• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.20 no.2
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• pp.179-183
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• 1996

One exotherm was detected in the intact ginseng seeds containing more than 35% water, but in seeds with 20% there was no exotherm. The shapes of exotherm were remarkably uniform without relation to water content above 35%. The temperature at the initiation of freezing varied from -3.5$^{\circ}C$ to -9.6$^{\circ}C$ with the different water content in the seeds, and the Initial temperature of freezing delayed with the decrease of water content. The resistance damage at low temperature appeared in order of maln body, rhizome, lateral root of 3-year-old yearling rhizome, and fine root of 3-year-old. Ginseng roots didn't receive any damage at -5$^{\circ}C$ for 24 hours. Otherwise they received serious damage below -1$0^{\circ}C$ even for 5 hours'exposure. Hence, alternative low temperature gave more severe damage compared to constant low temperature. This result suggests that the Possibility of receiving injury at low temperature was higher during the thawing season of the early spring than in the winter.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.8 no.1
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• pp.45-56
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• 1984

This study was carried out to obtain the basic information on the development of flower bud and to clarify the characteristics of flower organ and flowering in Korean ginseng (Panax ginseng) and American ginseng (Panax quinquefolium). The formation of flower bud in the dormancy bud of Korean ginseng was initiated about the middle of June and completed late in September. The ovary, style and anther of Panax ginseng, violet-stem and yellow-berry variants, were formed earlier than those of Panax quinquefolium. Panax ginseng, therefore, flowered earlier by one month in comparison with Panax quinquefolium. As for the effect of temperature on the flowering of ginseng, both species, Panax ginseng and Panax quinquefolium, grown at 20 $^{\circ}C$ flowered earlier than those at 15 $^{\circ}C$ and field conditions, but did not flower at 30 $^{\circ}C$. Seed characters were better in Panax ginseng than in Panax quinquefolium and the amount of seeds showed the highly significant positive correlation coefficient with peduncle length in both Panax ginseng and Panax quinquefolium.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.10 no.2
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• pp.159-166
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• 1986

Effects of plant growth regulators on the germination of ginseng (Panax ginseng C.A. Meyer) seeds were investigated. Ginseng seeds germinated more vigorously in the treatments of kinetin and BA, and the promoting effect of kinetic on the germination and the growth of rootlet enhanced in low temperature ($10^{\circ}C$). However, GA did not promote the germination of dehiscent seed. The optimum temperature for germination of dehiscent seed was $10^{\circ}C$ and the range of effective concentration of kinetin for germination was 50 to 100 ppm.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.44 no.1
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• pp.145-153
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• 2020

Background: Panax ginseng Meyer (Araliaceae) is a highly valued medicinal plant in Asian regions, especially in Korea, China, and Japan. Chemical and biological studies on P. ginseng have focused primarily on its roots, whereas the seeds remain poorly understood. This study explores the phytochemical and biological properties of compounds from P. ginseng seeds. Methods: P. ginseng seeds were extracted with methanol, and 16 compounds were isolated using various chromatographic methods. The chemical structures of the isolates were determined by spectroscopic data. Antiinflammatory activities were evaluated for triterpene and steroidal saponins using lipopolysaccharide-stimulated RAW264.7 macrophages and THP-1 monocyte leukemia cells. Results: Phytochemical investigation of P. ginseng seeds led to the isolation of a novel triterpene saponin, pseudoginsenoside RT₈, along with 15 known compounds. Pseudoginsenoside RT₈ exhibited more potent antiinflammatory activity than the other saponins, attenuating lipopolysaccharide-mediated induction of proinflammatory genes such as interleukin-1β, interleukin-6, inducible nitric oxide synthase, cyclooxygenase-2, and matrix metalloproteinase-9, and suppressed reactive oxygen species and nitric oxide generation in a dose-dependent manner. Conclusion: These findings indicate that pseudoginsenoside RT₈ has a pharmaceutical potential as an antiinflammatory agent and that P. ginseng seeds are a good natural source for discovering novel bioactive molecules.

• Journal of Plant Biology
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• v.35 no.1
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• pp.45-51
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• 1992

The changes of protein bodies in endosperm cells of both seeds with red seed coat and indehiscent seeds of Panax ginseng C.A. Meyer have been investigated in relation to the embryo development. In the early stage of seeds with red seed coat, spherical spherosomes were distributed in endosperm cells. Protein bodies were formed from vacuoles containing the storage protein. Cell organelles were hardly observed in the cytoplasm. In the late stage of the seed with red seed coat, the endosperm was filled with spherosomes and protein bodies. The protein bodies consisted of amorphous inclusions with high electron density or proteinaceous matrix with even electron density. In the seed of in dehiscence, the protein body in endosperm cells contained globoids and protein crystalloids. The globoid of protein body had a electron dense materials. Umbiliform layer was formed between embryo and endosperm. The deformation patterns of endosperm cell wall and the cellulose microfibril were observed in endosperm cells near the umbiliform layer. Umbiliform layer consisted of lipid body and autolyzed cell debris. The protein body of endosperm cell near the umbiliform layer showed various degenerative patterns, and so electron density of proteinaceous matrix was gradually decreased.reased.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.39 no.2
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• pp.178-182
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• 2015

Background: Fermentation technology is widely used to alter the effective components of ginseng. This study was carried out to analyze the characteristics and antioxidant activity of ginseng seeds fermented by Bacillus, Lactobacillus, and Pediococcus strains. Methods: For ginseng seed fermentation, 1% of each strainwas inoculated on sterilized ginseng seeds and then incubated at $30^{\circ}C$ for 24 h in an incubator. Results: The total sugar content, acidic polysaccharides, and phenolic compounds, including p-coumaric acid, were higher in extracts of fermented ginseng seeds compared to a nonfermented control, and highest in extracts fermented with B. subtilis KFRI 1127. Fermentation led to higher antioxidant activity. The 2,2'-azine-bis-(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid (ABTS) radical scavenging activity was higher in ginseng seeds fermented by Bacillus subtilis than by Lactobacillus and Pediococcus, but Superoxide dismutase (SOD) enzyme activity was higher in ginseng seeds fermented by Lactobacillus and Pediococcus. Conclusion: Antioxidant activities measured by ABTS and SOD were higher in fermented ginseng seeds compared to nonfermented ginseng seeds. These results may contribute to improving the antioxidant activity and quality of ginseng subjected to fermentation treatments.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.22 no.4
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• pp.299-303
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• 1998

To know possibility of raw ginseng production for white- and red-ginseng by direct-sowing culture, seeds were directly sowed or seedlings were transplanted at soil condition of sandy loam in ginseng field. After cultivation, the characters of 5-year-old ginseng were investigated. Number of survived plants was increased with increase the seeding quantity in direct-sowing culture, the survived plants in direct-sowing culture was higher than that of transplanting one. Rate of the numbers of survived plants to numbers of seeds sowed in plots of 134 or 90 seeds sowed per tan, 180 x 90cm area, inspire of high number of survived plant was high compared to that of transplanting culture. Occurrence rate of rusty root of ginseng in direct-sowing culture was low significantly compared to that of transplanting culture. Root yield showed in the order of 134, 268, 90 seeds sowed, the values of yield in direct-sowing culture were high obviously compared to that of transplanting one. Individual root weight was increased with decrease the seeding quantity, however, the root weight in plot of 90 seeds sowed showed almost equal the weight in transplanting culture. The number of usable raw ginseng for white- and red-ginseng was increased with decrease of the seeding quantity; the numbers were higher than that of transplanting culture remarkably. We concluded that optimum seedling rate in direct-sowing culture of ginseng was 90 to 134 seeds per tan considering the yield per area and production rate of large root.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.36 no.4
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• pp.411-417
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• 2012

Ginseng seeds were treated with different autoclaving temperatures and autoclaving times, and extracted with 80% methanol to measure changes in antioxidant activity. The antioxidant activity of ginseng seeds treated by autoclaving was measured by 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl radical scavenging activity, 2,2'-aziono-bis(3-ethylbenzthiazoline)-6-sulfonic acid radical scavenging activity, superoxide dismutase SOD-like activity, ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP), and total phenolic compound content. As autoclaving temperature and time were increased, the L lightness value decreased and the redness value tended to increase. Total phenolic compound content was about three times higher in ginseng seeds treated with autoclaving at 130°C than in ginseng seeds that were not treated. DPPH radical scavenging activity and ABTS radical scavenging activity increased as autoclaving temperature and time were increased. In particular, when the concentration was 100 ppm, the ABTS radical scavenging activity was 91.80% in ginseng seeds treated by autoclaving at $130^{\circ}C$, which was the highest antioxidant activity. FRAP and SOD-like antioxidant activity tended to increase significantly as autoclaving temperature and time were increased.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.21 no.2
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• pp.115-118
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• 1997

Stratified American ginseng(Panax quinquefoilium L.) seeds were planted in a shaded greenhouse at four depths and in four different soil types to observe effects on emergence rate and root size. Seeding depth affected seedling emergence rates and the number of days required to complete emergence. The shape of the roots was affected by the texture of soil, especially percentage of sand.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.46 no.2
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• pp.225-234
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• 2022

Background: Ginseng, officially known as Panax ginseng Meyer, has been traditionally used as a medicinal herb, particularly in Asia. Ginseng is propagated from seeds; however, seed germination is challenging, especially in its natural environment on farms. The seeds typically exhibit morphophysiological dormancy and require release from both morphological and physiological dormancy before germination. Although some studies have proposed methods for increasing seed germination rates, the underlying mechanisms of its dormancy release process remain unclear. Here, we investigated metabolic alterations during dehiscence in P. ginseng to determine their potential roles in dormancy release. Methods: We compared the ginseng seed metabolome before and after dehiscence and the ginsenoside and phytosterol compositions of the seeds in both periods in the presence of related enzymes. Results: After seed dehiscence, the sugar, amino acid, and squalene concentrations were significantly altered, phytosterols associated with the stigmasterol biosynthesis pathway were increased, while ginsenoside and brassinosteroid levels were not significantly altered. In addition, squalene epoxidase, cycloartenol synthase, 24-methylenesterol C-methyltransferase, and the stigmasterol biosynthesis pathway were activated. Conclusion: Overall, our findings suggest that morphological activities that facilitate ginseng seed growth are the primary phenomena occurring during the dehiscence process. This study improves the understanding of P. ginseng germination processes and promotes further research of its germination and cultivation.