• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
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• v.49 no.3
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• pp.346-355
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• 2021

Ngoc Linh ginseng is one of the most valuable endemic medicinal herbs in Vietnam. In this study, Ngoc Linh ginseng callus was fermented by Lactobacillus plantarum ATCC 8014 (at 6, 7, and 8 log CFU/ml) to evaluate the extraction efficiency of bioactive compounds. The post-fermentation solution was spray-dried using maltodextrin with or without Stevia rebaudiana (3% and 6% v/v) as the wall material. Bioactive compounds such as polyphenols, polysaccharides, and total saponins, and L. plantarum viability during fermentation and after spray-drying, as well as under simulated gastric digestion, were evaluated in this study. The results showed that probiotic density had a significant effect on bioactive compounds, and L. plantarum at 8 log CFU/ml showed the best results with a short fermentation time compared to other tests. The total content of polyphenols, polysaccharides, and saponins reached 5.16 ± 0.18 mg GAE/g sample, 277.2 ± 6.12 mg Glu/g sample, and 4.17 ± 0.15 mg/g sample, respectively after 20 h of fermentation at the initial density of L. plantarum (8 log CFU/ml). Although there was no difference in the particle structure of the preparation, the microencapsulation efficiency of the bioactive compound in the samples containing S. rebaudiana was higher than that with only maltodextrin. The study also indicated that adding S. rebaudiana improved the viability of L. plantarum in gastric digestion. These results showed that S. rebaudiana, a component stimulating probiotic growth, combined with maltodextrin as a co-prebiotic, improved the survival rate of L. plantarum in simulated gastric digestion.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.48 no.5
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• pp.474-480
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• 2024

Background: Recent years have witnessed increasing interest in the high amount of ocotillol-type saponin in Panax vietnamensis, particularly in relation to majonoside R2 (MR2). This unique 3%-5% MR2 content impart Ngoc Linh and Lai Chau ginsengs with unique pharmacological activities. However, in the commercial domain, unauthentic species have infiltrated and significantly hindered access to the authentic, efficacious variety. Thus, suitable analytical techniques for distinguishing authentic Vietnamese ginseng species from others is becoming increasingly crucial. Therefore, MR2 is attracting considerable attention as a target requiring effective management measures. Methods: An enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was developed by producing monoclonal antibodies against MR2 (mAb 16E11). The method was thoroughly validated, and the potential of the immunoassay was confirmed by high-performance liquid chromatography with ultraviolet spectroscopy. Furthermore, ELISA was applied to the assessment of the MR2 concentrations of various Panax spp., including Korean, American, and Japanese ginsengs. Results and conclusions: An icELISA using mAb 16E11 exhibited linearity between 3.91 and 250 ng/mL of MR2, with detection and quantification limits of 1.53 and 2.50 - 46.6 ng/mL, respectively. Based on this study, the developed icELISA using mAb 16E11 could be a valuable tool for analyzing MR2 level to distinguish authentic Ngoc Linh and Lai Chau ginsengs from unauthentic ones. Furthermore, the analysis of the samples demonstrated that Ngoc Linh and Lai Chau ginsengs exhibit a notably higher MR2 value than all other Panax spp. Thus, MR2 might be their ideal marker compound, and various bioactivities of this species should be explored.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Crop Science Conference
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• 2017.10a
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• pp.218-218
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• 2017

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.44 no.1
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• pp.135-144
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• 2020

Background: Panax species are important herbal medicinal plants in the Araliaceae family. Recently, we reported the complete chloroplast genomes and 45S nuclear ribosomal DNA sequences from seven Panax species, two (P. quinquefolius and P. trifolius) from North America and five (P. ginseng, P. notoginseng, P. japonicus, P. vietnamensis, and P. stipuleanatus) from Asia. Methods: We conducted phylogenetic analysis of these chloroplast sequences with 12 other Araliaceae species and comprehensive comparative analysis among the seven Panax whole chloroplast genomes. Results: We identified 1,128 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP) in coding gene sequences, distributed among 72 of the 79 protein-coding genes in the chloroplast genomes of the seven Panax species. The other seven genes (including psaJ, psbN, rpl23, psbF, psbL, rps18, and rps7) were identical among the Panax species. We also discovered that 12 large chloroplast genome fragments were transferred into the mitochondrial genome based on sharing of more than 90% sequence similarity. The total size of transferred fragments was 60,331 bp, corresponding to approximately 38.6% of chloroplast genome. We developed 18 SNP markers from the chloroplast genic coding sequence regions that were not similar to regions in the mitochondrial genome. These markers included two or three species-specific markers for each species and can be used to authenticate all the seven Panax species from the others. Conclusion: The comparative analysis of chloroplast genomes from seven Panax species elucidated their genetic diversity and evolutionary relationships, and 18 species-specific markers were able to discriminate among these species, thereby furthering efforts to protect the ginseng industry from economically motivated adulteration.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.47 no.1
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• pp.44-53
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• 2023

Background: The genus Panax in the Araliaceae family has been used as traditional medicinal plants worldwide and is known to biosynthesize ginsenosides and phytosterols. However, genetic variation between Panax species has influenced their biosynthetic pathways is not fully understood. Methods: Simultaneous analysis of transcriptomes and metabolomes obtained from adventitious roots of two tetraploid species (Panax ginseng and P. quinquefolius) and two diploid species (P. notoginseng and P. vietnamensis) revealed the diversity of their metabolites and related gene expression profiles. Results: The transcriptome analysis showed that 2,3-OXIDOSQUALENE CYCLASEs (OSCs) involved in phytosterol biosynthesis are upregulated in the diploid species, while the expression of OSCs contributing to ginsenoside biosynthesis is higher in the tetraploid species. In agreement with these results, the contents of dammarenediol-type ginsenosides were higher in the tetraploid species relative to the diploid species. Conclusion: These results suggest that a whole-genome duplication event has influenced the triterpene biosynthesis pathway in tetraploid Panax species during their evolution or ecological adaptation. This study provides a basis for further efforts to explore the genetic variation of the Panax genus.