Korean Panax ginseng C. A. Meyer (P. ginseng) is a well-known and one of the most important tonic herbs used in traditional Korean medicine. The pharmacological effects of P. ginseng have been reported by many researchers. Nevertheless, little is known between the mechanism of action and the active compounds. In this study, we performed a comprehensive proteomic analysis and protein categorization in order to understand the physiological characteristics of the major components in the adventitious roots of P. ginseng. Whole proteins extracted from the cultured adventitious roots of P. ginseng were separated by two-dimensional polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (2-DE). Among the 1000 spots which were detected by silver staining, 113 spots were labeled and identified by matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization-time of flight-mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS). Our results showed that 40 proteins were identified among the 113 spots, with a hit ratio of 35.3%. A number of proteins identified on the 2-DE gels (30%; 16 spots) were involved in energy metabolism. These proteomic data will be helpful to better understand the physiological and pharmacological effects of P. ginseng.

목초액을 친환경 인삼재배에 이용하기 위하여 전엽기 이후인 6월 중순부터 지상부에 엽면시비로 살포하여 3년생 인삼 잎의 형태적특성과 수량에 미치는 영향을 조사하였다. 목초액을 처리하면 처리농도에 관계없이 해면조직의 배열이 3층에서 4층으로 증가하였다. 또한 인삼 잎의 상표피와 하표피의 두께가 두꺼워지고, 엽육세포도 두꺼워지는 효과를 보였으며 지하부의 생육에도 영향을 미쳐 무처리에 비해 뿌리의 생육이 증진되었으며 인삼 뿌리의 수량도 증가하였다. 따라서 목초액의 혼합사용은 인삼의 생육을 촉진시키고, 병해를 극복하여 인삼을 친환경재배 할 수 있는 대안이 될 것이다.

To study the cause of physiological disorder in leaf of ginseng cultivated at paddy soil, the degree of brown-colored symptom (BCS) and the contents of inorganic matter in leaf were investigated by irrigating the solution of ferric andferrous iron of 0.1~2.0%, and citric acid of 1.0~4.0% on bed soil, respectively. Ratio of BCS by variety was as high as85.0% in Yoenpoong, while it was as low as 5.4%, 7.5% in Chunpoong and Hwangsook, respectively. The contents ofinorganic matter of leaf in Yoenpoong were lower in P₂O5, Ca, and Mg, while it were higher in K, Fe, and Mn than othervariety. Iron solution caused BCS more distinctly when each ferric and ferrous iron were dissolved with 1.0% citric acidthan when each iron was dissolved without citric acid. Ferric iron caused BCS more effectively than ferrous iron. BCSoccurred in 4.0% citric acid was as same as 2.0% ferric iron mixed with 1.0% citric acid. Low P₂O5 and high Fe content inleaf appeared in both of artificial and natural symptoms. We concluded that excessive Fe uptake caused BCS to leaf becausethe solubility of iron was increased in condition of low soil pH.

This study was carried out to investigate change of ginsenoside contents in red and fresh ginseng according toroot part and age by hydrolysis. Neutral total ginsenoside contents by hydrolysis in 6-year main root and lateralroot were significantly increased than those by non-hydrolysis, as 41.6 and 32.8%, respectively. However, there wasno significant difference in red ginseng. In fresh ginseng, ginsenoside contents of the protopanaxatriol group such as Re, Rf,Rg₁, Rg₂, and Rh₁ were not significantly different, but Rb₁, Rb₂, Rb₃, Rc, and Rd showed significant difference. The increaserate of neutral total ginsenoside content by hydrolysis was higher in epidermis-cortex than stele. Also, the neutraltotal ginsenoside content was fine root>rhizome>lateral root>main root, respectively. While there was no tendencytowards the increase of ginsenoside by hydrolysis with the increase of root age in fine root and rhizome, there was significantdecrease in main root and lateral root.

Ginsenosides of roots in Panax ginseng were analyzed by metabolic-targeting HPLC using the partial leastsquares discriminant analysis (PLS-DA) and compared depending on sowing methods between direct seeding andtransplanting method. Score plots derived from PLS-DA could identify the sowing method between the direct seeding andtransplanting method in P. ginseng roots. The ginsenoside compounds were assigned as Rg1, Re, Rf, Rg2, Rb1, Rc,Rb2, Rb3, and Rd. Contents of Re, Rf, Rg2, Rb1, Rc, Rb3, and Rd of main roots produced from the transplanting methodwere relatively higher than those of samples produced from direct seeding method. Also, contents of Rg1, Re, Rf, Rg2, Rb1,Rc, Rb2, Rb3, and Rd of lateral roots from the transplanted samples were relatively higher than those of samples producedfrom direct seeding method. Therefore, HPLC with PLS-DA analysis can be a straightforward tool for identificationof ginsenosides in main or lateral roots of P. ginseng obtained from two different seeding methods between directand transplanting methods.

Ginsenoside Rg3 (G-Rg3) contained only in red ginseng has been found to show various pharmacological effects such as an anticancer, antiangiogenetic, antimetastastic, liver protective, neuroprotective immunomodulating, vasorelaxative, antidiabetic, insulin secretion promoting and antioxidant activities. It is well known that G-Rg3 could be divided into 20(R)-Rg3 and 20(S)-Rg3 according to the hydroxyl group attached to C-20 of aglycone, whose structural characteristics show different pharmacological activities. It has been reported that G-Rg3 is metabolized to G-Rh2 and protopanaxadiol by the conditions of the gastric acid or intestinal bacteria, thereby these metabolites could be absorbed, suggesting its absolute bioavailability (2.63%) to be very low. Therefore, we reviewed the chemical, physical and biological transformation methods for the production on a large scale of G-Rg3 with various pharmacological effects. We also examined the influence of acid and heat treatment-induced potentials on for the preparation method of higher G-Rg3 content in ginseng and ginseng products. Futhermore, the microbial and enzymatic bio-conversion technologies could be more efficient in terms of high selectivity, efficiency and productivity. The present review discusses the available technologies for G-Rg3 production on a large scale using chemical and biological transformation.

This study was conducted to select environmental friendly organic materials for controlling the ginseng alternaria blight and to evaluate their effects from 2011 to 2012. Alternaria blight is caused by Alternaria panax and is the most common ginseng disease in Korea. Environmental friendly organic materials were used to reduce amount of chemical fungicides and the number of spray for control of Ginseng Alternaria leaf blight. In 4 years of ginseng, control value of Alternaria leaf blight by single application of Defenoconazole WP was 82.3% and those of single application was 62.0~75.9%. Consequently, mixed or alternated application of eco-material products could be recommended as a control method to reduce the amount of fungicides.

The present study was investigated the effect of planting density on plant growth and yield of Panax ginseng C. A. Meyer. Sowing density is one of the most important factors affecting yield. The value of roots have affected by shape, color, weight and degree of disease injury in ginseng. Also, it needed to minimize elapsed time for 5 years including pre-planting field management and cultivation period. We were conducted to evaluate that planting densities and varieties on the growth, yield and missing rate. The direct sowing was treated seeds density as a four levels (seeds; 72, 90, 120, 144) and 10 different varieties with 3 years old ginseng roots. Root weight was significantly affected by planting density and variety, but the number of lateral root and yield were affected by only planting density. Growth index was related to variety and planting density. Also, Root shape index was affected by both varieties and planting densities. Suitable planting density and variety were 120 plant per 1.62 m2 and Gopoong, respectively. Results showed that it was also a significant difference (p=5%) in variety of planting density on growth.

This study was carried out to investigate change of ginsenoside contents according to tissue ratio in ginseng root by age and diameter. The epidermis-cortex and xylem-pith extent, fresh weight, dry weight of ginseng increased with the root age increase. They increased higher in xylem-pith than in epidermis-cortex. The ratio of epidermis-cortex decreased and xylem-pith increased as the main root diameter increased. In case of same diameter, the xylem-pith ratio increased by the increase of root age. The epidermis-cortex ratio was 4 > 5 > 6 years, respectively. The total 10 ginsenosides of epidermis- cortex increased with the root age increase. However, the total ginsenoside of xylem-pith decreased and it was 2~5 times lower than epidermis-cortex. The most of ginsenoside contents existed in epidermis-cortex. The diameter decrease in main root is related to the increase of epidermis-cortex ratio. It leads to increase of ginsenoside contents. In order to select high level of ginsenoside cultivar, it suggested that it should be selected main root having narrow diameter and lower epidermis- cortex ratio.