• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.20 no.2
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• pp.133-138
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• 1996

Rabbit corpus cavernosal smooth muscle strips submaximally precontracted with phenylephrine (5$\times$$10^6$ M) and treated with increasing concentrations of Korean ginseng (1, 5, 10, 20, 30, 40 mg/ml) showed tension decrease concentration-dependently (1 mg/ml: 1.7%, 5 mg/ml: 10.2%, 10 mg/ml: 22.7%, 20 mg/ml: 44.0%, 30 mg/ml: 65.2%, 40 mg/ml: 95.6%). Relaxations to Korean ginseng were inhibited significantly by endothelial disruption, by pretreatment with methylene blue, pyrogallol, L-NNA and atropine. Pretreatment of the muscle strips with ginseng caused concentration-related inhibition of a phenylephrine induced contraction, and in calcium-free high potassium depolarizing solution, decreased basal tension as well as inhibited contraction induced by Caclr. Korean ginseng also produced the reduction of responses to depolarizing medium(50, 40, 60 mM KCI). With these results we can confirm the relaxation effect of ginseng at a dose dependent on the cavernosal smooth muscle and suggest that its action is mediated by multiple action mechanisms that include increasing the release of nitric oxide from the corporal sinusoids. Increasing intracellular calcium sequestration, and a hyperpolarizating action.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
• /
• v.20 no.2
• /
• pp.139-148
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• 1996

This study was designed to examine the effects of red ginseng total saponin and extract on spatial working memory in mice using Morris water maze. Two kinds of red ginseng saponin (No. 1 and No. 2) and three kinds of red ginseng extract (No. 1, No. 2 and No. 3) to have different PD/ PT ratio (No. 1=1.24, No.2=1.47 No.3=2.41) were prepared by mixing the different parts of red ginseng In different ratio. In acute administration of total saponin No. 1 or No. 2, escape time to reach to a hidden platform In a fixed location for training trials was significantly decreased as compared with control group and swimming time in the quadrant that had contained the platform was also significantly increased as compared with control group. In acute treatment of extract No. 1 or 1 No. 2, swimming time in the platformless quadrant was increased dose dependently as compared with control group, especially at dose of 200 mg/kg,bw swimming time was significantly Increased. Oral treatment of extract No. 1 (100 mg/kg, bw) for 7 days produced an increase of swimming time In the platformless quadrant but a decrease of swimming time in No.3-treated group (100 mg/kg, bw). These results show that red ginseng may improve spatial discrimination learning and spatial working memory of mice