• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.41 no.3
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• pp.316-325
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• 2017

Background: Ginseng essence (GE) is a formulation comprising four medicinal and edible herbs including ginseng (Panax ginseng), American ginseng (Panax quinquefolius), lotus seed (Nelumbo nucifera), and lily bulb (Lilium longiflorum). This study was aimed at investigating the hepatoprotective effect of GE against carbon tetrachloride ($CCl_4$)-induced liver injury in rats. Methods: We treated Wistar rats daily with low, medium, and high [0.625 g/kg body weight (bw), 1.25 g/kg bw, and 3.125 g/kg bw, respectively] doses of GE for 9 wk. After the 1st wk of treatment, rats were administered 20% $CCl_4$ (1.5 mL/kg bw) two times a week to induce liver damage until the treatment ended. Results: Serum biochemical analysis indicated that GE ameliorated the elevation of aspartate aminotransferase and alanine aminotransferase and albumin decline in $CCl_4$-treated rats. Moreover, $CCl_4$-induced accumulation of hepatic total cholesterol and triglyceride was inhibited. The hepatoprotective effects of GE involved enhancing the hepatic antioxidant defense system including glutathione, glutathione peroxidase, glutathione reductase, glutathione S-transferase, superoxide dismutase, and catalase. In addition, histological analysis using hematoxylin and eosin and Masson's trichrome staining showed that GE inhibited $CCl_4$-induced hepatic inflammation and fibrosis. Furthermore, immunohistochemical staining of alpha-smooth muscle actin indicated that $CCl_4$-triggered activation of hepatic stellate cells was reduced. Conclusion: These findings demonstrate that GE improves $CCl_4$-induced liver inflammation and fibrosis by attenuating oxidative stress. Therefore, GE could be a promising hepatoprotective herbal formulation for future development of phytotherapy.

• Journal of Pharmacopuncture
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• v.27 no.2
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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.

• Journal of Ginseng Culture
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• v.4
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• pp.38-58
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• 2022

Park Wan-seo's novels deal with realistic topics of society, such as women's issues, the capitalist system, and the problems that come with old age. Assuch, her work is used as a tool to analyze social phenomena in various fields, such as women's studies, sociology, and literature. A characteristic style of Park Wan-seo's novels is that she bases them on her own experiences. However, among her novels, the novel Mimang is exceptional. The plot is based on stories that have been passed down from generation to generation. This is to show the spirit of the times through the unforgettable story of her hometown, Gaesong. Mimang is the story of a family chronology that spans four generations centered on Chun Cheu-Man and his family, who became powerful capitalists through the cultivation and commerce of ginseng cultivation. Set in the late 19th century until the end of the Korean War, the novel unravels the essence of the times symbolized by merchants of ginseng and Gaeseong, focusing on the actions of people living in a period of historical turbulence. Gaeseong is the mecca of Korean ginseng, and Gaeseong cannot be portrayed without the story of ginseng and its merchants. Therefore, Mimang, a fictionalized story based on real facts, contains valuable testimony of the history of ginseng, not only as historical values of modern history and personal customs but also as microhistory. In the novel, traces of the times of Gaeseong and the spirit of ginseng merchants, as shown in the Japanese sacking of ginseng during the colonial period, the resistance of ginseng merchants, and the conversion of ginseng capitalism to modern capitalism, are imprinted like fossils. What is especially meaningful is that the stories in the novel correspond to historical facts and constitute a chapter in the history of ginseng. The symbolism of ginseng in the novel can be explained in three main ways. First, it shows the essence of Korean ginseng. It reveals the soul of ginseng through the sincerity and rigor of ginseng farming, as well as the spirit and pride of ginseng. Second, it symbolizes the exploitation of ginseng in Japan as a national issue. The efforts of ginseng merchants to protect this and support the independence movement are presented as important themes to express nationalism. Third, it shows the modern capitalist progressiveness of Gaeseong ginseng merchants, who do not stay in landownership and commercial capital, but convert them to productive capital and contribute to society by modernizing them. The three symbolisms show the spirit of the times of the Gaeseong ginseng merchants, clearly revealing the meaningful relationship between the Korean people and ginseng.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Tobacco Science
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• v.20 no.1
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• pp.19-25
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• 1998

The bulk curing experiment to the improve the quality of flue-cured leaves were carried out to evaluate relationship between cyclic curing and conventional curing method. We studied the effect of the cyclic change of wet bulb temperature at the yellowing stage of flue curing on chemical properties of cured leaves. The wet bulb temperature was automatically controlled between preset high($38^{\circ}C$) and low point ($35^{\circ}C$) everyone hour cyclically during 12 hours after starting luring. As a result, the acceleration of the increase in the chemical properties of cured leaves were observed. As to the chemical properties, there was decreased in citric acid, increased in malic acid of the nonvolatile organic acids and all higher fatty acids content of leaves cured by this method compared with in that of conventional curing method, while a major chemical compounds in relation to aromatic essence of cigarette smoke in essential oil components of lured leaves was mostly higher in this method than those of conventional ones, and it was evaluated that there was decreased in CO, TPM, Tar, and $CO_2$ content of the cigarette smoke comparing to the conventional luring method.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.9 no.2
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• pp.154-162
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• 1985

We report a newassay method on the measurement of the catalase activity, whose utilzation value is considered to be remarkable in the field of plant biochemistry. We named this method as a De-Coupling method. The essence of de-coupling method is the separation between the enzyme reaction and the indicator reaction. The optimum condition of the enzyme reaction was found to be following: on addition of 1 ml of substrate (H2O2: 20mM) to the fixture of the crude extract of enzyme (volume: 0.2 ml) and the ammonium phosphate buffer (volume: 1.8 ml; 0.93 M phosphate, 1.6M NHB, 2.5 M methanol, pH 7.0). After 30, 60 and 90 seconds of the enzyme reactions are proceeded, the reactions are terminated by 25% of tai-chloro-acetate (final concentration of 5%), respectively. The precipitated materials by tai-chloro-acetate was removed by the centrifugation (2000g, 10minutes). Formaldehyde produced in the enzymatic reaction was reacted with 2ml of acetylacetone (60mM). The indicator reaction -(HANTSCH REAKT10N)- in which lutidine is formed, was proceeded for 60 minutes at $25^{\circ}C$.

• Journal of Korean Medical classics
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• v.24 no.2
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• pp.51-64
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• 2011

Gyeongoggo is first described in the Collected Prescription by Hong Family in the Song Dynasty in China. It is composed of Radix Rehmnniae, Panax ginseng, Poria cocos, and Mel. Its main efficacy is to treat weakness of primordial essence of body and dry cough, and to invigorate qi and replenish yin principle. It is one of the most important prescriptions that people have been using for a long time. We studied the documents recorded in the medical classics and comprehended the following results. Gyeongoggo has efficacy to keep a person healthy and live long age, to treat amnesia and dizziness from brain weakness, to strengthen muscle and bone by improving function of stomach and colon, to improve a person's memory and judgement, to invigorate brain weakness, and, to treat tuberculosis and lung cancer. The longer a person take it, the better it is for one's health and meditation. When it is made, it is important to mix four components up, to boil it with an oak tree for three days and nights, and then to add water from a well to reduce heat for a full day, and to boil up again for a full day to mature fully. As gyeongoggo is acquired not only by the full heart of a manufacturer but also the sympathy of nature, it is important to choose a clean place to make and keep. When it is taken, it is proper to take it with warm water or liquors. And when it is made, we came to know that it is possible to make gyeongoggo with special efficacy by adding one to three more components.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.12 no.1
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• pp.335-340
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• 2011

This study evaluated anti-wrinkle effect for eye using essence and cream containing extract of Liriope platy phyllla, Inonotus obliquus, Glycyrrhiza glabra, black ginseng, Atractylodes japonica, Poria cocos Wolf, Angelica gigas, Rehmanniae Radix Preparata and Cnidii Rhizoma, Paeonia lactiflora. 6 female adults on average at the age of 44.8, applied cream after essence under the normal conditions of use on the crow's feet area, twice a day (in the morning and evening), 2mg/$1cm^2$ for 4weeks. After 4 weeks, the replica of eye wrinkle was made and analyzed the image. The result was that eye wrinkle was decreased in R1($3.22{\pm}0.85$ to $2.38{\pm}0.32$), R2($3.08{\pm}0.83$ to $2.22{\pm}0.32$), R3($2.29{\pm}0.64$ to $2.29{\pm}0.64$), R4($0.44{\pm}0.14$ to $0.44{\pm}0.14$), and R5($0.98{\pm}0.21$ to $0.98{\pm}0.21$)(P<0.05). Therefore, oriental medicine cosmetics containing traditional herb medicine may play a role anti-wrinkle for eye.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.28 no.5
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• pp.997-1002
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• 1999

The aim of the present study was to investigate effects of food preservative addition and changes in composition of herb extract product on the growth of spoilage yeast, Zygosaccharomyces sp. Herbs such as Panax ginseng, Cinnamomum cassia, Lycium chinense, Zyzyphus juiuba and Jingiber officinale were altogether put into water and essence was extracted at 80oC, and then the extract was concentrated at 75oC. The herb extract product was made by adding vitamins, amino acids and honey to the concentrated herb extract. The amount of gas produced from the herb extract product was increased as inoculated cell number increased but decreased as Brix concentration increased. Gases were produced in small amount when incubation was made at 4oC but large amounts of gases were produced at 25 or 40oC of incubation. The gas production and growth of Zygosaccharomyces sp. were measured after browning reaction was induced by heating at 85oC for 12 hours. It appeared that heating treatment did not induce any significant change in the gas production and growth of the cell. The effects of addition of various sugar to the herb extract produce were also invesigated. Amounts of gas production were in the order of glucose>sucrose>oligosaccharide>stevioside. The viable cell count was measured as 6.0$\times$107 CFU/g when glucose was added to the herb extract product. The viable cell counts were 5.0$\times$106, 3.0$\times$103, and 3.0$\times$102 CFU/g in sucrose, oligosaccharide and stevioside added herb extract product, respectively. The amount of gas production from the herb extract product was remarkably reduced by addition of such food preservatives as sodium benzoate and DF 100. TLC(thin layer chromatography) chromatogram of the herb extract showed stability of the herb extract in the above treatments.

• Journal of the East Asian Society of Dietary Life
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• v.25 no.4
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• pp.549-564
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• 2015

This study was conducted on the head family house of Panseogong coterie of Andong Kwon clans in Daksil village, Bongwha gun, Kyungbuk: historical sources survey and field visit over four rounds were conducted from March to June 2014. In-depth interview, storytelling, and nutrition facts were used as methods of research using 49 participants, and the potentials of trend goods were the main purpose of this research. The specialties of bongwha prefecture in the Chosun Dynasty were pine nut, manna lichen, ginseng, sweetfish, and wild honey. Ritual food bulcheonwi's offerings a feature in Choongjae Kwonbeol's head family - were sacred wine, me, gang, otang, myun, myunjeok, pyunjeok, pyunchung, pyun, po, chungpomook, dojeok, sookchae, ssam, chimchai, sikhye, chogwa, silgwa, soojunggwa, etc. The ritual foods of bulcheonwi's head family house Choongjae Kwonbeol were commercialized through storytelling. Choongjae Kwonbeol's ritual ceremonies, recognized for their national royalty, were reorganized as the traditional Korean table settings, so that the Korean people could easily access them. The special meal called "Geumgyeporansang" represented the head family house foods' essence to share and serve others through the Dacshil village's natural beauty, Bonghwa's local ingredients, and festivities after the "Chungjae Gwunbal Bulchun" rituals. The ritual foods called "Cheongamjungsang", utilizing "Chungjae Gwunbal Bulchun" rituals, were represented in the form of a lunch box: such foods illustrate the classical scholar's mindset that enjoys the nature and arts through education and virtue.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.26 no.1
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• pp.10-18
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• 2012

In this paper, to find out how different the treatment of special individuals named 'old people' is with that of ordinary cases, Dongeuibogam(東醫寶鑑) was chosen as the study material and some parts in it where the symptoms of old people in the same disease category were treated in different ways were excerpted to analyze the tendency of pathological symptoms and prescriptions in the physiological perspective. As the result of analysis on the parts in Dongeuibogam(東醫寶鑑) where the old people were treated in different ways, it turned out that 65 prescriptions were used in 24 pathological symptoms. The 24 symptoms are included mainly in chapters of 'inner view(內景)' and 'outer form(外形)'. They are including the pathological symptoms which had been presented as general geriatric symptoms and also seems to have added other symptoms which should be clinically reflected in the specialty of treatment for geriatric diseases. The 65 prescriptions are also recorded mainly in chapters of 'inner view(內景)' and 'outer form(外形)'. The herbs used for them were sweet and warm herbs such as Rehmannia glutinosa (Gaertner) Libosch(熟地黃), Angelica gigas Nakai(當歸), Panax ginseng C. A. Mey(人蔘) and Atractylodes macrocephala Koidz(白朮) that can support the essence blood of liver and kidney and the energy of spleen, lung and stomach. Those herbs could be added or subtracted according to the symptom. It seems to have resulted from the treatment method that old people was applied to old people in consideration of their physiological features. When the 24 symptoms and 65 prescriptions for geriatric diseases different from ordinary ones in Dongeuibogam(東醫寶鑑) were considered in the physiological view point, it could be seen that each pathological symptom was manifested as a exhaustion of kidney qi(腎氣枯渴) which was a characteristic physiologic state of old people. Through this, it could be seen that the use of prescriptions was also made to mitigate the body fluid deficiency(津液不足), the kidney yin inner heat(腎陰內熱), the heart spirit void and loss(心神虛損), the kidney yang deficiency(腎陽不足), the spleen failing in transportation(脾失健運), the spleen yang deficiency(脾陽不足), the liver fire inner movement(肝火內動) and the lung energy void and loss(肺氣虛寒).