• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.44 no.2
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• pp.215-221
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• 2020

Background: Panax ginseng has been used for a variety of medical purposes in eastern countries for more than two thousand years. From the extensive experiences accumulated in its long medication use history and the substantial strong evidence in modern research studies, we know that ginseng has various pharmacological activities, such as antitumor, antidiabetic, antioxidant, and cardiovascular system-protective effects. The active chemical constituents of ginseng, ginsenosides, are rich in structural diversity and exhibit a wide range of biological activities. Methods: Ginsenoside constituents from P. ginseng flower buds were isolated and purified by various chromatographic methods, and their structures were identified by spectroscopic analysis and comparison with the reported data. The 3-(4,5-dimethyl-2-thiazolyl)-2,5-diphenyl-2H- tetrazolium bromide method was used to test their cytotoxic effects on three human cancer cell lines. Results: Six ginsenosides, namely 6'-malonyl formyl ginsenoside F₁ (1), 3β-acetoxyl ginsenoside F₁ (2), ginsenoside Rh₂₄ (6), ginsenoside Rh₂₅ (7), 7β-hydroxyl ginsenoside Rd (8) and ginsenoside Rh₂₆ (10) were isolated and elucidated as new compounds, together with four known compounds (3-5 and 9). In addition, the cytotoxicity of these isolated compounds was shown as half inhibitory concentration values, a tentative structure-activity relationship was also discussed based on the results of our bioassay. Conclusion: The study of chemical constituents was useful for the quality control of P. ginseng flower buds. The study on antitumor activities showed that new Compound 1 exhibited moderate cytotoxic activities against HL-60, MGC80-3 and Hep-G2 with half inhibitory concentration values of 16.74, 29.51 and 20.48 μM, respectively.

• The Korean Journal of Food And Nutrition
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• v.27 no.1
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• pp.43-49
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• 2014

Panax ginseng C.A. Meyer has been used as a traditional medicinal ingredient and the ginseng flower-buds also proved to have good medicinal properties. In this study, in order to enhance immune activities of ginseng flower-bud, the ginseng flower-bud extract was being fermented by Bacillus subtilis KCTC 1022 (BS), Lactobacillus plantarum KCTC3 and Saccharomyces cerevisiae strain CHY1011 (SC). Mice were orally administered daily for two weeks at two different concentrations (100 and 200 mg/kg B.W.). Treatment samples were water extracts of ginseng flower-buds (FD), water extracts of fermented ginseng flower-buds (FM) and controls for saline solution. Cytokine production (IL-6, TNF-${\alpha}$) either stimulated with LPS or not stimulated with LPS was detected by the ELISA assay when using the cytokine kit. Cytokine was statistically increased at supplemented groups with LPS in both the 100 and the 200 mg/kg B.W. and treatment with FM significantly decreased the LPS-induced TNF-${\alpha}$ and IL-6 production more than the treatment with FD. The results of this study may suggest that supplementation with FM increases the immune function by regulating cytokine production capacity for activated macrophages.

• Analytical Science and Technology
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• v.9 no.4
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• pp.331-335
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• 1996

Flavor constituents of green tea flower produced in Korea were analyzed by gas chromatography and mass spectrometry. 56 compounds in sample were separated and indentified as 22 hydrocarbons, 14 alcohols, 6 aldehydes, 5 esters, and 9 others. Higher concentrated substances were heneicosyl formate, ${\alpha}$-phenyl ethyl alcohol, and acetophenone. Germacrene D as a sesquiterpene were also identified.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.42 no.5
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• pp.663-669
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• 2013

To improve the use of ginseng flower-buds, antioxidant activities of ginseng flower-buds fermented using a variety of useful microorganisms were analyzed. Non-fermented grape pomace was used as a control, while fermentation was carried out using Bacillus subtilis (BS), Lactobacillus plantarum (LP), Lactobacillus casei (LC), Candida utilis (CU), Saccharomyces cerevisiae strain CHY1011 (Y1), Saccharomyces cerevisiae strain ZP 541 (Y2), and a mixed-strain culture with LP, LC, and CU (M). The total polyphenol content of ginseng flower-buds was highest in the control compared to the other fermented ginseng flower-buds. DPPH radical and ABTS radical scavenging activity were also highest in fermented group by BS. The FRAP value (10 mg/mL) was highest in the control group but did not show a significant difference in the fermented group by BS. The highest reducing power activity was in the fermented group by LC compared to the other group, including the control. Therefore, the fermentation of ginseng flower-buds using various microorganisms, shows that fermentation with the Bacillus subtilis strain increases antioxidant activity. More research of its effects on other physiological activities will be needed.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.22 no.1
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• pp.55-61
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• 2014

Panax ginseng is a medicinal herb that is used worldwide. Its medicinal effects are primarily attributable to ginsenosides located in the root, leaf, seed, and flower. The flower buds of Panax ginseng (FBPG) are rich in various bioactive ginsenosides, which exert immunomodulatory and anti-inflammatory activities. The aim of the present study was to assess the effect of 18 ginsenosides isolated from steamed FBPG on the transcriptional activity of NF-${\kappa}B$ and the expression of tumor necrosis factor-${\alpha}$ (TNF-${\alpha}$)-stimulated target genes in liver-derived cell lines. Noticeably, the ginsenosides $Rk_3$ and $Rs_4$ exerted the strongest activity, inhibiting NF-${\kappa}B$ in a dose-dependent manner. SF and $Rg_6$ also showed moderately inhibitory effects. Furthermore, these four compounds inhibited the TNF-${\alpha}$-induced expression of IL8, CXCL1, iNOS, and ICAM1 genes. Consequently, ginsenosides purified from steamed FBPG have therapeutic potential in TNF-${\alpha}$-mediated diseases such as chronic hepatic inflammation.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.11 no.2
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• pp.111-117
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• 1987

The phase and times on the development of dormancy bud in seedling, and those of flower organs in 2-year-old ginseng are different to those of over 2-,3-year-old plant, respectively. The growing aspects of dormancy bud in seedling were investigated from rooting stage (April, 8) to Mid-June, and those of flower organs in 2-year-old plant had done once in two days late in April after compound leaves were unfolded. Firstly, the formation of dormancy bud in seedling was begun on Mid-late in March. This is early about one month compare with those of over 2-year-old plant. Fine bud in seedling was formed between cotyledons, at W spot under young shoot. Secondly, development of flower organs in 2-year-old plant was completed from late of April to early of May after compound leaves of transplanted plant were unfolded. In tare, this is very different characteristics because plants of any other ages form the flower organs one year ago. Thirdly, flower organs of ginseng plant, over 3-year-old plant, always develop in the rhizome formed one year ago, but those of 2-year-old plant develop in apical shoot meristem.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.29 no.2
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• pp.71-79
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• 2005

In vitro studies using detached inflorescences with peduncles were conducted to investigate flower abscission agents in North American ginseng (Panax quinquefolius L.). Of the nine compounds studied only three, ammonium thiosulphate (ATS), abscisic acid (ABA) and ethephon induced abscission. Anilazine, benzyladenine, carbaryl, gibberellic acid, napthaleneacetic acid and thidiazuron did not induce abscission. ATS dip treatments did not induce abscission but the spray treatments induced $60.5\%$ abscission at $1500\;mg{\cdot}L^{-1}$ and $33.1\%$ at $3000\;mg{\cdot}L^{-1}$. Severe chlorophyll loss occurred on all inflorescences treated with ATS. Both ABA dip treatments and a $250\;{\mu}mol{\cdot}L^{-1}$ spray treatment caused abscission $(40\%)$ without adverse effects, and timing of ABA application was important. Because ABA was only significant in the dip treatments, ABA may not be a practical option for field use on ginseng. Ethephon sprays induced more abscission as the season progressed and as the concentration increased. As the dip concentrations of ethephon increased, the abscission rate decreased and the health of the inflorescences declined. The $1500\;mg{\cdot}L^{-1}$ spray of ethephon gave consistent abscission results over the glowing season with little phytotoxicity. Treatment with the competitive ethylene inhibitor 1-methylcy-clopropene (1-MCP) suggested that flower abscission was due to the liberation of ethylene from the breakdown of ethephon.

• Journal of Plant Biology
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• v.32 no.4
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• pp.255-264
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• 1989

Ginseng zygotic embryos, seedlings, and exised cotyledonary nodes were cultured on Murashinge and Skoog's(MS) medium, supplemented with 6-benzyladenine(BA) and gibberellic acid(GA3) to induce flower buds. As the concenteration of nitrogen compounds in MS medium was reduced to half of its strength, the flowering frequency of zygotic embryos increased up to 90%. The optimum concentration of sucrose in the medium for flowering of seedlings was 30-60 g/1. In all cases flower buds were formed on elongated axillary branches from the cotyledonary nodes, while the apices remained vegetative. When zygotic embryos and excised cotyledonary nodes were cultured on the medium, supplemented with all possible combinations of BA, GA3, and abscisic acid(ABA) of 5 $\mu$M indole-3-acetic acid(IAA) in the above combinations did not affect flowering. These results suggest that cytokinins, gibberellins, and inhibitors play primary, permissive, and preventive roles, respectively, in the induction of flowering of ginseng.

• Proceedings of the Botanical Society of Korea Conference
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• 1987.07a
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• pp.213-237
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• 1987

In vitro flowering system may minimize the confounded influence of non-floral meristem parts of plants in studying the relationship of a given treatment and flowering responses. We have induced flower buds from plantlets regenerated from zygotic embryo-derived somatic embryos of ginseng, which circumvented the normal 2-year juvenile period before flowering. The result suggests that the adulthood of ginseng root explants in the experiment previously conducted by Chang and Hsing (1980; Nature 284: 341-342) is not prerequired to flowering of plantlets regenerated through somatic embryogenesis. We have also induced flower buds from elongated axillary brandches from cotyledonary nodes by culturing ginseng zygotic embryos, seedlings, and excised cotyledonary nodes. It was found that 6-benzyladenine (BA) supplemented to the medium was essential for flowering, whereas abscisic acid (ABA) was inhibitory. Gibberellic acid(GA3) was also required for flowering when ABA was present with BA in the medium. The results suggest that cytokinins, gibberellins, and inhibitors play primary, permissive, and preventive roles, respective-ly, in the induction of flowering of ginseng. Tran Thanh Van (1980; Int. Rev. Cytol., Suppl. IIA: 175-194) has developed the "thin cell layer system" in which the induction of shoots, roots, or flower buds from epidermal layer explants were controlled by culture conditions and exogenous growth regulators in the medium, Utilizing the thin cell layer system, Meeks-Wagner et al. (1989; The Plant Cell 1: 25-35) have cloned genes specifically expressed during floral evocation. However, the system is too tedious for obtaining a sufficient amount of plant materials for biochmical and molecular biological studies of flowering. We have developed a garlic callus culture system and one obvious advantaging over the thin cell layer system is that an abundant cells committed to develope into flower buds proliferate. When the above cells were compared by two-dimensional gel electrophoresis with those which have just lost the competence for developing into flower buds, a few putative proteins specific to floral evocation were detected. The garlic callus culture system can be further explored for elucidation of the molecular biological mechanism of floral evocation and morphogenesis.hogenesis.

• Korean Journal of Soil Science and Fertilizer
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• v.50 no.4
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• pp.251-258
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• 2017

This study was conducted to identify transition characteristics of arsenic (As), cadmium (Cd), and lead (Pb) and to calculate bio-concentration factors (BCF) in the three perennial root medicinal plants, namely Codonopsis lanceolata (Deoduck), Platycodon grandiflorum (Balloon flower) and Panax ginseng (Korean ginseng) grown in major medicinal plant producing districts in Korea. Average BCF values ranged from 0.009~0.029 in As, 0.334~1.453 in Cd, and 0.021~0.023 in Pb in three perennial root medicinal plants. The BCF values increased in the order of ginseng (0.029) > deodeok (0.012) > balloon flower (0.009) for As, balloon flower (1.453) > deodeok (0.685) > ginseng (0.334) for Cd, and ginseng (0.023) > deodeok (0.022) > balloon flower (0.021) for Pb. The BCF values calculated in this study will be useful for predicting the uptake of heavy metal (loid)s. Further study on uptake and accumulation mechanism of toxic metal (loid)s by agricultural products is required to assess the human health risk associated with soil contamination.