• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.42 no.4
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• pp.532-539
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• 2018

Background: Heat treatments are applied to ginseng products in order to improve physiological activities through the conversion of ginsenosides, which are key bioactive components. During heat treatment, organic acids can affect ginsenoside conversion. Therefore, the influence of organic acids during heat treatment should be considered. Methods: Raw ginseng, crude saponin, and ginsenoside $Rb_1$ standard with different organic acids were treated at $130^{\circ}C$, and the chemical components, including ginsenosides and organic acids, were analyzed. Results: The organic acid content in raw ginseng was 5.55%. Organic acids were not detected in crude saponin that was not subjected to heat treatment, whereas organic acids were found in crude saponin subjected to heat treatment. Major ginsenosides ($Rb_1$, Re, and $Rg_1$) in ginseng and crude saponin were converted to minor ginsenosides at $130^{\circ}C$; the ginsenoside $Rb_1$ standard was very stable in the absence of organic acids and was converted into minor ginsenosides in the presence of organic acids at high temperatures. Conclusion: The major factor affecting ginsenoside conversion was organic acids in ginseng. Therefore, the organic acid content as well as ginsenoside content and processing conditions should be considered important factors affecting the quality of ginseng products.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.31 no.2
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• pp.427-432
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• 1999

Changes in saponin composition and microstructure of ginseng by microwave vacuum drying were determined. Korean fresh ginsengs were subjected to four different processing : 3 min microwave vacuum drying and 2 min holding-24 hrs drying (MWVD1), 5 min microwave vacuum drying and 2.5 min holding-24 hrs drying (MWVD2), 3 min microwave vacuum drying and 2 min holding-12 hrs drying after hot air drying for 12 hrs drying at $45^{\circ}C$ (HMWVD1), 5 min microwave vacuum drying and 2.5 min holding-12 hrs drying after hot air drying for 12 hrs at $45^{\circ}C$ (HMWVD2). The water content was decreased until 16.82% without shrinkage and water activity was 0.54 after microwave vacuum drying. The lipid content was decreased after microwave vacuum drying (MVD). Glucose was increased after MVD while sucrose decreased. Ginsenoside-Rb1 and ginsenoside-Rc were decreased after MVD. Ginsenoside-Rg1 for MWVD2 and HMWVD2 was higher than that of MWVD1 AND HMWVD1. MWVD1 AND HMWVD1 dried ginsengs showed a more compact structure than the HMWVD2 and HMWVD2 ginsengs.

• Korean Journal of Medicinal Crop Science
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• v.28 no.6
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• pp.445-454
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• 2020

Background: Culturing wild ginseng adventitious root using plant factory technology provides genetic safety and high productivity. This production technology is drawing attention in the fields of functional raw materials and product development. The cultivation method using elicitors is key technology for controlling biomass and increasing secondary metabolites. Methods and Results: Elicitor treatments using methyl jasmonate, pyruvic acid, squalene, β-sistosterol were performed to amplify total ginsenosides (Rb1, Rc, Rb2, Rb3, and Rd) of cultured wild ginseng adventitious root. Thereafter, fermentation and steaming processes were performed to convert total ginsenosides into minor molecular ginsenosides (Rg3, Rk1, and Rg5). The result indicated that methyl jasmonate minimizes the reduction in fresh weight of cultured wild ginseng adventitious root and maximizes total ginsenosides (sum of Rb1, Rc, Rb2, Rb3, and Rd). Ginsenoside conversion results showed a maximum degree of conversion of 131 mg/g. Conclusions: In this study, we demonstrated that the optimal elicitor treatment method increased the content of total ginsenosides, while the steaming and fermentation processing method increased the content of minor ginsenosides.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.30 no.1
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• pp.1-7
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• 2006

Ceramide has been involved in celt death and acted as a lipid mediator of stress responses. Elevation of ceramide level was reported to occur in oxidative stress and lead to cell death in many cell types. This study was undertaken to elucidate a protective role of ginsenoside Rgl in cell death induced by oxidative stress. When LLC-PK1 cells were treated with $H_2O_2$ at a concentration of $400{\mu}M$ for 5 hr, cell death was observed and a released LDH activity indicative of cytotoxicity was Increased. $H_2O_2$ exposure to LLC-PK1 cells was shown to elevate the content of total ceramide by approximately 200% compared to control cells. Ceramide level was hypothesized to be a key to a reversal of cell death to survival. Ginsenoside Rgl at the concentrations ranging from 12.5 to $250{\mu}M$ protected LLC-PK1 cells from cell death induced by $H_2O_2\;at\;400{\mu}M$ for 5 hr, and decreased the ceramide level relative to $H_2O_2$. Ginsenoside Rgl inhibited neutral human ceramidase by 71% of controls, while sphingomyelinase was not inhibited. These results suggest that ginsenoside Rgl show the protection against cell death via the modulation of ceramide metabolism, and ceramide may be a promising therapeutic target for human diseases related to cell death.

• YAKHAK HOEJI
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• v.49 no.1
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• pp.80-85
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• 2005

Ginseng root is an important remedy in oriental countries, which has been used for thousands of years. Saponins of ginseng root has been known to be the major component which mediate diverse pharmacological actions of the ginseng. Heat processing of ginseng root potentiates its biological activity such as anti-tumor and anti-oxidative activities. The butanol fraction of heat-processed ginseng (HGB) induced the production of nitric oxide in macrophages in a dose-dependent manner with IFN-${\gamma}$(30 U/ml) priming. The active component was identified as ginsenoside-$Rg_5$ from the activity-guided purification. Ginsenoside $Rg_5$ is one of major components of heat-processed ginseng and red ginseng that is responsible for the potentiated biological activities of processed ginseng. The induction of NO production by heat-processed ginseng might contribute to the potentiated biological activity of heat-processed ginseng.

• Korean Journal of Medicinal Crop Science
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• v.19 no.3
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• pp.157-161
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• 2011

Growth characteristics, root yield and ginsenoside contents of 3-year-old ginseng in greenhouse shaded by $30^{\circ}$ sloped-curtain made of aluminum were compared to traditional shade facility in order to develop cultural practice for organic ginseng. Light transmittance ratio in greenhouse with $30^{\circ}$ sloped-curtain shade was distinctly lower than that of traditional shade from sunrise to 9 a.m., while its ratio in greenhouse was higher than traditional shade since 9 a.m. due to the reflection of light. Air temperature of greenhouse was $1.3^{\circ}C$ higher than that of traditional shade on the first ten days of August due to more reflected light. Root yield of greenhouse was 44% higher than that of traditional cultivation because of the inflow of reflected light and the decrease of disease of Alternaria and Anthracnose by blocking rainfall. Dry matter partitioning ratio of rhizome and lateral root were increased in ginseng cultivated at greenhouse due to longer survival time in leaf than traditional cultivation. Total ginsenoside contents cultivated at greenhouse was decreased in the part of taproot, while it was increased in the part of lateral and fine root compare to traditional cultivation. Individual ginsenoside contents between greenhouse and traditional cultivation showed significant difference more frequent in fine root than taproot and lateral root. Total ginsenoside contents including $Rb_1$, $Rb_2$, Rc, Rd, Re, Rf, $Rg_1$, and $Rg_2$ in whole root of 3-year-old ginseng did not showed significant difference by greenhouse and traditional cultivation.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.33 no.3
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• pp.200-230
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• 2012

Objectives: Ginseng, Panax ginseng C. A., white ginseng, has been used for thousands of years in Traditional Korean Medicine. Red ginseng can be made by a steaming process of white ginseng changing a variety of ginsenosides and ingredients such as dencichine. This article reviews red ginseng for mechanisms for pharmacodynamics and toxicity based on the content of ginseng's active ingredients, ginsenoside changed by steaming. Methods: The following electronic databases were searched: PubMed, Science Direct and Chinese Scientific Journals full text database (CQVIP), and KSI (Korean Studies Information) from their respective inceptions to June 2012. Results: Compared with unsteamed ginseng, the content of ginsenosides Rg2, Rg3, Rg5, Rh1, Rh2 and Rk1 called red ginseng-specific ginsenosides increased after the steaming process. Different ginsenosides have shown a wide variety of effects such as lowering or raising blood sugar and blood pressure or stimulating or sedating the nervous system. Especially, the levels of Rg2, Rg3, Rg5, Rh1, Rh2 and Rk1 were increased by the steaming process, showing a variety of pharmacodynamics in biological systems. Also, various processing methods such as puffing and fermentation have been developed in processing crude ginseng or red ginseng, affecting the content of ginseng's ingredients. The safety issue could be the most critical, specifically, on changed ginseng's ingredients such as dencichine. The level of dencichine was significantly reduced in red ginseng by the steaming process. In addition, the possible toxicity for red ginseng was affected by cytochrome P450, a herbal-drug interaction. Conclusions: The variety of pharmacological and toxicological properties should be changed by steaming process of Panax ginseng C. A., white ginseng. Even if it is not sure whether the steaming process of white ginseng would be better pharmacologically, it is sure that steaming reduces the level of dencichine causing a lower toxicity to the nervous system.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.26 no.4
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• pp.196-201
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• 2002

This study was carried out to compare the contents of saponins and minerals component in Korean Red Ginseng (Heaven, Earth, Good grade), North Korean Red Ginseng (Heaven, Earth, Good grade), Japanese Red Ginseng (Oonju, Sinju 1, 2, 3 grade, respectively) and Chinese Red Ginseng (Seokju, Gilim, 1, 2, 3 grade, respectively). Crude saponin contents were different on according to the grade and cultivation area, and was 3.05-3.76% in Korean Red Ginseng, 2.09-3.21% in North Korean Red Ginseng, 2.82-3.71% in Chinese Seokju Red Ginseng, 2.72-3.62% in Chinese Gilim Red Ginseng, 2.11-2.44% in Japanese Oonju Red Ginseng, 2.18-2.87% in Japanese Sinju Red Ginseng, and the amount of ginsenoside-Rb1, -Re, -Rg$\_$1/ in Korean Red Ginseng were higher than those of North Korean, Chinese and Japanese Red Gingsen. The contents of mineral components were similar, but La, Na and Sn component in Korean Red Ginseng showed the higher amount than those of other Red Ginsengs.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.26 no.10
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• pp.1668-1674
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• 2016

Red ginseng, a steamed and sun-dried ginseng, is a popular health-promoting food in Korea and other Asian countries. We introduced nanofertilizer technology using gold nanoparticles in an effort to develop red ginseng with an elevated level of ginsenosides, the main active compounds of ginseng. Shoots of 6-year-old ginseng plants were fertilized three times with colloidal gold nanoparticle sprays. Red ginseng extract was prepared from the main roots. The concentrations of gold and ginsenosides were measured following gold nanoparticle treatment. To evaluate the anti-inflammatory effects, mouse peritoneal macrophages of male BALB/c mouse were stimulated with lipopolysaccharide plus interferon-γ in the presence of extracts from red ginseng with or without gold nanoparticle treatment. The content of ginsenosides, such as Rg1, Re, Rf, and Rb1, increased in ginseng treated with gold nanofertilizer whereas the steaming process increased only the levels of Rd and Rg3. The levels of nitric oxide, inducible nitric oxide synthase, and interleukin-6, but not tumor necrosis factor-α, were more suppressed in macrophages treated with extract from gold nanoparticle-treated red ginseng. Our results show that the use of a colloidal gold nanoparticle fertilizer improved the synthesis of ginsenosides in ginseng and enhanced the anti-inflammatory effects of red ginseng. Further research is required to elucidate the causal factors for the gold-induced change in ginsenoside synthesis and to determine the in vivo effect of gold nanoparticle-treated ginseng.

• Proceedings of the Ginseng society Conference
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• 2002.10a
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• pp.238-252
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• 2002

In order to screen out indicators for the discrimination of ginseng habitat, some physical and chemical characteristics of Korean red ginsengs (94 kinds) and Chinese red ginsengs (50 kinds) were analyzed by using a rheometer, an electronic nose system, a combined technique of solid phase micro-extraction (SPME) and gas chromatograph equipped with an electron capture detector (GC/ECD), an X-ray fluorescence spectrometer (XRF), an inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometer (ICP/MS), a near infrared spectrometer (NIRs) and high performance liquid chromatography equipped with evaporative light scattering detector (HPLC/ELSD). The results are summarized as follows: (i) The rhizome strengths of Korean red ginsengs were significantly higher than those of Chinese red ginsengs. (ii) The electronic nose patterns of Korean red ginsengs were significantly different from those of Chinese red ginsengs. (iii) Some unidentified peaks were detected not in the headspace of Korean red ginsengs but in the headspace of Chinese red ginsengs when the headspace volatiles prepared by the SPME technique were analyzed by GC/ECD. (iv) Either the content ratios of K to Ca or Mn to Fe were significantly different between Korean red ginsengs and Chinese red ginsengs. (v) The reflectance ratios of NIRs wavenumbers such as $904\;cm^{-1}\;to\;1088\;cm^{-1}$ for Korean red ginsengs were significantly different from those for Chinese red ginsengs. (vi) The content ratios of ginsenoside-Rg to ginsenoside-Re of Korean red ginsengs were significantly higher than those of Chinese red ginsengs. These results indicate that the rhizome strength, the electronic nose pattern, the occurrence of ECD-sensitive headspace volatile components, the content ratios of K to Ca and Mn to Fe, the NIRs pattern and the content ratio of ginsenoside-Rg to -Re may be indicators for the discrimination of ginseng habitat.