• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.18 no.5
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• pp.431-439
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• 2014

The aim of the present study was to investigate whether ginsenoside-Rb2 (Rb2) can affect the secretion of catecholamines (CA) in the perfused model of the rat adrenal medulla. Rb2 ($3{\sim}30{\mu}M$), perfused into an adrenal vein for 90 min, inhibited ACh (5.32 mM)-evoked CA secretory response in a dose- and time-dependent fashion. Rb2 ($10{\mu}M$) also time-dependently inhibited the CA secretion evoked by DMPP ($100{\mu}M$, a selective neuronal nicotinic receptor agonist) and high $K^+$ (56 mM, a direct membrane depolarizer). Rb2 itself did not affect basal CA secretion (data not shown). Also, in the presence of Rb2 ($50{\mu}g/mL$), the secretory responses of CA evoked by veratridine (a selective $Na^+$ channel activator ($50{\mu}M$), Bay-K-8644 (an L-type dihydropyridine $Ca^{2+}$ channel activator, $10{\mu}M$), and cyclopiazonic acid (a cytoplasmic $Ca^{2+}$-ATPase inhibitor, $10{\mu}M$) were significantly reduced, respectively. Interestingly, in the simultaneous presence of Rb2 ($10{\mu}M$) and L-NAME (an inhibitor of NO synthase, $30{\mu}M$), the inhibitory responses of Rb2 on ACh-evoked CA secretory response was considerably recovered to the extent of the corresponding control secretion compared with the inhibitory effect of Rb2-treatment alone. Practically, the level of NO released from adrenal medulla after the treatment of Rb2 ($10{\mu}M$) was greatly elevated compared to the corresponding basal released level. Collectively, these results demonstrate that Rb2 inhibits the CA secretory responses evoked by nicotinic stimulation as well as by direct membrane-depolarization from the isolated perfused rat adrenal medulla. It seems that this inhibitory effect of Rb2 is mediated by inhibiting both the influx of $Ca^{2+}$ and $Na^+$ into the adrenomedullary chromaffin cells and also by suppressing the release of $Ca^{2+}$ from the cytoplasmic calcium store, at least partly through the increased NO production due to the activation of nitric oxide synthase, which is relevant to neuronal nicotinic receptor blockade.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.42 no.8
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• pp.1197-1203
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• 2013

This study investigated the effects of endurance exercise and ginsenoside $Rb_1$ on AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK), phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K) protein expression and glucose uptake in the skeletal muscle of rats. A total of 32 rats were randomly divided into four groups: CON (Control group, n=8), Ex (Exercise group; 25 m/min for 1 h, 6 days/week, 2 weeks, n=8), $Rb_1$ (Ginsenoside $Rb_1$ group; n=8), and $Rb_1/Ex$ ($Rb_1$+Exercise group, n=8). The $Rb_1$ and $Rb_1/Ex$ groups were incubated in ginsenoside $Rb_1$ (KRBP buffer, $100{\mu}g/mL$) for 60 min after a 2-week experimental treatment. After 2 weeks, the expression of phosphorylated $AMPK{\alpha}$ $Thr^{172}$, total $AMPK{\alpha}$, the p85 subunit of PI3K, pIRS-1 $Tyr^{612}$, and pAkt $Ser^{473}$ were determined in the soleus muscle. Muscle glucose uptake was measured using 2-deoxy-D-[$^3H$] glucose in epitroclearis muscle. Muscle glucose uptake was significantly higher in the three experimental groups (Ex, $Rb_1$, $Rb_1/Ex$) compared to the CON group (P<0.05). The expression of $tAMPK{\alpha}$ and $pAMPK{\alpha}$ $Thr^{172}$ was significantly higher in the Ex, $Rb_1$, and $Rb_1/Ex$ groups compared to the CON group (P<0.05). The expression of pAkt $Ser^{473}$ was significantly higher in the $Rb_1$ group compared to the CON and EX groups. However, the expression of pIRS-1 $Tyr^{612}$ and the p85 subunit of PI3K were not significantly different between the four groups. Overall, these results suggest that ginsenoside $Rb_1$ significantly stimulates glucose uptake in the skeletal muscle of rats through increasing phosphorylation in the AMPK pathway, similar to the effects of exercise.

• Molecules and Cells
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• v.24 no.3
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• pp.409-415
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• 2007

The retinoblastoma (Rb) gene is one of the most important genes in cell cycle regulation and tumorigenesis. Homozygosity for a germ-line Rb mutation results in embryonic lethality and evokes developmental defects associated with inappropriate S-phase entry and high levels of apoptosis. Although Rb has been extensively studied, more target genes need to be identified and characterized to unravel the precise mechanism of Rb function. In order to identify Rb-regulated genes, we analyzed the gene expression profile of Rb-deficient mouse embryo fibroblasts (MEFs), and identified an unknown gene, RbEST47, that is transcriptionally upregulated in Rb-deficient MEFs. This gene is conserved from fruitfly to human. It is expressed in brain, lung, kidney, and testis, and is located on mouse chromosome 2. This region is syntenic to human chromosome 9q34.3, which frequently exhibits loss of heterozygosity in neoplastic diseases. RbEST47 was considerably down-regulated in immortalized cells, and showed cell cycle-dependent expression, suggesting important roles in S and/or G2.

• BMB Reports
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• v.42 no.4
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• pp.194-199
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• 2009

The effects of the ginsenoside Rb2 (Rb2) on lipid metabolism were characterized in 3T3-L1 adipocytes to evaluate their utility for treating obesity. While the amounts of total cholesterol and triacylglycerol (TAG) were markedly increased in the adipocytes treated with high amounts of cholesterol and fetal bovine serum (FBS), the test groups treated with Rb2 showed levels that were close to normal. The effect of Rb2 on these cells was comparable to that of lovastatin. Rb2 enhanced the expression of the sterol regulated element binding protein (SREBP) mRNA whereas treatment with cholesterol and FBS led to a reduction in the abundance of this transcript. The activity of fatty acid synthetase (FAS) was lower in the cholesterol group compared to the Rb2 treatment group suggesting that the observed decrease in cholesterol levels and activated SREBP was mediated by Rb2. Treatment with Rb2 also resulted in a decrease in TAG levels in adipocytes cultured under high fatty acid conditions. This effect was mediated by stimulating the expression of SREBP and Leptin mRNA, suggesting that Rb2 might be a valuable component capable of lowering the levels of lipids.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.29 no.11
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• pp.1223-1231
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• 1996

Immunohistochemical stains for RB and p53 tumor suppressor gene products were performed on 72 cases of resected primary lung cancer tissues to study the correlation between their expressions and the histologic types, the clinical stage, and the survival rate. The results were as follows. 1. The RB protein was altered or absent in 38 cases (52.8%), and the mutant p53 protein was detected in 35 cases (48.6%). 2. The incidences of RB and p53 protein expression were significantly different among the histologic types (p＜0.05) but were not correlated with the clinical stages of lung cancer (p＞0.05). 3. The two year survival rate of patients with alteration of both RB and p53 genes (RB-/p53＋) was 22. 4%, and that with no alteration of both genes (RB+/p53-) was 63.1%. This difference was statistically significant (p=0.01). 4. It was shown that alteration of RB protein greatly affects the prognosis of lung carcinoma by multivariate analysis of prognostic factors. The presence or absence of RB and mutant p53 protein in tumor cells is closely related to the survival of primary lung cancer patients, and it is suggested that RB gene expression is an independent prognostic factor of primary lung cancer.

• Archives of Pharmacal Research
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• v.25 no.1
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• pp.71-76
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• 2002

Ginseng has been used as a traditional medicine with various therapeutic effects. However, it is still unknown which component of this plant is effective at promoting wound healing. Recently, ginsenoside $Rb_2$ has been reported to improve wound healing. In this study, to investigate the reported wound healing effect of the ginsenoside $Rb_2$, cell morphology and protein factors involved in epidermal formation were evaluated by immunshemical and immunoblotting analysis. $Rb_2$ stimulated epidermal cell proliferation, and the cell showed a 1.5-fold increase in thymidine uptake compared to the control (p<0.05, n=3). Futheremore $Rb_2$, was found to stimulate epidermis formation in a dose-dependent manner in raft culture, and to dose dependently enhance the expressions of protein factors related to cell proliferation, namely, epidermal growth factor and its receptor, fibronectin and its receptor, keratin 5/14, and collagenase 1 (p<0.05, n=3~9). It is believed that ginsenoside $Rb_2$, enhances epidermal cell proliferation by upregulating the expressions of these proliferation-related factors.

• Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society
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• v.23 no.8
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• pp.1121-1126
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• 2002

Two anhydrous crystal structures of fully dehydrated Cd2+ - and Cs+ -exchanged zeolite X, Cd32Cs28Si100Al92O384 (Cd32Cs28-X: a = 24.828(11) $\AA)$ and fully dehydrated Cd,sup>2+ - and Rb+ -exchanged zeolite X, Cd28Rb36Si100Al92O384 (Cd28Rb36-X: a = 24.794(2) $\AA$), have been determined by single-crystal X-ray diffraction techniques in the cubic space group Fd3 at $21(1)^{\circ}C.$ The structures were refined to the final error indices, R1 = 0.058 and R2 = 0.065 with 637 reflections for Cd32Cs28-X and R1 = 0.086 and R2 = 0.113 with 521 reflections for Cd28Rb36-X for which I > $3\sigma(I)$. In the structure of Cd,sub>32Cs28-X, 16 Cd2+ ions fill the octahedral sites I at the centers of the double six rings (Cd-O = $2.358(8)\AA$ and O-Cd-O = $90.8(3)^{\circ}$ ). The remaining 16 Cd2+ ions occupy site II (Cd-O = $2.194(8)\AA$ and O-Cd-O = $119.7(4)^{\circ})$ and six Cs+ ions occupy site II opposite to the single six-rings in the supercage; each is $2.322\AA$ from the plane of three oxygens (Cs-O = 3.193(13) and O-Cs-O = $73.0(2)^{\circ}).$ Aboutten Cs+ ions are found at site II', $1.974\AA$ into the sodalite cavity from their three oxygen plane (Cs-O = $2.947(8)\AA$ and O-Cs-O = $80.2(3)^{\circ}).$ The remaining 12 Cs+ ions are distributed over site III' (Cs-O = 3.143(9) and O-Cs-O= $59.1(2)^{\circ})$. In the structure of Cd28Rb36-X, 16 Cd2+ ions fill the octahedral sites I at the center of the double-sixrings (Cd-O = 2.349(15) and O-Cd-O = $91.3(5)^{\circ}$ ). Another 12 Cd2+ ions occupy two different II sites (Cd-O = $2.171(18)/2.269(17)\AA$ and O-Cd-O = $119.7(7)/113.2(7)^{\circ}).$ Fifteen Rb+ ions occupy site II (Rb-O = $2.707(17)\AA$ and O-Rb-O = $87.8(5)^{\circ}).$ The remaining 21 Rb+ ions are distributed over site III' (Rb-O = $3.001(16)\AA$ and O-Rb-O = $60.7(4)^{\circ})$. It appears that the smaller and more highly charged Cd2+ ions prefer sites I and Ⅱ in that order, and the larger Rb+ and Cs+ ions, which are less able to balance the anionic charge of the zeolite framework, occupy sites II and II' with the remainder going to the least suitable site in the structure, site III'.The maximum Cs+ and Rb+ ion exchanges were 30% and 39%, respectively. Because these cations are too largeto enter the small cavities and their charge distributions may be unfavorable, cation-sieve effects might appear.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.40 no.2
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• pp.105-112
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• 2016

Background: Minor saponins or human intestinal bacterial metabolites, such as ginsenosides Rg3, F2, Rh2, and compound K, are more pharmacologically active than major saponins, such as ginsenosides Rb1, Rb2, and Rc. In this work, enzymatic hydrolysis of ginsenoside Rb1 was studied using enzyme preparations from cultured mycelia of mushrooms. Methods: Mycelia of Armillaria mellea, Ganoderma lucidum, Phellinus linteus, Elfvingia applanata, and Pleurotus ostreatus were cultivated in liquid media at $25^{\circ}C$ for 2 wk. Enzyme preparations from cultured mycelia of five mushrooms were obtained by mycelia separation from cultured broth, enzyme extraction, ammonium sulfate (30-80%) precipitation, dialysis, and freeze drying, respectively. The enzyme preparations were used for enzymatic hydrolysis of ginsenoside Rb1. Results: Among the mushrooms used in this study, the enzyme preparation from cultured mycelia of A. mellea (AMMEP) was found to convert ginsenoside Rb1 into compound K with a high yield, while those from G. lucidum, P. linteus, E. applanata, and P. ostreatus produced remarkable amounts of ginsenoside Rd from ginsenoside Rb1. The enzymatic hydrolysis pathway of ginsenoside Rb1 by AMMEP was $Rb1{\rightarrow}Rd{\rightarrow}F2{\rightarrow}$ compound K. The optimum reaction conditions for compound K formation from ginsenoside Rb1 were as follows: reaction time 72-96 h, pH 4.0-4.5, and temperature $45-55^{\circ}C$. Conclusion: AMMEP can be used to produce the human intestinal bacterial metabolite, compound K, from ginsenoside Rb1 with a high yield and without food safety issues.

• Journal of Sensor Science and Technology
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• v.12 no.1
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• pp.1-9
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• 2003

CsI single crystals doped with lithium, potassium or rubidium were grown by using Czochralski method at Ar gas atmosphere. The energy resolutions of CsI(Li:0.2 mole%), CsI(K:0.5 mole%) and CsI(Rb:1.5 mole%) scintillators were 14.5%, 15.9% and 17.0% for $^{137}Cs$(0.662 MeV), respectively. The energy calibration curves of CsI(Li), CsI(K) and CsI(Rb) scintillators were linear for $\gamma$-ray energy. The time resolutions of CsI(Li:0.2 mole%), CsI(K:0.5 mole%) and CsI(Rb:1.5 mole%) scintillators measured by CFT(constant-fraction timing method) were 9.0 ns, 14.7 ns and 9.7 ns, respectively. The fluorescence decay times of CsI(Li:0.2 mole%) scintillator had a fast component and slow one of ${\tau}_1=41.2\;ns$ and ${\tau}_2=483\;ns$, respectively. The fluorescence decay times of CsI(K:0.5 mole%) scintillator were ${\tau}_1=47.2\;ns$ and ${\tau}_2=417\;ns$. And the fluorescence decay times of CsI(Rb:1.5 mole%) scintillator were ${\tau}_1=41.3\;ns$ and ${\tau}_2=553\;ns$. The phosphorescence decay times of CsI(Li:0.2 mole%), CsI(K:0.5 mole%) and CsI(Rb:1.5 mole%) scintillators were 0.51 s, 0.57 s and 0.56 s, respectively.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.46 no.2
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• pp.206-213
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• 2022

Ginsenoside Rb2 is an active protopanaxadiol-type saponin, widely existing in the stem and leave of ginseng. Rb2 has recently been the focus of studies for pharmaceutical properties. This paper provides an overview of the preclinical and clinical pharmacokinetics for Rb2, which exhibit poor absorption, rapid tissue distribution and slow excretion through urine. Pharmacological studies indicate a beneficial role of Rb2 in the prevention and treatment of diabetes, obesity, tumor, photoaging, virus infection and cardiovascular problems. The underlying mechanism is involved in an inhibition of oxidative stress, ROS generation, inflammation and apoptosis via regulation of various cellular signaling pathways and molecules, including AKT/SHP, MAPK, EGFR/SOX2, TGF-β1/Smad, SIRT1, GPR120/AMPK/HO-1 and NF-κB. This work would provide a new insight into the understanding and application of Rb2. However, its therapeutic effects have not been clinically evaluated. Further studies should be aimed at the clinical treatment of Rb2.