• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.44 no.3
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• pp.490-495
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• 2020

Background: Ginsenoside Rk1, a saponin component isolated from heat-processed Panax ginseng Meyer, has been implicated in the regulation of antitumor and anti-inflammatory activities. Although our previous studies have demonstrated that ginsenoside Rg3 significantly attenuated the activation of NMDA receptors (NMDARs) in hippocampal neurons, the effects of ginsenosides Rg5 and Rk1, which are derived from heat-mediated dehydration of ginsenoside Rg3, on neuronal NMDARs have not yet been elucidated. Methods: We examined the regulation of NMDARs by ginsenosides Rg5 and Rk1 in cultured rat hippocampal neurons using fura-2-based calcium imaging and whole-cell patch-clamp recordings. Results: The results from our investigation showed that ginsenosides Rg3 and Rg5 inhibited NMDARs with similar potencies. However, ginsenoside Rk1 inhibited NMDARs most effectively among the five compounds (Rg3, Rg5, Rk1, Rg5/Rk1 mixture, and protopanaxadiol) tested in cultured hippocampal neurons. Its inhibition is independent of the NMDA- and glycine-binding sites, and its action seems to involve in an interaction with the polyamine-binding site of the NMDAR channel complex. Conclusion: Taken together, our results suggest that ginsenoside Rk1 might be a novel component contributable to the development of ginseng-based therapeutic treatments for neurodegenerative diseases.

• Journal of Applied Biological Chemistry
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• v.65 no.4
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• pp.253-259
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• 2022

The aim of this study was to investigate the correlation between growth characteristics and ginsenoside contents of 4-year-old wild-simulated ginseng cultivated in different regions. Most of the soil properties except for available phosphate showed significantly higher in Pyeongchang than in other cultivation sites. The growth characteristics except for root length and number of rootlets showed significantly higher in Pyeongchang than in other cultivation sites. In the case of 8 ginsenoside contents, the content of F2-AS was significantly higher in Muju than in other cultivation sites and the content of F1 in Yeongju was significantly high. In Yeongwol, the contents of Rb1 and Re-p were significantly high and the content of Ro in Pyeongchang showed significantly higher than in other cultivation sites. Root length and soil pH did not show a significant correlation with any soil properties and growth characteristics of wild-simulated ginseng, respectively. Most of the growth characteristics showed significantly positive correlations with electrical conductivity, organic matter content, total nitrogen content, exchangeable cations (K⁺, Ca²⁺, Mg²⁺), and cation exchange capacity. Rb1 and Re-p showed significantly negative correlations with most of the growth characteristics of wild-simulated ginseng except for the number of rootlets. Ro showed a significantly positive correlation with stem length, number of leaflets per stem, leaflet length, leaflet width, and root diameter. The results of this study probably will help to provide useful information on the establish a quality standard by investigate correlation analysis between growth characteristics and ginsenoside content of 4-year-old wild-simulated ginseng.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.32 no.2
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• pp.107-113
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• 2008

In this study, we have investigated the effect of panaxatriol (PT) on phosphoinositides (PIS) breakdown and $Ca^{2+}$-elevation in thrombin-induced platelet aggregation. Thrombin (5U/ml), a potent platelet agonist which activates phospholipase $C_{\beta}$ via protease activated receptor (PAR), hydrolyzed PIS in platelet membrane. The phosphatidylinositol 4, 5-bisphosphate $(PIP_2)$ was hydrolyzed after 10 sec of the thrombin-stimulation, and both the phosphatidylinositol 4-monophosphate (PIP) and phosphatidylinositol (PI) were brokendown after 30 sec of the thrombin-stimulation. However, PT inhibited the thrombin-stimulated hydrolysis of $PIP_2$, PIP, and PI. On the other hand, thrombin increased the level of phosphatidic acid (PA) which is phosphorylated from diacylglycerol (DG) generated by PIS-hydrolysis. However, Pr inhibited the thrombin-increased PA level non-significantly. Thrombin increased cytosolic free $Ca^{2+}([Ca^{2+}])_i$) up to 72% as compared with control $(30.8{\pm}0.9 nM)$ in intact platelet. However, PT (100 ${\mu}g/ml$) inhibited the thrombin-elevated $[Ca^{2+}]_i$ to 100%. These results suggest that PT may have a beneficial effect on platelet aggregation-mediated thrombotic disease by inhibiting thrombin-induced platelet aggregation via suppression of the $[Ca^{2+}]_i$ level and PIS breakdown.

• Korean Journal of Medicinal Crop Science
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• v.20 no.4
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• pp.251-258
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• 2012

The management and control of mineral nutrients is one of most important techniques to increase the productivity and the quality of Korean ginseng. The mineral nutrients are measured with different plant tissues and different growth stages of 2-year-old ginseng grown under hydroponic culture with two different temperatures. The content of N, P, Ca, and Mg were higher at low temperature in both leaves and roots than those at high temperature. However, the content of K was high in leaves at low temperature compared to that of high temperature, while it was not significantly different in roots. The uptake amounts of N and K was higher throughout the experimental period at low temperature in both leaves and roots than those at high temperature. However, the uptake amount of P was not clearly different between two different temperatures and among six different growth stages. The uptake amount of N, P, K was generally decreased in leaves from June to August, while it was increased in roots. The relationship between dry weight and mineral nutrients in leaves was appeared positive with N, K, Ca, and Mg, but negative P. In roots, N, K, Ca, and Mg were negative, showing that was positive with only P. Comparing the correlation coefficients among mineral nutrients in leaves, N and K were significantly positive correlation each other. P was significantly positive correlation with Na and Zn. In case of roots, N was highly significant positive correlation with K, Mg, and Mn, but P was negatively correlated with Ca, Cu, Na, Fe, and Zn.

• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
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• v.50 no.3
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• pp.414-421
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• 2022

In this study, we isolated Weizmannia ginsengihumi LGHNH (KCTC 14462BP) from 30-year-old wild Panax ginseng C.A. Meyer and elucidated the characteristics of the isolated bacterium and its industrial potential as an anti-aging material. W. ginsengihumi LGHNH was investigated to produce indole-3-acetic acid (IAA), a plant growth-promoting hormone (1.38 ㎍/ml to 2.22 ㎍/ml). We also confirmed the existence of bioconversion activity via the comparison of the ginsenoside content before and after fermentation. As for the converted minor ginsenoside, Rg2(R), Rg4, Rg6, Rg3(S), Rg3(R), Rk1, Rg5, Rh1(R), Rk3 and Rh4 are known to have high bioavailability and various skin effects. We measured mitochondrial membrane potential and ATP biosynthesis to elucidate W. ginsengihumi LGHNH cultured product (WCP) as an anti-aging material. As a result, the mitochondrial membrane potential in HaCaT cells with UVB decreased to 39.3% compared to the unirradiated group, but was recovered to 57.3% and 58.1% by 0.001% (v/v) and 0.01% (v/v) WCP, respectively. In addition, we measured mitochondrial ATP biosynthesis. It decreased to 94.3% compared to the unirradiated group with UVB, but was recovered to 105.3% and 105.7% by 0.001% (v/v) and 0.01% (v/v) WCP.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.41 no.2
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• pp.134-143
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• 2017

Background: The prevalence of allergic inflammatory diseases such as atopic dermatitis (AD), asthma, and allergic rhinitis worldwide has increased and complete recovery is difficult. Korean Red Ginseng, which is the heat-processed root of Panax ginseng Meyer, is widely and frequently used as a traditional medicine in East Asia. In this study, we investigated whether Korean Red Ginseng water extract (RGE) regulates the expression of proinflammatory cytokines and chemokines via the mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs)/nuclear factor kappa B ($NF-{\kappa}B$) pathway in allergic inflammation. Methods: Compound 48/80-induced anaphylactic shock and 1-fluoro-2,4-dinitrobenzene (DNFB)-induced AD-like skin lesion mice models were used to investigate the antiallergic effects of RGE. Human keratinocytes (HaCaT cells) and human mast cells (HMC-1) were also used to clarify the effects of RGE on the expression of proinflammatory cytokines and chemokines. Results: Anaphylactic shock and DNFB-induced AD-like skin lesions were attenuated by RGE administration through reduction of serum immunoglobulin E (IgE) and interleukin (IL)-6 levels in mouse models. RGE also reduced the production of proinflammatory cytokines including $IL-1{\beta}$, IL-6, and IL-8, and expression of chemokines such as IL-8, thymus and activation-regulated chemokine (TARC), and macrophage-derived chemokine (MDC) in HaCaT cells. Additionally, RGE decreased the release of tumor necrosis $factor-{\alpha}$ ($TNF-{\alpha}$), $IL-1{\beta}$, IL-6, and IL-8 as well as expressions of chemokines including macro-phage inflammatory protein $(MIP)-1{\alpha}$, $MIP-1{\beta}$, regulated on activation, normal T cell expressed and secreted (RANTES), monocyte chemoattractant protein (MCP)-1, and IL-8 in HMC-1 cells. Furthermore, our data demonstrated that these inhibitory effects occurred through blockage of the MAPK and $NF-{\kappa}B$ pathway. Conclusion: RGE may be a useful therapeutic agent for the treatment of allergic inflammatory diseases such as AD-like dermatitis.

• Korean Journal of Medicinal Crop Science
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• v.22 no.5
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• pp.363-368
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• 2014

This study was conducted to find out the optimum composition of nursery soil for raising seedling of ginseng (Panax ginseng C. A. Meyer). Total 9 kinds of raw materials were used such as peat-moss, perlite, leaf mould, rice bran, gull's guano, castor-oil plant bark, palm bark, cow manure and chicken manure for optimum composition of nursery soil in ginseng. Occurrence of damping-off in ginseng was lowered about 50% in nursery soil type 1, 2 and 4 than in other types nursery soil in June, and occurrence rate of rusty root also lowest in nursery soil type 1. As the salinity of nursery soil increased, so did the occurrence of physiological disorder in ginseng seedling. The cause of salinity increasing in nursery soil has closely relation to $NO_3-N$, $P_2O_5$ and $Na^+$ content. Plant height, root length, diameter and weight were longer and heavier in nursery soil type 1 (mixing ratio of peat-moss, perlite and leaf mould was 50 : 20 : 30 based in volume) than in other types of nursery soil. So nursery soil type 1 was selected for raising seedling of ginseng. pH and electric conductivity (EC) of selected nursery soil type 1 was 5.55 and 0.13 dS/m. Contents of $NO_3-N$ and $P_2O_5$ were 21.0 and 40.0 mg/L, and $K^+$ 0.36, $Ca^{2+}$ 3.38, $Mg^{2+}$ 2.01 and $Na^+$ $0.09cmol^+/L$, respectively.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Tobacco Science
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.109-114
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• 2001

A CAB cDNA vector(pKGCAB), encoding the light harvesting chlorophyll a/b binding protein in Korean ginseng (Panax ginseng C. A. Meyer), was constructed with the CaMV35S promoter of plant expression vector. The chimeric vector was transformed into tobacco(Nicotiana tabacum cv. NC 82) using Agrobacterium tumefaciens LBA 4404 strain, and the transgenic tobacco plant CAB-TP2 was selected. Photosynthetic rates of the CAB-TP2 plant at before-flowering stage were increased about 20% under low irradiance conditions of quantum 100 and 500 $\mu$mol.m$^{-2}$ s$^{-1}$ , however, the rates were similar to those of NC 82 under quantum 1000 and 2000 $\mu$mol.m$^{-2}$ s$^{-1}$ conditions. The plants were germinating under low- or normal irradiance condition and the quantum yield of photosystem III were measured. The differences of the Fv/Em values between conditions were 0.07 and 0.01 in NC 82 and CAB-TP2, respectively. The mature leaves in the position 8-10 of the CAB-TP2 at before-flowering stage revealed l0% higher Fv/Fm values in range of 0.759 to 0.781 and 40% more chlorophyll contents of 70-93mg/$m\ell$ than those of normal NC 82. These data suggest the possibility that the increase in photosynthetic activity of leaves under low light intensity in the canopy of CAB-TP2 transgenic tobacco might lead to increase the quality of lower tobacco leaves.

• Korean Journal of Medicinal Crop Science
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• v.24 no.4
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• pp.294-302
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• 2016

Background: Crop rotation plays an important role in improving soil chemical properties, minimizing the presence of disease pathogens, and assists in neutralizing autotoxic effects associated with allelochemicals. Methods and Results: Five rotation crops of sudan grass, soybean, peanut, sweet potato, and perilla were cultivated for one year with an aim to reduce yield losses caused by repeated cropping of ginseng. In 2-year-old ginseng grown in the same soil as a previous ginseng crop, stem length and leaf area were reduced by 30%, and root weight per plant was reduced by 56%. Crop rotation resulted in a significant decrease in electrical conductivity, $NO_3$, and $P_2O_5$ content of the soil, whereas organic matter, Ca, Mg, Fe, Cu, and Zn content remained-unchanged. Soil K content was increased following crop rotation with sudan grass and peanut only. Rotation with all alternate crops increased subsequent ginseng aerial plant biomass, whereas root weight per plant significantly increased following crop rotation with perilla only. A significant positive correlation was observed between root rot ration and soil K content, and a significant negative correlation was observed between ginseng root yield and the abundance of actinomycetes. Crop rotation affected the soil microbial community by increasing gram negative microbes, the ratio of aerobic microbes, and total microbial biomass whereas decreases were observed in actinomycetes and the ration of saturated fatty acids. Conclusions: In soil exhibiting crop failure following replanting, crop rotation for one year promoted both soil microbial activity and subsequent ginseng aerial plant biomass, but did not ameliorate the occurrence of root rot disease.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.33 no.2
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• pp.143-148
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• 2009

This study was carried out to detennine the optimal submerged culture conditions for the growth increase of ginseng adventitious roots containing germanium by means of a fractional factorial design with four factors and three levels, using the response surface methodology (RSM). The ginseng (Panax ginseng CA. Meyer) adventitious roots were induced by plant growth regulators and cultured in a liquid SH medium. The effects of various $GeO_2$ and phosphoric acid ($H_3P0_4$) concentrations in the medium, $GeO_2$ addition time and the pH of the medium on the fresh weight of the ginseng adventitious roots were investigated. The optimum pH of the medium and the phosphoric acid concentration detennined by the partial differentiation of the model equation were 4.7 and 6.0 roM, respectively. The predicted optimal $GeO_2$ concentration was 10 ppm and the $GeO_2$ addition time did not affect the growth of ginseng adventitious roots. Under these conditions, the growth of the ginseng adventitious root containing germanium was predicted to be 2.47 g.