Ginsenosides, ginseng saponin, are the principal components responsible for the pharmacological and biological activities of ginseng. In order to improve absorption and biological activities, the biotransformation of major ginsenoside to minor ginsenoside, as the more active compound, is required. In this study, we isolated Lactobacillus brevis THK-D57, which has high β-glycosidase activity, from Kimchi. The major ginsenoside Rb₁ was converted to the minor ginsenoside ‘compound K’ during the fermentation of L. brevis THK-D57. The results propose that the biotransformation pathway to produce compound K is as follows: ginsenoside Rb₁→ginsenoside Rd→ginsenoside F₂→ginsenoside compound K.

초고압 처리가 홍삼의 진세노사이드 함량 및 항산화 활성에 미치는 영향에 대하여 조사하였다. 전통적 인 방법으로 제조한 일반 홍삼과 초고압 처리 홍삼의 조사포닌 함량은 각각 21.93 및 27.29 mg/g이었 고, 총 페놀성 화합물과 조사포닌 및 진세노사이드 함량은 초고압 처리에 의해 증가하였다. 일반 홍삼과 초고압 처리 홍삼에 가장 많이 함유되어 있는 진세노사이드는 Rb1으로 각각 14.10 mg/g과 17.71 mg/g 이었으며, 초고압 처리에 의하여 25.60% Rb1이 증가하였다. 또한 홍삼의 특징적인 유효 성분인 Rg3는 일반 홍삼에 비하여 초고압 처리한 홍삼에서 10.46% 증가하였다. DPPH 및 ABTS 라디칼 소거 활성을 측정한 결과, 열수 추출물의 농도가 증가함에 따라 DPPH 및 ABTS 라디칼 소거 활성이 증가하는 경향 을 보였으며 초고압 처리 홍삼이 일반 홍삼 열수 추출물에 비해 높은 라디칼 소거 활성을 보였다. 환원 력과 FRAP 활성도 분획물의 농도가 증가함에 따라 환원력과 FRAP 활성이 증가하는 경향을 보였으며, 일반 홍삼과 초고압 처리 홍삼 열수 추출물의 FRAP 활성은 농도 10 mg/mL일 때 각각 0.30 및 0.36의 흡광도를 보였다. 따라서 초고압 처리 홍삼 열수 추출물은 자유 라디칼에 의해 유발된 산화적 스트레스 를 효과적으로 방어할 수 있을 것으로 판단된다.

국산 재배삼 4년근의 뿌리, 장뇌삼 4년근과 8년근의 잎과 뿌리에 대한 물 및 80% 에탄올 추출물에 대한 구성사포닌 및 항산화 활성을 분석하였다. 재배삼 80% 에탄올 추출물에 대한 조사포닌 함량은 3.85% (d.b) 이었으며, 4년근 장뇌삼 뿌리와 잎의 조사포닌 함량은 각각 6.75 및 8.57% (d.b)이었으며, 8년근 장뇌삼은 각각 6.53 및 7.54% (d.b)이었다. 재배삼의 구성사포닌은 ginsenoside-Rh1의 함량이 6.07 mg/g으로 가장 높았고, 4년근 장뇌삼뿌리는 -Rb1이 11.63 mg/g, 잎은 -Re가 24.35 mg/g으로 가장 높았고 8년근 장뇌삼 뿌리는 -Rh1이 19.77 mg/g, 잎은 -Re가 20.43 mg/g으로 가장 높았다. 항 산화활성 (IC50값)은 삼의 종류 및 연근별로 1.84~21.88 mg/mL의 범위이었고 8년근 장뇌삼 잎 80% 에 탄올 추출물에서 가장 높았다. 총 항산화력은 5.56~20.67 mg AA eq/g의 범위를 나타내었으며, 8년근 장뇌삼 잎 증류수 추출물에서 가장 높은 값을 나타내었다.

팽화홍삼으로부터 용매추출, 용매분획 및 silica gel column chromatography를 반복하여 두 개의 화합물을 분리하였다. 이들 두 화합물의 결정특성, 녹는점, 비선광도, Infrared spectrum 분석 결과, TLC에서의 Rf값, HPLC에서의 retention time 및 NMR 데이터를 측정하여 고찰한 결과 두 개의 화합물은 20(S)-ginsenoside Rg3와 ginsenoside Rg5임을 확인할 수 있었다. 특히 1H- 및 13C-NMR 데이터를 HSQC 및 HMBC와 같은 2D-NMR 실험을 통하여 더욱 정확하게 동정하였다.

To study on antioxidant effects in the liver of 40-week-old mouse, the sample were orally pretreated 5mg/kg/day for 5 days with red ginseng saponin components(total saponin, protopanaxadiol saponin, protopanaxatriol saponin, ginsenoside-Rd, ginsenoside-Re, compound-K) for 5 days. The ability of saponin to protect the mouse liver from oxidative damage was examined by determining the activity of superoxide dismutase(SOD), glutathione peroxidase(GPx) and the contents of glutathione, the level of malondialdehyde, The only protopanaxadiol among the ginseng saponin fractions was significantly increased the hepatic SOD activity(p<0.01). The red ginseng saponin induced a slight increase of GPx activity, especially ginsenoside Rd, compound K and protopanaxatriol treatments significantly increased its activity. The content of glutathione was significantly increased by total saponin, protopanaxadiol and ginsenoside Rd(p<0.01), but the oxidized glutathione level was lowered in all the red ginseng saponin. Finally, the level of malondialdehyde was significantly decreased by ginsenoside Rd and protopanaxadiol. In conclusion, protopanaxadiol and ginsenoside Rd among the saponin fraction were especially increased in the activity of hepatic antioxidative enzyme and decreased the lipid peroxidation that was expressed in term of MDA formation. This comprehensive antioxidant effects of red ginseng saponin seems to be by a certain action of saponin other than a direct antioxidant action.

This study was conducted to investigate the difference of general feature and ginsenoside content of 6 years old ginseng root among different grade of roots. Total weight of a 1st grade-6 years old ginseng root was 115.1g and weight, length, diameter and specific gravity of main root were 64.68g, 8.39cm, 3.31cm and 0.96, respectively. Main root of 1st grade ginseng root was larger in size and specific gravity and more heavy than that of End or 3rd grade of the roots. Though crude saponin contents were not so different among the different grade of roots, but ginsenoside Rb1, Rg1 and Re content were higher in 1st grade of root than that of 2nd or 3rd grade of root. Those ginsenosides were located mainly in periderm and cortex.

The aim of this study was to investigate the comparative growth characteristics and ginenoside contents of wild-simulated ginseng on different years (7 and 13-year-old) by monitoring soil properties of cultivation regions. Plant and soil samples were collected from 6 different cultivation regions. Soil organic matter (OM), total nitrogen (TN) and cation exchangeable capacity (CEC) were significantly higher in 13-year-old wild-simulated ginseng cultivation regions compared to 7-year-old wild-simulated ginseng cultivation regions. Growth characteristics of wild-simulated ginseng had shown significantly higher in 13-year-old wild-simulated ginseng compared to 7-year-old wild-simulated ginseng. Ginsenoside G-Rb1, Rb2, Rc, Rd, Re, Rf, Rg1 were significantly higher in 13-year-old wild-simulated ginseng than 7-year-old wild-simulated ginseng. According to the results of correlation analysis, soil OM, TN and CEC of the cultivated regions were positively correlated with the growth of wild-simulated ginseng. In addition, the root length of wild-simulated ginseng showed positive correlation with ginsenoside content. Hence, this study was able to investigate the correlation between growth and ginsenoside content of wild-simulated ginseng based on soil characteristics of the cultivation regions.

본 연구는 7년, 13년근 산양삼의 생육특성과 진세노사이드 (G) 함량 간의 상관관계를 구명하기 위하여 수행되었다. 6개소의 산양삼의 생육특성을 조사한 결과, 뇌두길이, 뿌리길이, 생중량, 단면적, 표면적, 부피에 있어 13년근 산양삼이 7년근 산양삼에 비하여 유의적으로 높은 것을 확인하였다. 진세노사이드 11종에 대한 함량은 G-Rb1, Rb2, Rc, Rd, Re, Rf, Rg1, Rg2 함량이 13년근 산양삼이 7년근 산양삼 보다 유의적으로 높은 수치를 확인하였다. 또한 산양삼과 인삼(재배삼) 진세노사이드 함량 을 비교한 결과, 13년 산양삼에서 G-Rb1, Rd, Re, Rf, Rg1이 4 년, 5년근 인삼(재배삼)에 비해 유의적으로 함량이 높은 것으로 확인되었다. 산양삼 연근별 생육특성과 진세노사이드 함량 간의 상관관계를 분석한 결과, G-Rb1, Rb2, Rc, Rd, Re, Rf, Rg1, Rg2 함량은 뇌두길이, 생중량, 단면적, 표면적, 부피와 유의정인 정의 상관관계를 보였으며, G-Rb1, Re, Rf, Rg2는 줄기직경 과 부의 상관관계를 확인하였다. 본 연구는 산양삼의 7년근과 13년근을 대상으로 생육특성과 진세노사이드 함량 상관관계를 구명함으로써 연근에 따른 품질규격 정립에 유용한 정보를 제공 할 것으로 판단된다.

Background: Ginseng produced by hydroponics can be cultivated without using agricultural chemicals; thus, it can be used as a raw materials for functional foods, medicines, and cosmetics. This study aimed to determine the optimal harvesting time to obtain the highest levels of ginsenoside and ginseng, as this was not previously unknown. Methods and Results: One-year-old organic ginseng seedlings were transplanted and cultivated using hydroponics for 150 days in a venlo-type greenhouse, using ginseng nursery bed soil and a nutrient solution (NO3 −-N; 6.165, P; 3.525, K; 5.625, Ca; 4.365, Mg; 5.085, S; 5.31 mEq/ℓ). Ginsenoside content and fresh and dry weights were higher at 120 days after transplanting than at 30, 60, 90, and 150 days. Total ginsenoside content was 11.86 times higher in the leaf and stem than in the root at 120 days after transplanting. Ginsenosides F1, F2, F3, and F5 were detected in ginseng leaves and stems. These chemical compounds are known to be effective in altering skin properties, including whitening, anti-inflammation, and anti-aging. Conclusions: Optimal harvesting time for ginseng cultivated using hydroponics was 120 days after transplanting when the biomass and ginsenoside content were highest.

새싹삼의 유효성분 및 진세노사이드를 함유한 발효주 제조를 위해 3단계로 나누어 각 2일씩 발효 증량하면서 발효주를 제조 한 후 전처리 방법을 달리한 새싹삼(CO, 무첨가 대조군; GP 새싹삼 분쇄물 첨가; WEP, 새싹삼 물추출물; EEP, 새싹삼 효소분해 추출물)을 발효주의 총 무게 대비 6%씩 함유하도록 첨가하여 6일간 숙성시키면서 이화학적 특성을 분석하였다. 3단계까지의 담금 과정에서 알코올 함량은 담금 단계가 이어질수록 높아졌으며, pH는 낮아지고, 산도는 증가하는 경향이었다. 3단계 담금 후 6일간의 숙성 동안 알코올 함량은 서서히 높아졌으며, pH는 서서히 낮아지고 산도가 증가하였다. 숙성 6일 동안 환원당 함량은 감소하는 경향이었는데, 특히 숙성 2일에 급격하게 함량이 감소하였다. 총페놀화합물의 함량은 숙성이 진행됨에 따라 점차 증가하는 경향이었다. 발효주의 숙성 중 진세노사이드는 Re가 가장 높은 함량이었으며 다음으로 Rg1과 Rh1의 순으로 함량이 높았고, 그 외의 진세노사이드는 일부 시료에서만 검출되었으며, 그 함량도 낮았다. 숙성 초기의 진세노사이드 함량은 GP와 EEP가 WEP에 비해 더 높았으나 숙성기간의 경과와 더불어 점차 감소하여 숙성 6일후에는 WEP에서 총진세노사이드의 함량이 가장 높았다. 숙성기간 중 ABTS 라디칼 소거활성은 숙성 기간의 경과와 더불어 증가하는 경향이었으며, 숙성 6일에는 62.64-64.71%로 서로 간에 유의적인 차이가 없었다. 이상의 결과로부터 볼 때 담금이 진행 된 후 첨가된 새싹삼은 전처리 방법에 관계없이 발효주의 기초 품질에는 영향을 미치지 않았으나 진세노사이드 함량을 기준으로 볼 때 50℃ 정도의 저온에서 추출한 물추출물을 첨가하는 것이 가장 적절할 것으로 판단된다.

Background : Ginseng (Panax ginseng C. A. meyer) is a medicinal herb which has been used for prevention and treatment of diseases in Korea, China and Japan for a long time. Ginseng is well known to have effects such as immunity enhancement, anticancer, antioxidative effect and blood circulation improvement. These pharmacological effects of ginseng have been reported to be due to various ginsenoside components. Recently, many studies have been actively conducted to identify the major components and functionalities of ginseng berry. Ginsenoside, a representative active ingredient of ginseng, is distributed in various parts of ginseng. However, contents of certain ingredient such as ginsenoside Re which have antidiabetic effect is higher in ginseng berry. This study was conducted to compare ginsenoside content and UV blocking effect according to the color of ginseng berry. Methods and Results : The ginseng berry extracts for the component analysis and UV-blocking effect test were obtained by harvesting the ginseng berry by color in 4-years-old ginseng cultivated, and then removing the seeds and extracting only the flesh of the ginseng berry and the peel with methanol. Ginsenosides analysis was carried out by dissolving 100 ㎎ of the extract in 2 ㎖ of methanol, filtering it with a 0.50 ㎛ filter and using it as a sample for HPLC analysis. Analysis of ginsenoside content showed that the total ginsenoside and ginsenoside Rb2 content of yellow ginseng berry were 23.9 and 2.9 ㎎/g, while those of red berry was 19.6 and 2.3 ㎎/g, respectively. The UV blocking effect of yellow ginseng berry was 17.4%, which was higher than that of red berry. Conclusion : The ginsenoside content and UV blocking effect of yellow ginseng berry were superior to those of red berry. These results suggested that yellow berry is more useful as cosmetic material for UV protection.

Background: Since the revised Ginseng Industrial Act was passed, ginseng sprouts have become a new medicinal vegetable for which there is high consumer demand. However, the existing amount of research and data on ginseng production has not kept pace with this changed reality. Methods and Results: In this study we analyzed the changes in the amounts of ginsenosides in different parts of growing ginseng sprouts during the period from when organic seedlings were planted in nursery soil until 8 weeks of cultivation had elapsed, which was when the leaves hardened. In the leaves, ginsenoside content increased 1.62 times with the panaxadiol (PD) system and 1.31 - 1.56 times with the panaxatriol (PT) system from 7 to 56 days after transplantation. During the same period, the total ginsenoside content of the stems decreased by 0.66 - 0.91 times, and those of the roots increased until the 21st day, and then underwent steep declines. The effect of fermented press cake extract (FPCE) and tap water (TP) on the total amount of ginsenoside per plant were similar, and could be represented with the equations y = 1.4330 + 0.2262x - 0.0008x2 and y = 0.9555 + 0.2997x - 0.0031x2 in which y = ginsenoside content x = amount of and on the total amounts of FPCE or TP, respectively after 26.4 days, however, the difference between ginsenoside content with FPCE and TP widened. Conclusions: These results suggested that the amounts of ginsenosides in different parts of ginseng varied with the cultivation period and nutrient supply. These findings also provide fundamental data on the distribution of ginsenosides among plant parts for 2- year-old ginseng plants in the early- growth stage.

Background: This study was carried out to determine the best time for collecting ginseng berries without reducing the ginsenoside- Re content of ginseng roots, which are used as food, medicine, or cosmetic materials. Methods and Results: The test variety of ginseng used in this study was is Chunpung, which was collected from a 4-year-old ginseng field. Ginseng berries were collected at 7, 14, 21, 28, 35, 42, 49, and 56 days after flowering. The number of berry bunches per 1.62㎡ ranged from 43.4 to 61.4, while the weight of berries per 1.62㎡ was the greatest when they were collected 49 days after flowering. The root fresh weight per 1.62㎡ was increased by 0.21 - 1.00 ㎏ compared with that before the test, but root weight gain was decreased as the berry collection time was delayed. Total ginsenoside content of 4-year-old ginseng was the highest when berries were collected 7 days after flowering, while the ginsenoside-Re contents was the highest when collection was done 14 days after flowering. Conclusions: The most suitable period for ginseng berry collection was proposed to be from 14 to 21 days after flowering, as this is when the content of ginsenoside-Re, which is useful as a medicinal or cosmetic material, is still high and the ginseng root has not yet decreased in weight.

Background : Korea's agriculture has been forced to change due to the decline in agricultural population, the aging of the population and the conclusion of the Convention on Biological Diversity. Thus, agriculture is seeking to develop into a sixth industry. For this reason, it is necessary to find high-function alternative plant resources for health promotion to meet the changes in national needs for agricultural products. The adventitious roots culture of wild mountain ginseng is the raw material of food code that produced by the biotechnology technique. introduced in the culture of the plant, which is the only way to use a raw material of food. Therefore, in order to increase the yield of ginsenoside in adventitious roots culture of wild mountain ginseng, ginsenoside precursor was treated and ginsenoside contents were analyzed. Methods and Results : In order to investigate effect of precursor treatment on the production of ginsenoside in adventitious roots culture of wild mountain ginseng, 5 g of adventitious roots culture of mountain ginseng were cultured in liquid SH media supplemented with 2 ㎎/l IBA, 3% sucrose for 8 weeks, which was co-cultured with β-sitosterol and Squalene (0.0625 to 1 mM) or without. Determination of 17 ginsenosides contents of each extract was carried out by HPLC. Rb3 was accumulated by only β-sitosterol, also it increased production of total ginsenoside in the cultured ginseng roots at a concentration of 0.125 mM, which was 2.47-fold higher than that in the control (78.13 ㎎/g of extract). Conclusion : These results are an important to improve the production yield of ginsenoside in adventitious roots culture of wild mountain ginseng, and they provide an opportunity for development of adventitious roots culture of wild mountain ginseng in dietary health supplement and pharmaceutical industries.

Background : Obesity, a global health problem and a chronic diseases, is associated with increased risk of developing type 2 diabetes and coronary heart diseases. A wide variety of natural remedies have been explored for their obesity treatment potential. To elucidate the anti-obesity effect of ginsenoside Rg5 : Rk1 (Rg5 : Rk1), a mixture of protopanaxadiol type ginsenosides isolated from Panax ginseng Meyer in a 3T3-L1 adipocytes. Methods and Results : In order to determinate the anti-obesity effect of Rg5 : Rk1, Oil Red O staining and triglyceride (TG) content was assessed. Furthermore, to elucidate the possible mechanism whether Rg5:Rk1 affects lipid accumulation, mRNA and protein expression analyses of adipocyte markers such as STAT3, PPARγ, CBEPα and ap2 were carried out. Rg5:Rk1 treatment showed an inhibition of lipid droplet accumulation and decrease on TG content. In addition, expression of STAT3, PPARγ, CEBPα and ap2 were decreased in dose dependent manner. Similar to these results, Rg5:Rk1 treatment reduced PPARγ and CEBPα protein expression. Conclusion : Rg5 : Rk1 treatment exhibits anti-adipogenic activity by down-regulation of the STAT3PPARγ/CEBPα pathway in 3T3-L1 adipocyte cell line.

Background : Nowadays obesity has increased dramatically in developed countries which lead various metabolic disorders such as type 2 diabetes, hypertension, cancer, and the risk of stroke. Thus, looking forward a new chemical entity from natural sources which have a strong potential of anti-lipid regulation activity. Recently, protein based nanomedicine offers a new approach to treat a number of diseases including metabolic disorder such as obesity. In this study we evaluated the anti-lipid regulation effect of nano-carrier Bovine serum albumin and Mesoporous silica (MSNPs) conjugated ginsenoside F1 in 3T3-L1adipocytes and HepG2 hepatocytes. Methods and Results : BSA incorporated drugs has been shown to protect the drug degredation as well as improvement bioavalilability. To assess the anti- adipogenic effect of BSA-F1 and MSNPs-F1 cell viability was investigated in different time point of cell cycle growth and the intracellular lipid accumulation was evaluated in mature adipocytes and hepatocytes by Oil red staining assay. In addition, transcriptional gene regulation was quantified by the real time PCR for targeting adipogenic genes such as PPARγ, STAT3, CEBPα, ap2 and aP2 as well as hepatogenic genes such as ACC, AMPK, FAS and PPARα. Moreover, protein expression was evaluated by immunoblotting assay. Conclusion : Altogether, the above results were confirmed that BSA-F1 at dose 25 μM exhibited the anti-adipogenesis effect by downregulating the major transcriptional factors PPAR γ/STAT3 in signalling in 3T3-L1 mature adipocytes and upregulated the fatty acid oxidative AMPK signaling in fatty acid induced HepG2 hepatocytes.

Background : Korean mountain ginseng adventitious roots culture extract fermentation product (KGEF) is increased the content of low molecular weight ginsenoside Rk1 and Rg5 by purifying, steaming, and fermentation of the wild ginseng adventitious roots culture. In Ministry of Food and Drug Safety, the analysis method of low molecular weight ginsenoside (Rk1, Rg5, Rh2, compound K, etc.) has not been proven, therefore we conducted validation to confirm the suitability of the qualitative and quantitative analysis method for Rk1 and Rg5. Methods and Results : Quantitative analysis was performed at a maximum absorption wavelength of 203 ㎚ (specificity). It was confirmed that the retention time of each peak of Rk1 and Rg5 was separated by chromatogram. The separation degree of Rk1 and Rg5 was 2.15 more as 1.5 a result of calculation according to the formula to evaluate the separation limit. (accuracy). The recovery rate was 101.5% of Rk1 and 103.9% of Rg5 in KGEF. (repeatability). The area value of ginsenoside Rk1 and Rg5 showed high reproducibility with relative standard deviation Rk1 0.86% and Rg5 0.68%. Retention time was also reproducible with relative standard deviation Rk1 of 0.054% and Rg5 of 0.09%. (linearity). The correlation coefficients were 0.999 of Rk1 and 0.999 of Rg5. The reproducibility of retention time in linearity was also high, with relative standard deviation Rk1 0.0017% and Rg5 0.0017% (limit of quantification, limit of detection). The quantitative limit of Rk1 was 53.73 ㎍/㎖ and the detection limit was 17.73 ㎍/㎖ and the detection limit of Rg5 was 259.03 ㎍/㎖ and detection limit was 85.48 ㎍/㎖. Conclusion : In this study, we validated ginsenoside Rk1 and Rg5 for identification and content testing. It will be enables to verify physicochemical differentiation and analytical methods, and to be a research-based data of low molecular weight ginsenosides.