• Proceedings of the Ginseng society Conference
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• 1984.09a
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• pp.21-26
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• 1984

The balance between metabolic activation of xenobiotics and detoxification of their active metabolites may playa vital role in controlling mutagenic and carcinogenic processes. To assess the possible role of P. ginseng C.A. Meyer in detoxification of xenobiotics, we studied the effects of ginseng on several parameters of the monooxygenasd system, including benzo(a) pyrene monooxygenase(AHH) and benzo(a) pyrene epoxide hydratase(EH) as well as effects of ginseng on the conjugation system. Test animals receiving ginseng saponin-fraction induced epoxide hydratase activity to over $150\%$ (20mg/kg b.w.) of the control and increased glutathione transferase activity (GSH-T) up to $140\%$ (20mg/kg b.w.) of the control, whereas no significant changes were observed in the benzopyrene monooxygenase activity (AHH). Such a selective induction of the inactivation enzyme epoxide hydratase, combined with a marked elevation of the detoxifying enzyme glutathione transferase, without a concurrent induction of benzopyrene monooxygenase which is responsible for the formation of carcinogenic intermediates, demonstrates that ginseng has the potential to alter the metabolic course of carcinogenic polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, and thereby enhance detoxification. Thus, ginseng may play an important role in the prevention of tumors caused by carcinogens.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.22 no.4
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• pp.412-417
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• 1993

This experiment was conducted to study the effect of old antler extracts on the hepatic detoxifying enzyme activities of the benzo(a)pyrene (B(a)P)-induced rats. Male Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into four groups and fed either AIN-76 diet or modified AIN-76 diet with old antler extracts (Water-ext, Neutral-ext, Ether-ext) four weeks. B(a)P treatment significantly decreased growth performance of rats. But this decrement was prevented by supplementation of old antler extracts. B(a)P treatment elevated glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) activity of rats, but this increment was reduced by old antler extracts supplementation. There was a tendency of lower cytochrome P-450 contents in B(a)P treated rats. However administration of old antler extracts increased this enzyme activity. Hepatic glutathione (GSH) levels were not affected by the old antler extracts administration. Lipid peroxide (LPO) levels were higher in the B(a)P treatment than in the control group and lower by old antler extracts supplementation. Present data showed that old antler extracts influenced on B(a)P-treated rats, and also the degree of antihepatotoxic effect was greater in water extract supplemented rats.

• Journal of Bio-Environment Control
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• v.18 no.4
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• pp.448-453
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• 2009

This study was performed to elucidate anticancer activities of various parts, such as peel, flesh, placenta, seed, stalk and stem leaf of oriental melon. Chemopreventive and anticancer effects of oriental melon extract were evaluated by detoxifying enzyme, quinone reductase (QR) inductive activity, cytotoxicity and growth inhibitory effect against hepatoma cell. Stalk and stem leaf extracts of oriental melon showed the increment of QR inductive activity with dose-dependent manner and induced quinone reductase 3.9, 1.5-fold at $200{\mu}g/mL$ respectively compared to control. The growth inhibitory effect of oriental melon extract against mouse hepatoma cell (Hepa1c1c7) was investigated by crystal violet (CV) assay. Stalk and stem leaf of oriental melon showed potent growth inhibitory effect. Based on these result, the growth inhibitory effects of stalk, stem leaf at various concentration were examined in detail by MTT assay using human hepatoma cancer cell (HepG2). All of two parts showed growth inhibitory effects and expecially stalk exhibited inhibitory effect of 60.3% at maximum concentration. The above results suggest that stalk of oriental melon has a possibility as a source of natural cancer chemopreventive materials.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.40 no.4
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• pp.423-430
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• 2016

Background: The induction of cellular defensive genes such as phase II detoxifying and antioxidant enzymes is a highly effective strategy for protection against carcinogenesis as well as slowing cancer development. Transcription factor Nrf2 (nuclear factor E2-related factor 2) is responsible for activation of phase II enzymes induced by natural chemopreventive compounds. Methods: Red ginseng oil (RGO) was extracted using a supercritical $CO_2$ extraction system and chemical profile of RGO was investigated by GC/MS. Effects of RGO on regulation of the Nrf2/antioxidant response element (ARE) pathway were determined by ARE-luciferase assay, western blotting, and confocal microscopy. Results: The predominant components of RGO were 9,12-octadecadienoic acid (31.48%), bicyclo[10.1.0] tridec-1-ene (22.54%), and 22,23-dihydrostigmasterol (16.90%). RGO treatment significantly increased nuclear translocation of Nrf2 as well as ARE reporter gene activity, leading to upregulation of heme oxygenase-1 and NAD(P)H:quinone oxidoreductase 1. Phosphorylation of the upstream kinases such as apoptosis signal-regulating kinase (ASK)1, mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) kinase (MKK)4/7, c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK), and p38 MAPK were enhanced by treatment with RGO. In addition, RGO-mediated Nrf2 expression and nuclear translocation was attenuated by JNK inhibitor SP600125 and p38 MAPK inhibitor SB202190. Conclusion: RGO could be used as a potential chemopreventive agent, possibly by induction of Nrf2/ARE-mediated phase II enzymes via ASK1-MKK4/7-JNK and p38 MAPK signaling pathways.