• Journal of Ginseng Research
• /
• v.41 no.3
• /
• pp.298-306
• /
• 2017

Background: Compound K (CK) is a bioactive derivative of ginsenoside Rb1 in Panax ginseng (Korean ginseng). Its biological and pharmacological activities have been studied in various disease conditions, although its immunomodulatory role in innate immunity mediated by monocytes/macrophages has been poorly understood. In this study, we aimed to elucidate the regulatory role of CK on cellular events mediated by monocytes and macrophages in innate immune responses. Methods: The immunomodulatory role of CK was explored by various immunoassays including cell-cell adhesion, fibronectin adhesion, cell migration, phagocytic uptake, costimulatory molecules, reactive oxygen species production, luciferase activity, and by the measurement of mRNA levels of proinflammatory genes. Results: Compound K induced cell cluster formation through cell-cell adhesion, cell migration, and phagocytic activity, but it suppressed cell-tissue interactions in U937 and RAW264.7 cells. Compound K also upregulated the surface expression of the cell adhesion molecule cluster of differentiation (CD) 43 (CD43) and costimulatory molecules CD69, CD80, and CD86, but it downregulated the expression of monocyte differentiation marker CD82 in RAW264.7 cells. Moreover, CK induced the release of reactive oxygen species and induced messenger RNA expression of proinflammatory genes, inducible nitric oxide synthase, and tumor necrosis factor-alpha by enhancing the nuclear translocation and transcriptional activities of nuclear factor kappa-B and activator protein-1. Conclusion: Our results suggest that CK has an immunomodulatory role in innate immune responses through regulating various cellular events mediated by monocytes and macrophages.

• Laboraroty Animal Research
• /
• v.33 no.2
• /
• pp.105-113
• /
• 2017

insenosides from Panax ginseng are well known for their diverse pharmacological effects including antithrombotic activity. Since adventitious roots of mountain ginseng (ARMG) also contain various ginsenosides, blood flow-improving effects of the dried powder and extract of ARMG were investigated. Rats were orally administered with dried powder (PARMG) or ethanol extract (EARMG) of ARMG (125, 250 or 500 mg/kg) or aspirin (30 mg/kg, a reference control) for 3 weeks. Forty min after the final administration, carotid arterial thrombosis was induced by applying a 70% $FeCl_3$-soaked filter paper outside the arterial wall for 5 min, and the blood flow was monitored with a laser Doppler probe. Both PARMG and EARMG delayed the $FeCl_3$-induced arterial occlusion in a dose-dependent manner, doubling the occlusion time at high doses. In mechanism studies, a high concentration of EARMG inhibited platelet aggregation induced by collagen in vitro. In addition, EARMG improved the blood lipid profiles, decreasing triglyceride and cholesterol levels. Although additional action mechanisms remain to be clarified, it is suggested that ARMG containing high amount of ginsenosides such as $Rg_3$ improves blood flow not only by inhibiting oxidative thrombosis, but also by modifying blood lipid profiles.

• Food Science and Preservation
• /
• v.23 no.3
• /
• pp.319-325
• /
• 2016

This study was designed to develop a manufacturing process for ginseng concentrate with reduced unpleasant aroma and bitter taste. Two types of ginseng, white and red, were extracted under six different conditions (the 1st to the 6th step) of temperature ($65{\sim}95^{\circ}C$) and ethanol concentration (0~70%). Six extracts of each ginseng were evaluated by a sensory test, and assayed for crude saponin, ginsenosides, and acidic polysaccharides. The content of crude saponin in the extracts decreased with extraction time. There was no significant difference in the crude saponin content between white and red ginseng extracts. The yield of red ginseng extract was higher (45%) than that of white ginseng. No significant difference was observed in the acidic polysaccharide content between red and white ginseng extracts. $Rg_3$, a specific ginsenoside in red ginseng, was detected in the 1st to 6th extracts of red ginseng. Bitterness, astringency, and sourness of ginseng extracts decreased as the extraction steps proceeded. The composite of the 1st, 2nd, and 6th step extracts decreased bitterness and astringency, and the highest overall acceptance. Compared with commercial beverages, the composition of the three extracts is the desirable method to decrease the bitter and astringent tastes, and the overall unpleasant flavor of ginseng.

• Journal of the Society of Cosmetic Scientists of Korea
• /
• v.37 no.1
• /
• pp.75-81
• /
• 2011

The effect of lactic acid bacteria.fermented ginseng berry extract (FGBE) on physiological activities was evaluated. The contents of ginsenosides Re, Rc, and Rb1 in ginseng berry extract (GBE) were increased after fermentation by lactic acid bacteria when analyzed by high performance liquid chromatography. Antioxidant activity of GBE and FGBE was also analyzed by DPPH radical scavenging activity assay and SOD.like activity assay. FGBE showed a 86.34 % inhibition of DPPH radical and a 76.82 % inhibition by SOD.like activity at a concentration of 1.00 %. GBE showed a 49.78 % inhibition of DPPH radical and a 40.80 % inhibition by SOD.like activity at the same concentration. Furthermore, procollagen type I (COL1A1) gene expression increased by 823.13 % and matrix metal-loproteinase(MMP)-1 and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-${\alpha}$ gene expression decreased by 87.88 % and 99.92 %, respectively, in human fibroblast cultured with FGBE at a concentration of 0.50 %. These results suggest that FGBE could be used as an active ingredient for functional cosmetics.

• Proceedings of the Plant Resources Society of Korea Conference
• /
• 2019.10a
• /
• pp.46-46
• /
• 2019

The experiments were performed in the Jinan (elevation: 300 meters above sea level), Jeollabuk-do. Seedlings (n = 63 per $3.3m^2$) of ginseng cultivar (Cheonpung, Yeonpung) were planted on April 10, 2015. Shading material of plastic film house was blue-white film. Before the Planting seedling, silicate (3 kg/10 a) or chitosan (40 kg/10 a) was fertilized and foliar sprayed on the leaves 1000 times dilution solution once a month from May to September every year. The growth results of 5-year old ginseng surveyed in 2018 are as follows. The average air temperature in the plastic film house was the highest at $26.6^{\circ}C$ and $26.5^{\circ}C$ in July and August, respectively, and the highest temperature was $40.5^{\circ}C$ in July. The maximum daily temperature of $35^{\circ}C$ or more was 30 days, with the average soil temperature being $24.9^{\circ}C$ in August. The chemical properties of the test soil are as follows. pH was 6.4~6.9 level and EC was 0.35~0.46 dS/m. The organic matter content was 33.5~41.4 g/kg, and available-P content was 251.9~306.8 mg/kg. Exchangeable cations contents, such as K, Ca and Mg were all the appropriate ranges. The soil microbial density surveyed by the dilution plate method was 10~50 times higher than that of control (Non-treatment) and actinomycete density was 3~6 times higher. Pathogens of the genus Fusarium by Metagenome analysis decreased 91.3% and 68.2% respectively in the foliar sprayed of chitosan and soluble-silicate. The light intensity (PAR) in the blue-white film plastic film house gradually increased until July and then decereased, with the average of light intensity in March-October was $120.3umol/m^2/s$. The growth of aerial parts such as plant height and stem length was better than non-sprayed group in silicate or chitosan treatments and Yeonpung cultivar was superior to the Cheonpung cultivar. The SPAD value was higher in Yeonpung cultivar foliar sprayed with soluble-silicate. The growth of underground parts such as root length and taproot length were better in chitosan and soluble-silicate treatment than control, especially in Yeonpung cultivar foliar sprayed with chitosan was good in taproot length and taproot diameter, and fresh weight of root was 60.1 g. Ginsenoside contents were 24.9 mg/g and 22.4 mg/g, in the Cheonpung cultivar foliar sprayed with soluble-silicate or chitosan respectively, 28% and 15% higher than control (19.5 mg/g). The incidence of disease by Alteraria panax and Botrytis cinerea was 3~9% and 4~9%, respectively. High temperature damage rate was 3~5%.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
• /
• v.39 no.3
• /
• pp.230-237
• /
• 2015

Background: Colorectal cancer (CRC) is a leading cause of death worldwide. Chronic gut inflammation is recognized as a risk factor for tumor development, including CRC. American ginseng is a very commonly used ginseng species in the West. Methods: A genetically engineered $Apc^{Min/+}$ mouse model was used in this study. We analyzed the saponin composition of American ginseng used in this project, and evaluated its effects on the progression of high-fat-diet-enhanced CRC carcinogenesis. Results: After oral ginseng administration (10-20 mg/kg/d for up to 32 wk), experimental data showed that, compared with the untreated mice, ginseng very significantly reduced tumor initiation and progression in both the small intestine (including the proximal end, middle end, and distal end) and the colon (all p < 0.01). This tumor number reduction was more obvious in those mice treated with a low dose of ginseng. The tumor multiplicity data were supported by body weight changes and gut tissue histology examinations. In addition, quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction analysis showed that compared with the untreated group, ginseng very significantly reduced the gene expression of inflammatory cytokines, including interleukin-$1{\alpha}$ (IL-$1{\alpha}$), IL-$1{\beta}$, IL-6, tumor necrosis factor-${\alpha}$, granulocyte-colony stimulating factor, and granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor in both the small intestine and the colon (all p < 0.01). Conclusion: Further studies are needed to link our observed effects to the actions of the gut microbiome in converting the parent ginsenosides to bioactive ginseng metabolites. Our data suggest that American ginseng may have potential value in CRC chemoprevention.

• The Korea Journal of Herbology
• /
• v.38 no.5
• /
• pp.85-95
• /
• 2023

Objectives : This study was intended to reveal the chemical profiles of aerial(leaf, stem) and underground(rhizome, radix) parts of wild ginseng, and to investigate their anti-aging effects on human skin cells. Methods : Wild ginseng, estimated for over 20 years, was divided into the aerial and underground parts. Total phenolic contents of each extracts were measured using a Folin-ciocalteu method. The contents of 18 amino acids, 8 minerals and 27 ginsenosides were determined by GC-FID, ICP-MS and LC-MS, respectively. The anti-aging effects, including the radical scavenging activity, the activation of mitochondrial function on human fibroblasts, and the proliferation activity on human keratinocyte progenitor cells, for the whole plant and underground part of wild ginseng were evaluated. Results : The total phenolic acids, amino acids, and minerals in the aerial part were more than twice as high as in the underground part. Compared to the cultivated ginseng root, there were various types of ginsenosides in both parts of wild ginseng, and the total amount was more than twice as high. In particular, the aerial part significantly contained ginsenoside F1, F2, C-Mc1, and C-O, and the distinctive patterns that distinguish each parts of wild ginseng from the cultivated ginseng root were derived. The whole plant and underground part of wild ginseng exhibited significant antioxidant effect(14.3-45.6%), activation of mitochondrial membrane potential(105.5-120.1%), and cell proliferation(112.1-125.4%). Conclusions : The entire plant and underground part of wild ginseng are high value-added plants and have beneficial effects on skin anti-aging properties through its abundant metabolites.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
• /
• v.43 no.1
• /
• pp.116-124
• /
• 2019

Background: Ginsenosides are known as the principal pharmacological active constituents in Panax medicinal plants such as Asian ginseng, American ginseng, and Notoginseng. Some ginsenosides, especially the 20(R) isomers, are found in trace amounts in natural sources and are difficult to chemically synthesize. The present study provides an approach to produce such trace ginsenosides applying biotransformation through Escherichia coli modified with relevant genes. Methods: Seven uridine diphosphate glycosyltransferase (UGT) genes originating from Panax notoginseng, Medicago sativa, and Bacillus subtilis were synthesized or cloned and constructed into pETM6, an ePathBrick vector, which were then introduced into E. coli BL21star (DE3) separately. 20(R)-Protopanaxadiol (PPD), 20(R)-protopanaxatriol (PPT), and 20(R)-type ginsenosides were used as substrates for biotransformation with recombinant E. coli modified with those UGT genes. Results: E. coli engineered with $GT95^{syn}$ selectively transfers a glucose moiety to the C20 hydroxyl of 20(R)-PPD and 20(R)-PPT to produce 20(R)-CK and 20(R)-F1, respectively. GTK1- and GTC1-modified E. coli glycosylated the C3-OH of 20(R)-PPD to form 20(R)-Rh2. Moreover, E. coli containing $p2GT95^{syn}K1$, a recreated two-step glycosylation pathway via the ePathBrich, implemented the successive glycosylation at C20-OH and C3-OH of 20(R)-PPD and yielded 20(R)-F2 in the biotransformation broth. Conclusion: This study demonstrates that rare 20(R)-ginsenosides can be produced through E. coli engineered with UTG genes.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
• /
• v.41 no.4
• /
• pp.572-577
• /
• 2017

Background: Panax ginseng Meyer is cultivated because of its medicinal effects on the immune system, blood pressure, and cancer. Major ginsenosides in fresh ginseng are converted to minor ginsenosides by structural changes such as hydrolysis and dehydration. The transformed ginsenosides are generally more bioavailable and bioactive than the primary ginsenosides. Therefore, in this study, hydrothermal processing was applied to ginseng preparation to increase the yields of the transformed ginsenosides, such as 20(S)-Rg3, Rk1, and Rg5, and enhance antioxidant activities in an effective way. Methods: Ginseng extract was hydrothermally processed using batch reactors at $100-160^{\circ}C$ with differing reaction times. Quantitative analysis of the ginsenoside yields was performed using HPLC, and the antioxidant activity was qualitatively analyzed by evaluating 2,2'-azino-bis radical cation scavenging, 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl radical scavenging, and phenolic antioxidants. Red ginseng and sun ginseng were prepared by conventional steaming as the control group. Results: Unlike steaming, the hydrothermal process was performed under homogeneous conditions. Chemical reaction, heat transfer, and mass transfer are generally more efficient in homogeneous reactions. Therefore, maximum yields for the hydrothermal process were 2.5-25 times higher than those for steaming, and the antioxidant activities showed 1.6-4-fold increases for the hydrothermal process. Moreover, the reaction time was decreased from 3 h to 15-35 min using hydrothermal processing. Conclusion: Therefore, hydrothermal processing offers significant improvements over the conventional steaming process. In particular, at temperatures over $140^{\circ}C$, high yields of the transformed ginsenosides and increased antioxidant activities were obtained in tens of minutes.

• Korean Journal of Plant Resources
• /
• v.18 no.2
• /
• pp.207-215
• /
• 2005

Korean ginseng(Panax ginseng C.A. Meyer) roots have long been known as the best medicinal plant and its pharmaceutical bio-activities have been proven by scientific analyses of their components - ginsenosides, acidic polysaccharides, phenolic compounds, fatty acids and organic acids etc. Ginseng hairy roots and callus have been cultured in vitro for stable supply of ginseng material. In this study, the amount of ginsenosides, fatty acids, acidic polysaccharides, phenolic compounds and organic acids in ginseng hairy roots and callus were compared. Higher amount of ginsenoside was found in ginseng hairy roots than ginseng callus. Higher amount of saturated fatty acid (palmitic acid) was found in callus and higher amount of unsaturated fatty acid (linoleic acid) was found in hairy roots. Acidic polysaccharide and phenolic compounds were contained by the same amount in both hairy roots and callus. Organic acids were found more in hairy roots.