• Journal of Ginseng Culture
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• v.2
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• pp.27-38
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• 2020

Gaesung was the Mecca of Korean ginseng. Factors that Gaesung has been a leading brand of Korean ginseng were multiplicative. Those were natural conditions and huge commercial capital, red ginseng factory, creative business systems and etc. We can quote BongSang Son, SungHak Kong and JeongHo Kim as a famous Gaesung' ginseng merchants. They, as leaders modern ginseng industry had supplied the method of cultivation, prevention of phyto-diseases, excellent ginseng seed, and prepayment system of farming capital. The Gaesung merchants also adopted modern marketing techniques : commercial advertisement, made-order sales, changing package of the ginseng products. The book 'The Dictionary of Korean Companies and Stores' which was published in 1927 introduces BongSang Son as a great businessman in Gaesung. He was not only merchants but also educator and social worker. He practiced the spirit of entrepreneurship. BongSang Son's role of pioneer contributed to the development of Korean ginseng and Gaesung. Due to such efforts of Gaesung merchants, Korean ginseng industry were took a great step forward. This article considered the development of Korean ginseng industry through the life and achievement of the ginseng magnate BongSang Son who was a representative one of Gaesung merchants.

• Journal of Ginseng Culture
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• v.3
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• pp.54-73
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• 2021

The Natural Products Research Institute (NPRI, 生藥硏究所), an institution affiliated with Keijo Imperial University (京城帝國大學), was the predecessor of the NPRI at Seoul National University and a comprehensive research institute that focused on ginseng research during the Japanese colonial era. It was established under the leadership of Noriyuki Sugihara (杉原德行), a professor of the second lecture in pharmacology at the College of Medicine in Keijo Imperial University. Prof. Sugihara concentrated on studying Korean ginseng and herbal medicine beginning in 1926 when the second lecture of pharmacology was established. In addition to Prof. Sugihara, who majored in medicine and pharmacology, Kaku Tenmin (加來天民), an assistant professor who majored in pharmacy; Tsutomu Ishidoya (石戶谷勉), a lecturer who majored in agriculture and forestry; and about 36 researchers actively worked in the laboratory before the establishment of the NPRI in 1939. Among these personnel, approximately 14 Korean researchers had basic medical knowledge, derived mostly from specialized schools, such as medical, dental, and pharmaceutical institutions. As part of the initiative to explore the medicinal herbs of Joseon, the number of Korean researchers increased beginning in 1930. This increase started with Min Byung-Ki (閔丙祺) and Kim Ha-sik (金夏植). The second lecture of pharmacology presented various research results in areas covering medicinal plants in Joseon as well as pharmacological actions and component analyses of herbal medicines. It also conducted joint research with variousinstitutions. Meanwhile, in Gaesong (開城), the largest ginseng-producing area in Korea, the plan for the Pharmaceutical Industry Complex was established in 1935. This was a large-scale project aimed at generating profits through research on and the mass production of drugs and the reformation of the ginseng industry under collaboration among the Gaesong Ministry, Kwandong (關東) military forces, Keijo Imperial University, and private organizations. In 1936 and 1938, the Gyeonggi Provincial Medicinal Plant Research Institute (京畿道立 藥用植物硏究所) and the Herb Garden of Keijo Imperial University (京城帝國大學 藥草園) and Pharmaceutical Factory were established, respectively. These institutions merged to become Keijo Imperial University's NPRI, which wasthen overseen by Prof. Sugihara as director. Aside from conducting pharmacological research on ginseng, the NPRI devoted efforts to the development and sale of ginseng-based drugs, such as Sunryosam (鮮麗蔘), and the cultivation of ginseng. In 1941, the Jeju Urban Test Center (濟州島試驗場) was established, and an insecticide called Pancy (パンシ) was produced using Jeju-do medicinal herbs. However, even before research results were published in earnest, Japanese researchers, including Prof. Sugihara, hurriedly returned to Japan in 1945 because of the surrender of Japanese forces and the liberation of Korea. The NPRI was handed over to Seoul National University and led by Prof. Oh Jin-Sup (吳鎭燮), a former medical student at Keijo Imperial University. Scholars such as Woo Lin-Keun (禹麟根) and Seok Joo-Myung (石宙明) worked diligently to deal with the Korean pharmaceutical industry.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.10 no.1
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• pp.1-10
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• 1986

To evaluate the possible utilization of ginseng by-products, chemical components of ginseng residue, reducing ability of DPPH, effect of residue extract on the yeast growth, amino acid contents of yeast cell, increase of residue extract yield by enzyme treatment were studied. Alcohol and water extract residue contained 43-46% total reducing sugar and 14-15% crude protein, while alcohol extract residue had 0.18% n-BuOH extract. Water extract of alcohol extract residue had about 45% reducing ability of DPPH in comparison with that of alcohol extract from ginseng roots. Essential nutrients for the yeast growth were found in extract when Saccharomyces cerevisiae was cultured in Czapeck medium, a compound medium, with the residue. The addition of residue extract to malt medium, a natural medium, enhanced 30-40% yeast growth. And content of each amino acid in yeast cell cultured on malt medium with ginseng residue extract was much more than that of the cell cultured without ginseng extract, but amino acid composition of yeast cell did not differ from one another. The treatment of alcohol extract residue with cellulase increased 250% yield of residue extract.

• Applied Biological Chemistry
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• v.38 no.1
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• pp.67-71
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• 1995

For the quality management of ginseng root extracts and their products, the effective constituents contents, physical properties (pH, turbidity, viscosity, optical density) and color intenties of the extracts from white ginseng roots of different cultivating years. The sugar contents, lightness and yellow intensity of extracts from white ginseng roots increased with increased their cultivating years. The crude ash contents turbidity and optical density of extracts from white ginseng roots decreased with increased their cultivating years. Therefore, the extracts from white ginseng root of 5 or 6 cultivated years showed higher quality than the extracts from ginseng root of 4 cultivated years.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.37 no.1
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• pp.80-86
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• 2013

Korean red ginseng has been shown to possess a variety of biological activities. However, little is known about antiviral activity of ginsenosides of Korean red ginseng. Here, we investigated the protective effect by oral administration of various ginsenosides on the lethal infection of haemagglutinating virus of Japan (HVJ) in mice. In a lethal infection model in which almost all mice infected with HVJ died within 15 days, the mice were administered orally (per os) with 1 mg/mouse of dammarane-type (ginsenoside-Rb1, -Rb2, -Rd, -Re, and -Rg2) or oleanolic acid-type (ginsenoside-Ro) ginsenosides 3, 2, and 1 d before virus infection. Ginsenoside-Rb2 showed the highest protective activity, although other dammarane-type and oleanolic acid-type ginsenosides also induced a significant protection against HVJ. However, neither the consecutive administration with a lower dosage (300 ${\mu}g$/mouse) nor the single administration of ginsenoside-Rb2 (1 mg/mouse) was active. In comparison of the protective activity between ginsenoside-Rb2 and its two hydrolytic products [20(S)- and 20(R)-ginsenoside-Rg3], 20(S)-ginsenoside-Rg3, but not 20(R)-ginsenoside-Rg3, elicited a partial protection against HVJ. The protective effect of ginsenoside-Rb2 and 20(S)-ginsenoside-Rg3 on HVJ infection was confirmed by the reduction of virus titers in the lungs of HVJ-infected mice. These results suggest that ginsenoside-Rb2 is the most effective among ginsenosides from red ginseng to prevent the lethal infection of HVJ, so that this ginsenoside is a promising candidate as a mucosal immunoadjuvant to enhance antiviral activity.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.28 no.6
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• pp.860-873
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• 2018

Although ginseng marc is a by-product obtained during manufacturing of various commercial ginseng products and has been routinely discarded as a waste, it still contains considerable amounts of potential bioactive compounds, including saponins and polysaccharides. Previously, we reported that ginseng oligosaccharides derived from ginseng marc polysaccharides by enzymatic hydrolysis exert immunostimulatory activities in macrophages and these activated macrophages are in turn able to inhibit the growth of skin melanoma cells by inducing apoptosis. In the present study, a more detailed investigation of the immunostimulatory activity and underlying action mechanisms of an enzymatic hydrolysate (GEH) containing these oligosaccharides derived from ginseng marc polysaccharides was performed. The levels of proinflammatory cytokines and anti-inflammatory cytokines were measured in GEH-stimulated RAW264.7 macrophages using RT-PCR analysis and ELISA. The expression levels of Toll-like receptor 2 (TLR2) and TLR4, Dectin-1, and MerTK were measured by RT-PCR analysis or western blot analysis, and the phagocytic activities of GEH-challenged bone marrow-derived macrophages toward apoptotic Jurkat cells were assayed using fluorescence microscopy. GEH induced the production of both proinflammatory cytokines $TNF-{\alpha}$ and IL-6, and anti-inflammatory cytokine IL-10 in RAW 264.7 cells. The expression of the TLR2 and MerTK mRNAs was increased upon GEH treatment. Phagocytosis of apoptotic Jurkat cells was enhanced in GEH-treated macrophages. Based on the results, this enzymatic hydrolysate (GEH) containing oligosaccharides exerts immunostimulatory effects by maintaining the balance between M1 and M2 cytokines, facilitating macrophage activation and contributing to the efficient phagocytosis of apoptotic cells. Therefore, the GEH could be developed as value-added, health-beneficial food materials with immunostimulatory effects.

• Journal of the Korea Convergence Society
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• v.10 no.2
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• pp.285-292
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• 2019

Panax ginseng is known for various pharmacological activities mainly due to saponins. Since minor saponins, generated by the decomposition of major saponins, generally exert higher activities than major saponins, the fermentation may increase the minor saponin contents in ginseng products. In this study, we tested fermented ginseng extract whether or not provide a safe cosmetic ingredient for whitening purpose. In this regard, fermented Ginseng extract was prepared and evaluated the inhibitory activity toward tyrosinase and the melanin synthesis suppression. The safety was tested via cell viability and toxicity test. The skin lightening effect was also evaluated by clinical study. The fermented Ginseng extract exerted higher activities in tyrosine inhibition and in suppressing melanin synthesis compared to Kojic acid and arbutin. In the clinical test, skin lightening effecte of the sample was clearly higher than vehicle or Vitamin C. We thus concluded that the fermented Ginseng extract may provide a safe cosmetic ingredient for skin lightening purpose.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.46 no.3
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• pp.357-366
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• 2022

Background: Withania somnifera (Solanaceae), generally known as Indian ginseng, is a medicinal plant that is used in Ayurvedic practice for promoting health and longevity. This study aims to identify the bioactive metabolites from Indian ginseng and elucidate their structures. Methods: Withanolides were purified by chromatographic techniques, including HPLC coupled with LC/MS. Chemical structures of isolated withanolides were clarified by analyzing the spectroscopic data from 1D and 2D NMR, and HR-ESIMS experiment. Absolute configurations of the withanolides were established by the application of NMR chemical shifts and ECD calculations. Anti-adipogenic activities of isolates were evaluated using 3T3-L1 preadipocytes with Oil Red O staining and quantitative real-time PCR (qPCR). Results: Phytochemical examination of the roots of Indian ginseng afforded to the isolation of six withanolides (1-6), including three novel withanolides, withasilolides GeI (1-3). All the six compounds inhibited adipogenesis and suppressed the enlargement of lipid droplets, compared to those of the control. Additionally, the mRNA expression levels of Fabp4 and Adipsin, the adipocyte markers decreased noticeably following treatment with 25 µM of 1-6. The active compounds (1-6) also promoted lipid metabolism by upregulating the expression of the lipolytic genes HSL and ATGL and downregulating the expression of the lipogenic gene SREBP1. Conclusion: The results of our experimental studies suggest that the withasilolides identified herein have anti-adipogenic potential and can be considered for the development of therapeutic strategies against adipogenesis in obesity. Our study also provides a mechanistic rationale for using Indian ginseng as a potential therapeutic agent against obesity and related metabolic diseases.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.47 no.4
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• pp.593-603
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• 2023

Background: Korean Red Ginseng is a major source of bioactive substances such as ginsenosides. Efficacy of red ginseng extract (RGE), which contains not only saponins but also various non-saponins, has long been studied. In the water-soluble component-rich fraction of RGE (WS), a byproduct generated in the process of extracting saponins from the RGE, we identified previously unidentified molecules and confirmed their efficacy. Methods: The RGE was prepared and used to produce WS, whose components were isolated sequentially according to their water affinity. The new compounds from WS were fractionized and structurally analyzed using nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy. Physiological applicability was evaluated by verifying the antioxidant and anti-inflammatory efficacies of these compounds in vitro. Results: High-performance liquid chromatography confirmed that the obtained WS comprised 11 phenolic acid and flavonoid substances. Among four major compounds from fractions 1-4 (F1-4) of WS, two compounds from F3 and F4 were newly identified in red ginseng. The analysis results show that these compound molecules are member of the maltol-structure-based glucopyranose series, and F1 and F4 are particularly effective for decreasing oxidative stress levels and inhibiting nitric oxide secretion, interleukin (IL)-1β and IL-6, and tumor necrosis factor-α. Conclusion: Our findings suggest that a few newly identified maltol derivatives, such as red ginseng-derived non-saponin in the WS, exhibit antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects, making them viable candidates for application to pharmaceutical, cosmetic, and functional food materials.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.33 no.10
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• pp.1661-1667
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• 2004

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the Quality characteristics, and was conducted to develope consumer preference of the frozen ready prepared eels by cooking method between 100 Korean (male 48, female 52) and 105 Japanese (male 43, female 62) who visited Korea. The consumers' responses about frozen ready prepared eels were measured on 9 point likert scale. In the preference test of cooking method for ready prepared eel, the Japanese and Korean preferred gas grill products in conger eel. Charcoal grill for Anguilla japonica products was estimated the most preferred cooking method by Japanese. In comparison between Japanese and Korean, Korean preferred more gas grill products than charcoal grill in Anguillajaponica products. The results for this factor were very significantly different in relation to appearance and overall acceptance of sensory characteristics (p<0.0l). The steaming products was estimated to be more delicious by Japanese than Korean. The results for this steaming products were very significantly different in evaluation of appearance, taste and overall acceptability between Japanese and Korean (p<0.05 or p<0.0l). In the domestic consumer test, the overall acceptability of eel product with ginseng and pine mushroom were 6.84 and 5.56 respectively. In the Japanese consumer test, the overall acceptability of eel product with ginseng and pine mushroom were 5.62 and 6.49 respectively. Consequently, Korea consumer preferred gas grill method for both conger eel and Anguilla japonica products added by ginseng flavor in sauce. Japanese preferred gas grill method for conger eel, charcoal grill method for Anguilla jap on ica added by pine mushroom flavor in sauce. Therefore, it is needed to study for the development of conger eel's sauce and cooking method proper to preference of Korean and Japanese in foodservice operations.