum testosterone level, histological observation of collagen fiber, endothelium, smooth muscle cell, and transforming growth factor-${\beta}1$ were investigated. Results: TCMG-100 extract displayed dose-dependent relaxation effects on precontracted rabbit corporal smooth muscle. The TCMG-100-induced relaxation was significantly reduced by removing the endothelium, and treatment with an NO synthase inhibitor or NO scavenger. Eight weeks of TCMG-100 administration increased intracavernosal pressure in a rat model. The levels of cyclic guanosine monophosphate and NO in the corpus callosum and serum testosterone level were also increased by TCMG-100 treatment. Furthermore, histological evaluation of collagen, smooth muscle, and endothelium showed increases in endothelium and smooth muscle, and a decrease in transforming growth factor-${\beta}1$ expression. Conclusion: These relaxation effects on corporal smooth muscle and increased erectile function suggest that TCMG-100 might be used as an alternative herbal medicine to improve erectile function.

• 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.

• 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.28 no.1
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• pp.60-66
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• 2004

“The Regional complex long-term program of restoration (reintroduction) of Primoryes ginseng population up to 2005” elaborated by Primorye governor administration, Regional Committee of Natural Resources and Russian Academy of Sciences operates in Russian Primorye. The Institute of Biology and Soil Science (IBSS) provides the scientific implementation of the program including the genetic analysis of extant ginseng populations, plant reproduction and off-spring identification. According to our investigations, the genetic resource of P. ginseng in Primorye is represented by three populations of wild-growing ginseng and a few pritate plantations. The results obtained by RAPD allowed concluding that the resource is dispersed among the wild and cultivated ginseng sub-populations in such a way that each of sub-populations studied has to be represented as a stock material to maintain species genetic variability. The allozyme analyses also showed that the small sub-populations of wild ginseng are characterized by unique genetic diversity and, therefore, they all need to be represented in reintroduction centers. Additionally the allozyme analysis discovered that the Blue Mountain and Khasan populations possess the most genetic diversity. So, at least one more reproductive ginseng unit has to be created besides two already existing reintroduction centers representing the Sikhote-Alin and the Blue Mountain populations.