• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.41 no.2
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• pp.188-194
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• 2017

Background: Fermented black ginseng (FBG) is processed ginseng by the repeated heat treatment and fermentation of raw ginseng. The protective effect and mechanism of FBG on cisplatin-induced nephrotoxicity was investigated to evaluate its therapeutic potential. Methods: The free radical scavenging activity of FBG was measured using 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH). In addition, the protective effect against cisplatin-induced renal damage was tested in rats. FBG was orally administered every day at a dose of 150 mg/kg body weight for 10 d, and a single dose of cisplatin was administered intraperitoneally (7.5 mg/kg body weight) with 0.9% saline on the $4^{th}$ d. Results: The DPPH radical-scavenging activity of FBG ($IC_{50}=384{\mu}g/mL$) was stronger than that of raw ginseng. The improved DPPH radical-scavenging activity was mediated by the generation phenolic compounds. The decreased cell viability by cisplatin was recovered significantly after treatment with FBG in a dose-dependent manner. Then, the protective effect of FBG on cisplatin-induced oxidative renal damage was investigated in rats. The decreased creatinine clearance levels, which are a reliable marker for renal dysfunction in cisplatin-treated rats, were reduced to the normal level after the administration of FBG. Moreover, FBG showed protective effects against cisplatin-induced oxidative renal damage in rats through the inhibition of $NF-{\kappa}B/p65$, COX-2, and caspase-3 activation. Conclusion: These results collectively show that the therapeutic evidence for FBG ameliorates the nephrotoxicity via regulating oxidative stress, inflammation, and apoptosis.

• Korean Journal of Acupuncture
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• v.28 no.1
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• pp.61-69
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• 2011

Objectives : The purpose of this study is to investigate effects of White Ginseng-Ejung-tang acupuncture solution (EJ) on nitric oxide (NO) and of hydrogen peroxide production in RAW 264.7 mouse macrophages stimulated by lipopolysaccharide (LPS). Methods : Cell viability was measured by modified MTT assay. NO production was measured by Griess reagent assay. Hydrogen peroxide production was measured by dihydrorhodamine 123 (DHR) assay. Significant differences were examined by using a Student's t-test. Results : The results of the experiment are as follows. 1. EJ did not show cell toxicity against RAW 264.7 cells for 24 hr incubation at the concentrations of up to $200\;{\mu}g$/mL in RAW 264.7 cells. 2. EJ significantly inhibited NO production for 24 hr incubation in RAW 264.7 cells (p <0.05). 3. EJ significantly inhibited the LPS-induced production of NO for 24 hr incubation in RAW 264.7 cells (p <0.05). 4. EJ significantly inhibited the LPS-induced production of hydrogen peroxide for 16, 24, 40, 48, 64, and 72 hr incubation in RAW 264.7 cells (p <0.05). Conclusions : These results suggest that EJ has an anti-inflammtory property related with its inhibition of NO and hydrogen peroxide production in LPS-induced macrophages.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.16 no.3
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• pp.277-285
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• 2008

Panax ginseng C.A. Mayer (Araliaceae, P. ginseng) has been used for the enhancement of vascular and immune functions in Korea and Japan for a long time. Ginsenoside $Rb_1$ and $Rg_3$ isolated from P. ginseng head-part butanolic extract (PGHB) were investigated for anti-inflammatory activity. Ginsenosides and PGHB did not affect the cell viability within $0\;-\;100\;{\mu}g/ml$ concentration to RAW 264.7 murine macrophage cells. Ginsenosides and PGHB inhibited partly lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced nitrite production in a dose-dependent manner. The ginsenosides and PGHB showed partially chemical nitric oxide (NO) quenching (maximum 40%) in the cell-free system. Also, ginsenoside $Rb_1$ and $Rg_3$ inhibited markedly approximately 74 and 54% of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) mRNA transcription from LPS-induced RAW 264.7 cells. Taken together, the inhibitory effect of ginsenosides and PGHB on NO production did not occur as a result of cell viability, but was caused by both the chemical NO quenching and the regulation of iNOS. Additionally, the ginsenoside $Rb_1$ and PGHB inhibited prostaglandin $E_2$ ($PGE_2$) synthesis in a concentration-dependent manner, showed approximately 70-98% inhibition at $100\;{\mu}g/ml$ concentration. And the treatment with ginsenosides and PGHB attenuated partially LPS-upregulated cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) gene transcription. Ginsenoside $Rg_3$ suppressed LPS-stimulated interleukin-6 (IL-6) level to the basal in RAW 264.7 cells. From these results, ginsenoside $Rb_1,\;Rg_3$, and PGHB may be useful for the relief and retardation of immunological inflammatory responses and its action may occur through the reduction of inflammatory mediators, including NO, $PGE_2$, and IL-6 production.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.13 no.2
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• pp.189-197
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• 1989

A new quaternary ammonium compound, hydrolyzed ginseng-saponin quaternary (HGSQ), from Korean ginseng saponin and 2,3-epoxypropyltrimethylammonium chloride has been developed as a conditioning agent in cosmetics. This structure has a hydrophobic group from the aglycone of ginseng saponin which is biologically active and considered to be the most important component of the Korean ginseng. Its properties : surface tension, critical micelle concentration (CMC), eye irritation, sorption onto hair, force reduction(%) and moisture retention effect were studied. Its cationic character allows the molecule to be more substantive than ginseng saponin. HGSQ had good physical properties and was safe. enough as a cosmetic raw material. Also half-head tests of HGSQ-containing shampoo were carried out to compare the conditioning effects in shampoos. HGSQ was an excellent conditioning agent in shampoo..

• 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.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.3 no.1
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• pp.40-53
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• 1979

In order to investigate the optimal conditions which affects to extraction of ginseng extract and saponin in ginseng extract, experiment was carried out varing with ethanol percentage, extraction time, temperature, sol$.$vent and Plant Parts. The results art as follows: 1. The amounts of ginseng saponin was increased according to increanation of ethanol Percentage while the amounts of ginseng extract was decreased. 2. The amounts of ginseng extract was increased as the prolongation of extraction time, on the ether hand, ginseng saponin contents increased lentil 40hr. and decreased after that. 3. By the raise of extract temperature, both of the amounts of ginseng saponin and ginseng extract was increased two times and four times. respectively. 4. The total amounts ginseng extract was obtained 22.86u when the water used as the extraction solvent, 11.28% on ethanol and 11.04U on methanol, in the order. and the saponin contents gained when the extraction solvents of water, methanol and ethanol 7.47%, 12.36% and 12.77%, respectively. 5. It showed 9.23% of ginseng extract in epidermis and 8.4% of ginseng saponin in tail Part of raw ginseng and in the case of dried ginseng, ginseng extract and saponin showed the most amounts in epidermis of 18.28% and 19.35%, respectively. 6. The ratio of panaxadiol and panaxatriol contents of ginseng saponin was almost same when it was extracted varing with ethanol percentage and extraction time (duration), and the more alcohol percentage and the longer extraction time increased, the more fractional content of ginseng saponin was extracted.

• Journal of the Korean Applied Science and Technology
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• v.35 no.2
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• pp.325-335
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• 2018

This study is for checking the possibility of ginseng complex as cosmetic materials. For this we carried out biological active evaluation about anti-inflammatory and whitening effects by using ethanol extract of ginseng complex. Samples were prepared by extracting 70% ethanol from each of Panax ginseng C. A. Meyer (A), Phellinus linteus (B) and Pinus rigida Mill. (C), and mixing them at a ratio of (A) 1 : (B) 1 : (C) 0.5. In order to evaluate the anti-inflammatory effects of the samples in macrophages (RAW 264.7 cells), MTT assay was used to evaluate the toxicity of the samples and the inhibitory activity of nitric oxide production and the expression levels of inflammation-related proteins and genes. To evaluate the whitening effect of the samples in melanoma (B16F10 cell), MTT assay was used to evaluate the toxicity of the sample, cellular tyrosinase inhibition, and melanin contents. The inhibitory activity of nitric oxide in the LPS-induced RAW 264.7 cells was 71.2% at $25{\mu}g/mL$ concentration and western blot analysis showed that the expression of iNOS and COX-2 protein decreased in a concentration-dependent manner. Inhibition of tyrosinase activity showed 36.8% inhibition at $50{\mu}g/mL$ concentration of ginseng complex and inhibition of melanin contents showed 47.8% inhibition at $50{\mu}g/mL$ concentration. From the results of the experiment, it was confirmed that the ginseng complex had excellent anti-inflammatory and whitening effect and could be used as a safe natural cosmetic material in the future.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.39 no.2
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• pp.162-168
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• 2015

Background: Although the aerial parts of hydroponic Panax ginseng are reported to contain higher contents of total ginsenosides than those of roots, the isolation and identification of active metabolites from the aerial parts of hydroponic P. ginseng have not been carried out so far. Methods: The aerial parts of hydroponic P. ginseng were applied on repeated silica gel and octadecylsilane columns to yield four glycosyl glycerides (Compounds 1-4), which were identified based on nuclear magnetic resonance, infrared, fast atom bombardment mass spectrometry, and gas chromatography/mass spectrometry data. Compounds 1-4 were evaluated for inhibition activity on NO production in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated RAW264.7 cells. Results and conclusion: The glycosyl glycerides were identified to be (2S)-1-O-7(Z),10(Z),13(Z)-hexadecatrienoyl-3-O-${\beta}$-$\small{D}$-galactopyranosyl-sn-glycerol (1), (2S)-1-O-linolenoyl-3-O-${\beta}$-$\small{D}$-galactopyranosyl-sn-glycerol (2), (2S)-1-O-linolenoyl-2-O-linolenoyl-3-O-${\beta}$-$\small{D}$-galactopyranosyl-sn-glycerol (3), and 2(S)-1-O-linoleoyl-2-O-linoleoyl-3-O-${\beta}$-$\small{D}$-galactopyranosyl-sn-glycerol (4). Compounds 1 and 2 showed moderate inhibition activity on NO production in LPS-stimulated RAW264.7 cells [half maximal inhibitory concentration ($IC_{50}$): $63.8{\pm}6.4{\mu}M$ and $59.4{\pm}6.8{\mu}M$, respectively] without cytotoxicity at concentrations < $100{\mu}M$, whereas Compounds 3 and 4 showed good inhibition effect ($IC_{50}$: $7.7{\pm}0.6{\mu}M$ and $8.0{\pm}0.9{\mu}M$, respectively) without cytotoxicity at concentrations < $20{\mu}M$. All isolated compounds showed reduced messenger RNA (mRNA) expression of interleukin-$1{\beta}$ (IL-$1{\beta}$), IL-6, and tumor necrosis factor-${\alpha}$ in LPS-induced macrophage cells with strong inhibition of mRNA activity observed for Compounds 3 and 4.

• Food Science and Biotechnology
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.565-569
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• 2009

This study was conducted to evaluate the effects of different preparation methods on the recovery and quantification of ginsenosides in raw Korean ginseng (Panax ginseng C.A. Meyer). Eight major ginsenosides ($Rb_1$, $Rb_2$, $Rb_3$, Rc, Rd, Re, Rf, and $Rg_1$) were analyzed by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), after which the recovery and repeatability of the extraction of those ginsenosides using 3 different preparation methods were compared [A. direct extraction (DE) method, hot MeOH extraction/evaporation/direct dissolution; B. solid phase extraction (SPE) method, hot MeOH extraction/evaporation/dissolution/$C_{18}$ cartridge adsorption/MeOH elution; C. liquid-liquid extraction (LLE) method, hot MeOH extraction/evaporation/dissolution/n-BuOH fractionation]. Use of the DE method resulted in a significantly higher recovery of total ginsenosides than other methods and a relatively clear peak resolution. Use of the SPE and LLE methods resulted in clearer peak resolution, but lower ginsenoside recovery than the DE method. The LLE method showed the lowest ginsenoside recovery and repeatability among the 3 methods. Given that the DE method employed only extraction, evaporation, and a dissolution step (avoiding complicate and time consuming purification), this technique may be an effective method for the preparation and quantification of ginsenosides from raw Korean ginseng.

• Biomedical Science Letters
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• v.27 no.2
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• pp.51-58
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• 2021

Korean red ginseng (Panax ginseng Meyer) is a well-known traditional medicine, with numerous biological functions in the body. Portulaca oleracea (P. ole) belongs to the Portulacaceae family and has bioactive potential as a traditional medicine. This study aimed to determine the anti-inflammatory effects of Korean red ginseng extract (RGE) and P. ole extract on lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-treated RAW 264.7 cells. The combination of RGE (50 ㎍/mL) and P. ole (6.25 ㎍/mL) extracts significantly suppressed LPS-induced nitric oxide synthesis. The expression of proinflammatory mediators, including inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), and proinflammatory cytokines, including interleukin-1β, interleukin-6, and tumor necrosis factor-α, were markedly decreased by the combined treatment with RGE (50 ㎍/mL) and P. ole (6.25 ㎍/mL). Moreover, iNOS and COX-2 protein expression levels were also significantly reduced in the combined treatment compared to the LPS-stimulated group. In addition, the nuclear translocation of phosphorylated nuclear factor kappa-B was suppressed by the treatment with RGE and P. ole. Moreover, the mitogen-activated protein kinase pathway was also partially inhibited by the combination treatment with RGE and P. ole. Our results demonstrate that the treatment mixture with RGE and P. ole could be used as functional food and therapeutic herbal medicine in various inflammatory diseases.