• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.40 no.4
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• pp.437-444
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• 2016

Background: Although Korean Red Ginseng (KRG) has been traditionally used for a long time, its anti-inflammatory role and underlying molecular and cellular mechanisms have been poorly understood. In this study, the anti-inflammatory roles of KRG-derived components, namely, water extract (KRG-WE), saponin fraction (KRG-SF), and nonsaponin fraction (KRG-NSF), were investigated. Methods: To check saponin levels in the test fractions, KRG-WE, KRG-NSF, and KRG-SF were analyzed using high-performance liquid chromatography. The anti-inflammatory roles and underlying cellular and molecular mechanisms of these components were investigated using a macrophage-like cell line (RAW264.7 cells) and an acute gastritis model in mice. Results: Of the tested fractions, KGR-SF (but not KRG-NSF and KRG-WE) markedly inhibited the viability of RAW264.7 cells, and splenocytes at more than 500 mg/mL significantly suppressed NO production at $100{\mu}g/mL$, diminished mRNA expression of inflammatory genes such as inducible nitric oxide synthase, cyclooxygenase-2, tumor necrosis factor-${\alpha}$, and interferon-${\beta}$ at $200{\mu}g/mL$, and completely blocked phagocytic uptake by RAW264.7 cells. All three fractions suppressed luciferase activity triggered by interferon regulatory factor 3 (IRF3), but not that triggered by activator protein-1 and nuclear factor-kappa B. Phospho-IRF3 and phospho-TBK1 were simultaneously decreased in KRG-SF. Interestingly, all these fractions, when orally administered, clearly ameliorated the symptoms of gastric ulcer in HCl/ethanol-induced gastritis mice. Conclusion: These results suggest that KRG-WE, KRG-NSF, and KRG-SF might have anti-inflammatory properties, mostly because of the suppression of the IRF3 pathway.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.39 no.1
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• pp.61-68
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• 2015

Background: Korean Red Ginseng (KRG) is a representative traditional herbal medicine with many different pharmacological properties including anticancer, anti-atherosclerosis, anti-diabetes, and anti-inflammatory activities. Only a few studies have explored the molecular mechanism of KRG-mediated anti-inflammatory activity. Methods: We investigated the anti-inflammatory mechanisms of the protopanaxadiol saponin fraction (PPD-SF) of KRG using in vitro and in vivo inflammatory models. Results: PPD-SF dose-dependently diminished the release of inflammatory mediators [nitric oxide (NO), tumor necrosis factor-${\alpha}$, and prostaglandin $E_2$], and downregulated the mRNA expression of their corresponding genes (inducible NO synthase, tumor necrosis factor-${\alpha}$, and cyclooxygenase-2), without altering cell viability. The PPD-SF-mediated suppression of these events appeared to be regulated by a blockade of p38, c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK), and TANK (TRAF family member-associated NF-kappa-B activator)-binding kinase 1 (TBK1), which are linked to the activation of activating transcription factor 2 (ATF2) and interferon regulatory transcription factor 3 (IRF3). Moreover, this fraction also ameliorated HCl/ethanol/-induced gastritis via suppression of phospho-JNK2 levels. Conclusion: These results strongly suggest that the anti-inflammatory action of PPD-SF could be mediated by a reduction in the activation of p38-, JNK2-, and TANK-binding-kinase-1-linked pathways and their corresponding transcription factors (ATF2 and IRF3).

• Analytical Science and Technology
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• v.30 no.3
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• pp.146-153
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• 2017

In this study, we isolated ginseng crude saponin (GCS) from Korean red ginseng (KRG) and determined the ginsenoside content in it to investigate the physiological and pathological effects of GCS on acute pulmonary inflammation induced by intratracheal instillation of cigarette smoke condensates (CSC) and lipopolysaccharide (LPS) solution in BALB/c mice. GCS was orally administered at doses of 10 mg/kg and 25 mg/kg for 3 weeks. The recovery rate of GCS from KRG was 6.5 % and total ginsenosides from GCS was 1.13 %, and the content of Rb1 was the highest among them. Total inflammatory cells in the lung homogenates and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) increased following intratracheal administration of CSC and LPS. However, GCS administration impaired this increase. Furthermore, it inhibited the increase in leukocytes in the blood, considerably decreased neutrophils in BALF, and declined infiltration of inflammatory cells and deposition of collagen in the tracheal and alveolar tissue. In this study, GCS was found to have a protective effect against acute pulmonary inflammation and it may be beneficial in preventing various respiratory diseases.

• Proceedings of the Ginseng society Conference
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• 1987.06a
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• pp.47-58
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• 1987

Ethanol exerts different effects on hepatic cellular metabolism, depending mainly on the duration of its intake. In the presence of ethanol following an acute load, a number of hepatic functions are inhibited, including lipid oxidation and microsomal drug metabolism. In its early stages, chronic ethanol consumption produces adaptive metabolic changes in the endoplasmic reticulum which result in increased metabolism of ethanol and drugs and accelerated lipoprotein production. Prolongation of ethanol intake may result in injurious hepatic lesions such as alcoholic hepatitis and cirrhosis A number of such metabolic effects of ethanol are directly linked to the two major products of its oxidation; hydrogen and acetaldehyde. The excess hydrogen from ethanol unbalances the liver cell's chemistry. In the presence of excess hydrogen ions the process is turned in a different direction. In this study, it was attempted to observe the effect of ginseng saponins on alcohol Oehydrogenase(ADH), aldehyde dehydrogenase(ALDH) and microsomal ethanol oxidizing system(MEOS) in vivo as well as in vitro. Furthermore, the effect of ginseng saponin on the hydrogen balance in the liver and the hepatic cellular distribution of (1-14C) ethanol, its incorporation into acetaldehyde and lipids was also investigated. It seemed that ginseng saponin stimulated the above enzymes and other related enzymes in ethanol metabolism, resulting in a rapid removal of acetaldehyde and excess hydrogen from the animal body,

• The Korean Journal of Food And Nutrition
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• v.22 no.4
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• pp.618-624
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• 2009

The extract of Platycodi radix has long been used as an anti-inflammatory traditional medicine in Korea for the treatment of bronchitis, asthma and acute respiratory disease. In this study, the anti-inflammatory actions of the methanol extract of Platycodi radix administered via oral administration were evaluated. The results revealed that the extracts exhibited potent anti-inflammatory action. Of the hexane, chloroform, ethyl acetate, butanol and water fractions, the butanol fraction had the most potent anti-inflammatory action. Additioinally the sapogenin obtained through acid hydrolysis of the butanol fraction did not show anti-inflammatory action. These findings confirm the value of Platycodi radix as a traditional Korean medicine.

• Natural Product Sciences
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• v.15 no.1
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• pp.1-7
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• 2009

This study was performed to investigate the cell growth inhibitory effect of tissue cultured root of wild Panax ginseng C.A. Mayer (tcwPG). The human stomach carcinoma cell line, MKN 74, was incubated with 70% EtOH extract of tcwPG or Panax ginseng C.A. Mayer (PG) for 24 hrs. tcwPG inhibited cell growth at a concentration of $250{\mu}g/ml$. However, Panax ginseng extract did not inhibit cell growth at the same concentration. We also tested the ethyl acetate and $H_2O$ fractions of tcwPG. The inhibitory effect of the ethyl acetate fraction on cell proliferation in MKN 74 cells was more potent than that of the crude extract, and the inhibitory effect of the $H_2O$ fraction was less than that of the ethyl acetate fraction. When we separated tcwPG into polar and non-polar saponin fractions and then measured cell growth inhibition, the non-polar saponin in tcwPG exhibited cytotoxicity. To compare the effects of tcwPG on various cancer cell lines, we measured cytotoxicity in MKN 74 (stomach cancer cell line), SW 620 (colon cancer cell line) and PC 3 (prostate cancer cell line). All three cell lines showed cell growth inhibition, and the cell growth inhibitory effects were not quite different in the various cell lines. The non-polar saponins of tcwPG arrested PC 3 cells at G1-phase as did Panax ginseng.

• Applied Biological Chemistry
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• v.30 no.1
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• pp.88-94
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• 1987

To investigate ginseng oligopeptides with biological activities, the water extract was purified by ultra-filtration, gel filtration, ion-exchange and thin layer chromatography. Ultra-filtered water extract exhibited antilipolytic activity, inhibiting epinephrine-induced lipolysis in the isolated fat cells of rat epididymal adipose tissue. The filtrate was separated into 3 fractions by Sephadex G-25 gel filtration. Peptides were found only in the first fraction(S-FI). Saponine and sugars were also detected in tie fraction. S-FI fraction resolved further into 6 fractions by Dowex 50 ion-exchange chromatography. The sugar and saponine depleted fraction(P-F2) from the second chromatography showed antilipolytic activity. The P-F2 fraction revealed 6 spots on TLC. The 6 spots were isolated by TLC and identified as peptides.

• Korean Journal of Pharmacognosy
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• v.7 no.1
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• pp.47-50
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• 1976

Ten saponins named phytolaccoside $A{\sim}I$ and O were separated and shown to contain only $_D-glucose$ as sugar except phytolaccoside A which contains only $_D-xylose$. Phytolaccagenic acid was found to be a genin for phytolaccosides A and D, phytolaccagenin for B, E and F, jaligonic acid for G, and esculentic acid for C, H, I and O, respectively. The total saponin fraction exhibited strong anti-inflammatory activity.

• Proceedings of the Ginseng society Conference
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• 2002.10a
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• pp.253-261
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• 2002

To follow the metabolic fate of aglycone of ginseng saponins,in vitro and in vivo experiments were performed. Incubation of 20(S)-prtopanaxatriol (1) with rat liver S9 fraction afforded unique ocotillol derivatives, 20, 24-epoxysides (3 and 4). Also 20(S)-prtopanaxadiol (2) gave the corresponding epoxides (5). Healthy volunteers were taken with Sanchi Ginseng, which contains protopanaxatriol and protopanaxadiol saponins and no ocotillol saponins. From the alkaline hydrolysate of the urine samples of these volunteers,3 was detected as well as 1, and the ratio of 3/1 increased up to 2.0 at the maximum at 50 hrs. Biochemical significance of the ocotillol derivatives is discussed, since the main bioactive saponin in Panax vietnamensis is an ocotillol-type saponin, majonoside R2 (7).

• Journal of Food Hygiene and Safety
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• v.35 no.4
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• pp.382-390
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• 2020

This study was carried out to evaluate the antimicrobial effect of red ginseng (Panax ginseng C.A. Meyer) against several foodborne pathogens including Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, Candida albicans and Aspergillus niger. The antimicrobial effect was determined by agar diffusion method using red ginseng extract, crude saponin and non-water-soluble fractions. Red ginseng extract showed antimicrobial effect against S. aureus, but not C. albicans or A. niger. The extract showed anti-bacterial activity at concentration above 30% against S. aureus, which cause both food poisoning and atophic dermatitis. Crude saponin showed antibacterial activity above 7.5% against the bacterium. However, the ginsenosides purified from crude saponin showed no antimicrobial activities at 100-200 ㎍/mL. To investigate the mode of growth inhibition, red ginseng extract and crude saponin were added to 0.85% NaCl solution containing S. aureus and then incubated at 35℃ for 12 h. The results showed that viable cells were rapidly reduced in above 10% concentration of red ginseng extract and above 2% of crude saponin, respectively. However, the crude saponin and red ginseng extract did not inhibit the bacterial cells completely at those same concentrations. On the other hand, whereas all non-water-soluble fractions showed inhibition zones above 10 mm against S. aureus, they showed no inhibition effects against E. coli, C. albicans or A. niger. The methanol fraction-1 (MF-1) showed the highest antibacterial activity against S. aureus, and the MIC (minimal inhibitory concentration) was 0.625 mg/mL. These results suggest that red ginseng extract, crude saponin and non-water-soluble fractions show selective antibacterial activity against S. aureus, and non-water-soluble fractions might be used as natural antibacterial agents.