• Journal of Ginseng Research
• /
• v.33 no.1
• /
• pp.26-32
• /
• 2009

Diabetic nephropathy is associated with the dysfunction of proximal tubule cells. Insulin-like growth factor 1(IGF-I) has also been considered to play an important role in the development of diabetic nephropathy. Ginsenosides have been used as a remedy for diabetes in Asian countries. Therefore, we examined the preventive effect of ginsenosides against high glucose-induced alteration of IGF-I secretion in the primary cultured proximal tubule cells. In present study, Ginseng saponin (GS) completely blocked high glucose-induced stimulation of IGF-I secretion in proximal tubule cells, whereas panaxatriol (PI) and panaxadiol (PD) partially suppressed. In addition, high glucose stimulated cAMP formation and protein kinase C(PKC) activity from cytosolic to membrane fraction. GS completely prevented high glucose-induced stimulation of cAMP and PKC activity while PT and PD partially did. Furthermore, high glucose-induced stimulation of IGF-I was blocked by the treatment of PKI (protein kinase A inhibitor) and bisindolylmaleimide I (protein kinase C inhibitor). In conclusion, GS prevented high glucose-induced dysfunction of proximal tubule cells.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
• /
• v.17 no.1
• /
• pp.52-60
• /
• 1993

Panax ginseng has been extensively used in the traditional oriental medicine as a restorative, tonic and Prophylactic agent. Recently, several reports regarding to anticancer effects of Panax ginseng has accumulated. These studies emphasized the fact that the anticancer activities might be due to a glycoside group called ginsenoside or pan.u saponin which has a water soluble characteristic. However, the authors and collaborates demonstrated that a highly lipid soluble component in extract of Panax ginseng roots contains a considerable cytotoxic activities against marine leukemic cells (L1210, P388) and human censer cells (HRT-18, HT-29, HCT48). This study was devised to observe the cytotoxic activities of Petroleum-ether extract of Panax giuseng roots (crude GBD and its Partially Purified fraction from silicic acid column chromatography (7 : 3 GX) against sarcoma-180 (5-180) and Walker carcinosar- coma 256 (Walker 256) in vivo, and murine leukemic Lymphocytes (L1210) and human rectal cancer cells (HRT-18) and human colon cancer cells (HT-29 and HCT48) in vitro. Each cell-line was cultured in medium containing serial concentration of the crude GX or 7 : 3 GX in vitro. A highly lipid soluble compound in the extract of Panax ginseng root was cytocidal to murine leukemic cells and human colon and rectal cancer cells in vitro. In the meantime, ginseng saponin derivatives did not have cytotoxic effects at its corresponding concentration. The growth rates of the cancer cells in medium containing ginseng extracts were inhibited gradually to a significant degree roughly in proportion to the increase of the extract concentration. The cytotoxic activity of 7 : 3 GX was about 3 times more potent than that of crude GX, one unit of cytotoxic activity against L1210 cells being equivalent to 2.54 Ug and 058 Ug for the crude GX and 7 : 3 GX, respectively. The Ri value of the active compound on silica- gel thin layer chromatography with petroleum-ether/ethyl ether/acetic acid mixture (90 : 10 : 1, v/v/v) as a developing so lvent was 053. While, the Panaxydol and Panaxynol as active compounds were purified from Petroleum-ether extract of Panax ginseng root by Drs. Ahn and Kim, and author found out that the one unit of cytotoxic activity of the Panaxydol and Panaxynol against L1210 cells being equivalent to 056 Ug and 0.3918 respectively. The survival times of mice inoculated with S-180 cells were extended about 1.5 to 2 times by the 7 : 3 GX treatment compared with their control group. The significantly decreased hemoglobin values of rats after inoculation with Walker 256 were recovered to normal range by oral administration of the crude Gt The synthetic levels of protein, DNA and RNA in human colon and rectal cancer cells were significantly diminished by treatment with the crude GX, which can explain a part of the origin of its anticancer activity.

• Journal of Life Science
• /
• v.12 no.3
• /
• pp.349-356
• /
• 2002

In order to observe the bioactivity of ovariectomized rats, nonovariertoized (sham) group, ovariectomized (Ovx) group, ovariectomized ginseng total saponin (GTS)-treated (Ovx+ GTS) group and ovariectomized ginseng water extract (GW)-treated (Ovx+CW) group were made. We measured AST (L-aspartate aminotransferase) and ALT (L-alanin aminotransferase) in sera, and MDA (malondialdehyde:lipid peroxidation), SOD (superoxide dismutase), catalase, total-glutathione (GSH + GSSG) and GPx (glutathione peroxidase) in liver tissue total homogenates of rat. AST activity of serum in Ovx group was 2.11 times increased, but ALT activity was not changed compared to Sham group. In AST activity, they tend to decrease significantly in each substance such as GTS and GW administered group. Lipidperoxides of each fraction in Ovx group were highly increased compared to Sham group. Extracts of ginseng-treated group markedly inhibited lipid peroxidation by 62% ∼72%. And as the result of the measurements of SOD, catalase, total-glutathione and GPx which are antioxidant enzyme, antioxidant enzymes in Ovx group much lower than in Sham group. But they were significantly increased in each substance such as GTS and GW, administered group. Based on the results, it is supposed that more produced free radicals decreased antioxidant enzyme. And it is also thought that extracts of ginseng can inhibit aging by reducing antioxidant enzyme.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
• /
• v.32 no.1
• /
• pp.73-78
• /
• 2008

Red ginseng acidic polysaccharide (RGAP), isolated from Korean red ginseng (Panax ginseng C.A. Meyer), has been shown to have a variety of biological functions such as immunostimulating and anti-tumor activities. In the present study, we investigated whether RGAP inhibited ligand-induced platelet aggregation. The washed platelet-rich plasma was prepared from male SD rats with successive centrifugation. The platelets $(10^8/ml)$ were preincubated with 1 mM of $CaCl_2$ for 2 min either in the presence or in the absence of RGAP $(10{\sim}50\;{\mu}g/ml)$ and were stimulated with collagen (2.5 ${\mu}g/ml$) and thrombin (0.1 U/ml). RGAP dose-dependently inhibited thrombin-induced platelet aggregation with $IC_{50}$ value of $26.2{\pm}2.0$ ${\mu}g/ml$. In collagen-induced platelet aggregation, RGAP inhibited the reaction with an $IC_{50}$ value of $31.5{\pm}3.0\;{\mu}g/ml$. RGAP potently suppressed the intracellular calcium ion, which was stimulated by thrombin (0.1 U/ ml). Among mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) subtypes, the extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) 1/2 and p38 MAPK were analyzed in the present study. RGAP inhibited the phosphorylation of ERK2 and p38 MAPK, which was activated by collagen (2.5 ${\mu}g/ml$). Finally, these results suggested that besides saponin fraction, RGAP take an important role in the preventive effect of Korean red ginseng against cardiovascular disease such as thrombosis and atherosclerosis.

• Natural Product Sciences
• /
• v.21 no.2
• /
• pp.93-97
• /
• 2015

The purpose of this study was to develop a new ginseng (Panax ginseng) flower buds extract with the high concentration of ginsenoside Rg3, Rg5, Rk1, Rh1 and F4, the Red ginseng special component. Chemical transformation from the ginseng saponin glycosides to the prosapogenin was analyzed by the HPLC. The ginseng flower buds were processed at the several treatment conditions of the ultrasonication (Oscillator 600W, Vibrator 600W) and vinegar (about 14% acidity). The result of UVGFB-480 was the butanol fraction of ginseng flower buds that had been processed with ultrasonication and vinegar for 480 minutes gained the highest amount of ginsenoside Rg5 (3.548%), Rh1 (2.037%), Rk1 (1.821%), Rg3 (1.580%) and F4 (1.535%). The ginsenoside Rg5 of UVGFB-480 was found to contain 14.3 times as high as ginseng flower buds extracts (GFB, 0.249%).

• Proceedings of the Ginseng society Conference
• /
• 1987.06a
• /
• pp.29-37
• /
• 1987

This study was devised to observe the cytotoxlc activities of petroleum-ether extract of Panax ginseng root(crude Gx) and its partially purified fraction from silicon acid column chromatography(7:3 CX) against sarcoma-180(5-180) and Walker carcinosarcoma 256(Walker 256) in vivo, and murine leukemic lymphocytes(L1210) and human rectal cancer cell(HRT-18) and human colon cancer cells(HT-29 and HCT-48) in vitro . Each cell-line was cultured in medium containing serial concentrations of the crude Gx or 7:3 Gx in vitro. A highly lipid soluble compound in the extract of Panax ginseng root was cytocidal to murine leukemic cells and human colon and rectal cancer cells in vitro In the meantime, ginseng saponin derivatives did not cytotoxic effects at its corresponding concentration. The growth rates of the cancer cells in medium containing ginseng extracts were inhibited gradually to a significant degree roughly in proportion to the increase of the extract concentration. The cytotoxic activity of 7:3 Gx was about 3 times more potent than that of crude Gx, one unit of cytotoxic activity against L121f cells being equivalent to 2.54$\mu\textrm{g}$ and 0.88 $\mu\textrm{g}$ for the crude Gx and 7:3 Gx, respectively. The Rf value of the active compound on silica -gel thin layer chromatography with petroleum-ether/ethyl ether/acetic acid mixture (90:10:1, v/v/v) as a developing solvent was 0.23. The survival times of mice inoculated with S-180 cells were extended about 1.5 to 2 times by the 7:3 Gx treatment compared with their control group. The significantly decreased hemoglobin values of rats after inoculation with Walker 256 were recovered to normal range by oral administration of the crude Gx. The synthetic levels of protein, DNA and RNA in human colon and rectal cancer cells were significantly diminished by treatment with the crude Gx, which can explain a part of the origin of its anticancer activity.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
• /
• v.28 no.3
• /
• pp.127-131
• /
• 2004

This study was carried out to investigate the effect of red ginseng water extract (RGWE) on trypsin activity. After extraction of fat soluble and saponin component from red ginseng powder by methyl alcohol, the residue was extracted with distilled water, and manufactured to water extract. The extract was dialyzed with different molecular cut off membrane. Trypsin activity demonstrated the highest level at the RGWE concentration of 9${\times}$10$\^$-2/% in reaction mixture, and also increased to 15% at 2.9${\times}$10$\^$-3/%. Km value was decreased and Vmax was increased in the present of red ginseng water extract. Red ginseng water extract was partially purified by dialysis, Bio-Gel P-I0 and DEAE-cellulose column chromatography. The active fraction demonstrated positive reaction to ninhydrin, DNS and folin reaction.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
• /
• v.17 no.1
• /
• pp.1-12
• /
• 1993

The Preventive effect of the saponin fraction of Panax ginseng C.A. Meyer against hyperchole- sterolemia was demonstrated by assaying the cholesterol and triacylglyceride level of the blood serum and liver of rats fed high-cholesterol diet with and/or without ginsenoside. To understand the mechanism of the preventive action of ginsenoside, ginsenoside effect on LDL receptor binding ability, cholesterol level, and cAMP level of Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells cultured under various conditions were examined. When LDL (20 $\mu$g/ml) was added to the culture medium for CHO cell culture, LDL receptor binding activity of the cell was suppressed down to 58% of that of normal group. Ginsenosides at 10--2% and 10-3% level (w/v) were shown to exert an appreciable stimulatory effect on CHO cell LDL receptor activity, which partially overcame the suppression due to the presence of LDL (20 $\mu\textrm{g}$/ml) in the medium. Ginsenosides also reduced the increased cholesterol level of test group almost to that of normal group, and it increased cAMP level, which was usually reduced to 55% of that of the normal group due to the presence of LDL in the medium. Comparison of Kd and Bmax value of CHO cells cultured under different conditions revealed that this stimulation was due not to the receptor's binding affinity but to its number. Addition of ginsenoside (10-2%) decreased the uptake of taurocholic acid as much as 20% at the actively transporting everted ileal sacs, but it failed to form a large mixed micelles with taurocholic acid, which was one of the proposed mechanisms by which ginsenoside inhibits bile acid reabsorption. From the above results, it seemed likely that ginsenoside prevented hypercholestrolemia by decreasing cholesterol level in cells thereby relieving the inhibition of LDL receptor synthesis by cholesterol and also by inhibiting bile acid reabsorption from the small intestine.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
• /
• v.43 no.1
• /
• pp.86-94
• /
• 2019

Background: Ginseng is believed to have antitumor activity. Autophagy is largely a prosurvival cellular process that is activated in response to cellular stressors, including cytotoxic chemotherapy; therefore, agents that inhibit autophagy can be used as chemosensitizers in cancer treatment. We examined the ability of Korean Red Ginseng extract (RGE) to prevent autophagic flux and to make hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) cells become more sensitive to doxorubicin. Methods: The cytotoxic effects of total RGE or its saponin fraction (RGS) on HCC cells were examined by the lactate dehydrogenase assay in a dose- or time-dependent manner. The effect of RGE or RGS on autophagy was measured by analyzing microtubule-associated protein 1A/1B-light chain (LC)3-II expression and LC3 puncta formation in HCC cells. Late-stage autophagy suppression was tested using tandem-labeled green fluorescent protein (GFP)-monomeric red fluorescent protein (mRFP)-LC3. Results: RGE markedly increased the amount of LC3-II, but green and red puncta in tandem-labeled GFP-mRFP-LC3 remained colocalized over time, indicating that RGE inhibited autophagy at a late stage. Suppression of autophagy through knockdown of key ATG genes increased doxorubicin-induced cell death, suggesting that autophagy induced by doxorubicin has a protective function in HCC. Finally, RGE and RGS markedly sensitized HCC cells, (but not normal liver cells), to doxorubicin-induced cell death. Conclusion: Our data suggest that inhibition of late-stage autophagic flux by RGE is important for its potentiation of doxorubicin-induced cancer cell death. Therapy combining RGE with doxorubicin could serve as an effective strategy in the treatment of HCC.

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