• Archives of Pharmacal Research
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• 제12권3호
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• pp.207-213
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• 1989

This study was performed to investigate the mechanism of in vitro cytotosic actions of polyacetylenes which are panaxydol, panaxynol and panaxytriol isolated from Panax ginseng C. A. Meyer. DNA synthesis of L1210 cells was significantly inhibited with dose dependent pattern when L1210 cells were treated for 1 hour with over 5 .mu.g/ml of polyacetylenes. Panaxydol which had the most potent cytotoxicity among three polyacetylenes showed also the strongest inhibitory effect on DNA synthesis. Intracellular cyclic AMP levels of L1210 cells treated with 2.5 $\mu$g/ml of panaxydol or panaxytriol were significantly elevated on the incubation duration. The elevation of cyclic AMP levels by panaxytriol was higher than that by panaxydol, but no significant increase in cyclic AMP by panaxynol was observed. All three polyacetylenes had no effect on glycolysis of L1210 cells. Electron microscopic observations revealed that polyacetylenes caused damage to plasma membranes of L1210 cells in proportion to their cytotoxicities at each $ED_{50}$ value (panaxydol > panaxynol> panaxytriol). These results suggest that cytotoxicities of polyacetylenes against L1210 cells might be mediated by elevated cyclic AMP level, even though the relationship among their cytotoxicities, inhibitory effect on DNA synthesis and ability to elevation of cyclic AMP level are not fully agreed, and might be also related to membrane damage.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• 제40권2호
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• pp.141-150
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• 2016

Background: Adipocyte-macrophage communication plays a critical role regulating white adipose tissue (WAT) inflammatory gene expression. Because WAT inflammation contributes to the development of metabolic diseases, there is significant interest in understanding how exogenous compounds regulate the adipocyte-macrophage crosstalk. An aqueous (AQ) extract of North American (NA) ginseng (Panax quinquefolius) was previously shown to have strong inflammo-regulatory properties in adipocytes. This study examined whether different ginseng extracts influence adipocyte-macrophage crosstalk, as well as WAT inflammatory gene expression. Methods: The effects of AQ and ethanol (EtOH) ginseng extracts ($5{\mu}g/mL$) on adipocyte and macrophage inflammatory gene expression were studied in 3T3-L1 and RAW264.7 cells, respectively, using real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction. Adipose tissue organ culture was also used to examine the effects of ginseng extracts on epididymal WAT (EWAT) and inguinal subcutaneous WAT (SWAT) inflammatory gene expression. Results: The AQ extract caused significant increases in the expression of common inflammatory genes (e.g., Mcp1, Ccl5, Tnf-${\alpha}$, Nos2) in both cell types. Culturing adipocytes in media from macrophages treated with the AQ extract, and vice versa, also induced inflammatory gene expression. Adipocyte Ppar-${\gamma}$ expression was reduced with the AQ extract. The AQ extract strongly induced inflammatory gene expression in EWAT, but not in SWAT. The EtOH extract had no effect on inflammatory gene expression in either both cell types or WAT. Conclusion: These findings provide important new insights into the inflammo-regulatory role of NA ginseng in WAT.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• 제35권2호
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• pp.209-218
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• 2011

Ginseng has been used as a general tonic agent to invigorate the human body as an adaptogenic agent. In a previous report, we have shown that ginseng contains a novel glycolipoprotein called gintonin. The main function of gintonin is to transiently enhance intracellular free $Ca^{2+}$ $[Ca^{2+}]_i$ levels in animal cells. The previous method for gintonin isolation included multiple steps using organic solvents. In the present report, we developed a simple method for the preparation of crude gintonin from ginseng root as well as stem and leaf, which produced a higher yield of gintonin than the previous one. The yield of gintonin was 0.20%, 0.29%, and 0.81% from ginseng root, stem, and leaf, respectively. The apparent molecular weight of gintonin isolated from stem and leaf through sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis was almost same as that from root but the compositions of amino acids, carbohydrates or lipids differed slightly between them. We also examined the effects of crude gintonin from ginseng root, stem, and leaf on endogenous $Ca^{2+}$-activated $Cl^-$ channel (CaCC) activity of Xenopus oocytes through mobilization of $[Ca^{2+}]_i$. We found that the order of potency for the activation of CaCC was ginseng root > stem > leaf. The $ED_{50}$ was $1.4{\pm}1.4$, $4.5{\pm}5.9$, and $3.9{\pm}1.1$ mg/mL for root, stem and leaf, respectively. In the present study, we demonstrated for the first time that in addition to ginseng root, ginseng stem and leaf also contain gintonin. Gintonin can be prepared from a simple method with higher yield of gintonin from ginseng root, stem, and leaf. Finally, these results demonstrate the possibility that ginseng stem and leaf could also be utilized for ginstonin preparation after a simple procedure, rather than being discarded.

• The Plant Pathology Journal
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• 제16권4호
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• pp.222-226
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• 2000

In disease surveys from 1986 ti 1998, disease incidence of tobacco black shank was gradually increased in burley tobacco from 1996. To study the causes of the disease occurrence, one hundred and fourteen isolates of Phytophthora parasitica var. nicotianae (Ppn) were collected from burley tobacco-growing areas in the southern part of Korea during 1996-1997, and tested in vitro for meatlaxyl sensitivity which was determined by measuring the mycelial growth on corn meal agar (CMA) amended with metalaxyl. Of the tested isolates, 78.1% showed sensitive to metalaxyl, having $\textrm{ED}_{50}$ values less than 1.0 $\mu\textrm{g}/$\textrm{ml}, while 1.7% was resistant weth $\textrm{ED}_{50}$ greater than 100 $\mu\textrm{g}/$\textrm{ml}. Ppn isolates from three provinces, Chungnam, Chonbuk and Chonnam showed similar distributions of metalaxyl sensitivity. Metalaxyl-resistant isolates were not significantly different from metalaxyl-sensitive ones in mycelial growth rate, chlamydospore formation capacity and size of the spore, and pathogenicity on tobacco plant (cv. Burley 21). These results suggest that the metalaxyl-resistant Ppn in burley tobacco may be one of the major factors to cause the higher occurrence of the tobacco black shank in the burley tobacco-growing area.

• 생약학회지
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• 제17권2호
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• pp.168-177
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• 1986

Bioassay-directed isolation has yielded some cytotoxic substances against L1210 cell from the Korean traditional medicine. These include 5,2'-dihydroxy-6,7,8,6'-teramethoxyflavone $(IV,\;scutellaria\;root,\;ED_{50}\;=\;1.7\;{mu}g/ml)$, 7-geranyloxycoumarin $(XXXII,\;poncirus\;fruit,\;10.2\;{mu}g/ml) $and panaxydol $(I,\;white\;ginseng,\;0.03\;{mu}g/ml)$. IV, XXXII and their derivatives were synthesized in the purpose of in vivo tests and for observation of structure-activity relations. Among the flavone derivatives, 5,2',6'-trihydroxy-6,7,8-trimethoxy flavone (XVIII), 5-hydroxy-6,7,8-trimethoxy-6'-benzyloxyflavone (XVII) and 5,8-dihydroxy-6,7-dimethoxyflavone (X) showed the cytotoxicity which has no correlation to the flavone structures. Of the coumarins synthesized, 7,8-dihydroxycoumarin (XXVI), 6-7-dihydroxycoumarin (XXIX) and 6-hydroxy-5,7-dimethoxycoumarin (XXXI) showed considerable activities. Acetylated XXXI has moderate activity $(ED_{50}=17.2\;{mu}g/ml)$. Monobydroxycoumarins or their methyl and allyl ether were inactive. IV inhibits the growth of the solid form of S-180 by 70% at 40 mg/kg and shows T/C of 166% on the ascitic S-180 at 40 mg/kg. It strongly inhibits the activity of the membrane bounded ATPase from L1210 cell. The most cytotoxic fraction of the antitumor materials studied is the one from the trichosanthes root showing $ED_{50}=0. 0003\;{mu}g/ml$ against L1210 cell. This fraction, obtained from ethyl acetate extract, showed T/C of 130 and 135%, on ICR mice bearing S-180 and $BDF_1$ mice bearing L1210 at 10 mg/kg and 7.5 mg/kg, respectively.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• 제39권4호
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• pp.398-405
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• 2015

Background: Ginseng has been used as a tonic for invigoration of the human body. In a previous report, we identified a novel candidate responsible for the tonic role of ginseng, designated gintonin. Gintonin induces $[Ca^{2+}]_i$ transient in animal cells via lysophosphatidic acid receptor activation. Gintonin-mediated $[Ca^{2+}]_i$ transient is linked to anti-Alzheimer's activity in transgenic Alzheimer's disease animal model. The previous method for gintonin preparation included multiple steps. The aim of this study is to develop a simple method of gintonin fraction with a high yield. Methods: We developed a brief method to obtain gintonin using ethanol and water. We extracted ginseng with fermentation ethanol and fractionated the extract with water to obtain water-soluble and water-insoluble fractions. The water-insoluble precipitate, rather than the water-soluble supernatant, induced a large $[Ca^{2+}]_i$ transient in primary astrocytes. We designated this fraction as gintonin-enriched fraction (GEF). Results: The yield of GEF was approximately 6-fold higher than that obtained in the previous gintonin preparation method. The apparent molecular weight of GEF, determined using sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, was equivalent to that obtained in the previous gintonin preparation method. GEF induced $[Ca^{2+}]_i$ transient in cortical astrocytes. The effective dose (ED50) was $0.3{\pm}0.09{\mu}g/mL$. GEF used the same signal transduction pathway as gintonin during $[Ca^{2+}]_i$ transient induction in mouse cortical astrocytes. Conclusion: Because GEF can be prepared through water precipitation of ginseng ethanol extract and is easily reproducible with high yield, it could be commercially utilized for the development of gintoninderived functional health food and natural medicine.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• 제23권4호
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• pp.239-246
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• 1999

백서를 이용하여 진세노사이드 흑은 모르핀을 척수강내 투여한 다음 tail-flick test를 통하여 진통 작용을 연구하였다. 또한, 진세노사이드를 모르핀과 함께 척수강내 장기 처리할 경우 모르핀에 의한 내성 및 의존성 유발에 미치는 영향을 연구하였다. 연구 결과, 척수강내 진세노사이드의 투여는 200 ${\mu}g$/rat에서 약한 진통 작용이 있는 것으로 나타났다. 모르핀은 투여 농도에 의존적으로 좋은 진통 효능을 보여주었으며, $ED_50$은 1.2 ${\mu}g/rat$인 것으로 나타났다. 그러나 진세노사이드의 모르핀을 함께 척수강내 투여할 경우 모르핀의 진통 작용을 증가 시키지 않은 것으로 나타났다. 200 ug/rat 진세노사이드를 10 ${\mu}g$/rat모르핀을 7일 동안 같이 투여할 경우 모르핀에 의한 통증 작용에 대한 내성을 억제하였으며, 모르핀에 의한 의존성을 부분적으로 억제하는 것으로 나타났다. 이러한 연구 결과는 척수 수준에서 진세노사이드가 모르핀의 장기 투여에 의하여 유도되는 모르핀에 대한 내성 및 의존성을 억제하는 것으로 사료된다.

• 생약학회지
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• 제17권4호
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• pp.286-291
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• 1986

Forty herbal drugs which are described to have potential antitumor activity were solvent-fractionated with petroleum ether, ether and ethyl acetate in sequence. The cytotoxic activity was mostly shown in the ether fraction(40.54%) and petroleum ether fraction (35.15%), but scarcely in the water phase (10.8%), meaning that most of the active components had less polar property. Twenty-seven percent of the drugs tested were active, which is higher value than 10.4% of the random sampled drugs The drugs possessing the $ED_{50}$ values less than $10{mu}g/ml$ were the roots of Lithospermum erythrorhizon, Curcuma domestica, Salvia miltiorrhiza, Astragalus membraneceus and Scutellaria indica, the leaves of Panax ginseng, S. indica and Liriodendron tulipifera, the barks of Picrasma ailanthoides and Rhus vernifera, the herbs of Agrimonia pilosa and Siegesbeckia pubescens the seeds of Tricosanthes kirilowii, P. ailanthoides, and the stem of P. ginseng.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• 제46권4호
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• pp.526-535
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• 2022

Background: During the pathogenesis of tendinopathy, the chronic inflammation caused by the injury and apoptosis leads to the generation of scars. Ginsenoside Rg1 (Rg1) is extracted from ginseng and has anti-inflammatory effects. Rg1 is a unique phytoestrogen that can activate the estrogen response element. This research aimed to explore whether Rg1 can function in the process of tendon repair through the estrogen receptor. Methods: In this research, the effects of Rg1 were evaluated in tenocytes and in a rat model of Achilles tendinitis (AT). Protein levels were shown by western blotting. qRT-PCR was employed for evaluating mRNA levels. Cell proliferation was evaluated through EdU assay and cell migration was evaluated by transwell assay and scratch test assay. Results: Rg1 up-regulated the expression of matrix-related factors and function of tendon in AT rat model. Rg1 reduced early inflammatory response and apoptosis in the tendon tissue of AT rat model. Rg1 promoted tenocyte migration and proliferation. The effects of Rg1 on tenocytes were inhibited by ICI182780. Rg1 activates the insulin-like growth factor-I receptor (IGF1R) and MAPK signaling pathway. Conclusion: Rg1 promotes injured tendon healing in AT rat model through IGF1R and MAPK signaling pathway activation.

• 대한약침학회지
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• 제27권2호
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• pp.82-90
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• 2024

Objectives: Nitric oxide is the most important mediator of penile erection after the onset of sexual excitement. It activates cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cGMP), increasing penile blood flow. Most pharmaceutical medications prevent enzyme phosphodiesterase type 5 (PDE-5) from breaking down cGMP, thus keeping its level high. However, due to the adverse effects of pharmacological therapies, herbal drugs that improve sexual function have gained attention recently. This study aimed to investigate the combined effects of ginseng, Tribulus terrestris, and L-arginine amino acid on the sexual performance of individuals with erectile dysfunction (ED) using the 5-item version of the International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF-5) questionnaire. Methods: Over three months, 98 men with erectile dysfunction were randomly assigned to receive either 500 mg of herbal supplements or placebo pills. Each herbal tablet contained 100 mg of protodioscin, 35 mg of ginsenosides, and 250 mg of L-arginine. Results: The results showed that the changes in the average scores of ILEF-5 within each group before and after the intervention indicated that all parameters related to the improvement of sexual function in patients with erectile dysfunction improved in the herbal treatment group (p < 0.001). The herbal group significantly improved IIEF-5 scores in nondiabetics (p < 0.05). However, there was no significant difference in the changes of IIEF-5 scores between the two intervention and control groups in diabetic patients. Conclusion: In conclusion, ginseng, Tribulus terrestris, and L-arginine have properties that increase energy and strengthen sexual function, making them suitable for patients with sexual disorders.