This study was performed to enhance contents of low molecular weight ginsenoside Rh2 and Rg3 using an ultra high pressure and steaming process in wild cultured-Root in wild ginseng. For selective increase in contents of Rg3 and Rh2 in cultured wild ginseng roots, an ultra high extraction was applied at 500MPa for 20 min which was followed by steaming process at 90℃ for 12 hr. It was revealed that contents of ginsenosides, Rb1, Rb2, Rc and Rd, were decreased with the complex process described above, whereas contents of ginsenoside Rh2 and Rg3 were increased up to 4.918 mg/g and 6.115 mg/g, respectively. In addition, concentration of benzo[α]pyrene in extracts of the cultured wild ginseng roots treated by the complex process was 0.64 ppm but it was 0.78 ppm when it was treated with the steaming process. From the results, it was strongly suggested that low molecular weight ginsenosides, Rh2 and Rg3, are converted from Rb1, Rb2, Rc, and Rd which are easily broken down by an ultra high pressure and steaming process. This results indicate that an ultra high pressure and steaming process can selectively increase in contents of Rg3 and Rh2 in cultured wild ginseng roots and this process might enhance the utilization and values of cultured wild ginseng roots.

The management and control of mineral nutrients is one of most important techniques to increase the productivity and the quality of Korean ginseng. The mineral nutrients are measured with different plant tissues and different growth stages of 2-year-old ginseng grown under hydroponic culture with two different temperatures. The content of N, P, Ca, and Mg were higher at low temperature in both leaves and roots than those at high temperature. However, the content of K was high in leaves at low temperature compared to that of high temperature, while it was not significantly different in roots. The uptake amounts of N and K was higher throughout the experimental period at low temperature in both leaves and roots than those at high temperature. However, the uptake amount of P was not clearly different between two different temperatures and among six different growth stages. The uptake amount of N, P, K was generally decreased in leaves from June to August, while it was increased in roots. The relationship between dry weight and mineral nutrients in leaves was appeared positive with N, K, Ca, and Mg, but negative P. In roots, N, K, Ca, and Mg were negative, showing that was positive with only P. Comparing the correlation coefficients among mineral nutrients in leaves, N and K were significantly positive correlation each other. P was significantly positive correlation with Na and Zn. In case of roots, N was highly significant positive correlation with K, Mg, and Mn, but P was negatively correlated with Ca, Cu, Na, Fe, and Zn.

These studies were conducted to provide basic information on Korean ginseng cultivars and breeding lines (Panax ginseng C. A. Mey.) and to identify the variations that can be utilized in ginseng breeding programs. The agronomic characteristics was used to clarify the genetic relationships among Korean ginseng cultivars and breeding lines and to classify them into distinct genetic groups. Angle of petiole and number of fibrous root showed a wide variation from 15.0~67.8˚ and 0~5, respectively. The average plant length was 54.2cm with a range of 37.9~64.8cm and the average stem diameter was 5.6mm with a range of 4.0~7.5mm. The average stem length was 31.9cm with a range of 21.8~37.9cm and the average root weight was 38.1 g with a range of 23.0~52.0 g. The 24 Korean ginseng cultivars and breeding lines were classified into 4 groups based on agronomic characteristics using the complete linkage cluster analysis. The I, II, III and IV groups included the 60.8%, 7.4%, 13.1% and 8.7% of the cultivars and breeding lines, respectively. The breeding lines in group I could be characterized as the group with the highest growth characters and yield components, such as plant length, stem diameter and root weight. The root weight, the yield component, had highly significant positive correlations with stem diameter, plant length and stem length.

Next generation sequencing (NGS) approaches can also be useful tool for characterization of organelle genomes. We generated chloroplast (CP) genome sequences of two Korean ginseng cultivars, Chunpoong and Yunpoong, based on reference-guided assembly using whole genome NGS data. We used 0.5x of P. ginseng genome NGS reads to assemble CP genome. Of the NGS reads used, about 6% were mapped to the reference CP genome with mean coverage of 94x due to high copy number of CP genome in plant cell. CP genomes of the two cultivars were predicted to be 156,248 bp and 156,355 bp in length and showed about 0.1% differences at nucleotide level, compared to reference CP genome sequenced from P. ginseng (Acc.no. NC_006290), whereas difference between CP genomes of the two cultivars is very rare. In this study, we developed the molecular marker to perform taxon identification and also to elucidate phylogenetic relationship among Korean ginseng cultivars. Now, we are analyzing the CP genomes of other P. ginseng cultivars together with other Panax species including American ginseng and Panax related species.

Genetic map provides basic and important informations for breeding. Therefore, genetic map construction is a essential process in plant research. Panax ginseng is one of the most famous medical plant in the world. However, genetic informations of this medical plant for breeding are not enough. Because of little informations, genetic map construction of panax ginseng provides very useful information for breeding. Using Solexa next generation sequencing (NGS) technology, we have been produced a lot of expressed sequence tags (ESTs) and whole genome sequences from Chunpoong (368 Gb) and Yunpoong (6 Gb) cultivar. To develop large amount of DNA markers and thus construct high resolution genetic map, we inspect large scale of SSR motif and putative SNP sites which can be used as dCAPs markers using produced ginseng’s sequence data. As a result, we can find a number of DNA markers that have polymorphism between Yunpoong and Chunpoong cultivar. These developed DNA markers were analyzed for F2 population of Yunpoong x Chunpoong to find markers showing Mendelian segregation ratio 1:2:1.

The management and the use of major mineral nutriments such as nitrogen, phosphorous, and potassium, etc have been practiced and improved in various cultivating methods of Panax ginseng C. A. Meyer. The purposes of this study were to examine the content of major mineral nutrients on different ginseng aging from 1 to 6 years old, to analyze their uptake and utilization in tissues of ginseng, and to find out their proper managing techniques throughout the cultivation of ginseng. In case of the leaves, the N content was not clearly different from 1 to 6 years old, while the content of P and K was generally decreased throughout the cultivating years. In case of the roots, the content of N and K was gradually decreased from 1 to 6 years old, while the P content was increased until 3 years old, decreased at 4 years old, increased again at 5 years old, and decreased again at 6 years old. The uptake amount of N was increased in root of ginseng from 1 to 6 years old, 0.02 to 2.79kg/10a based on dry weight, respectively. Other minerals of P, K, Ca, and Mg were increased for the cultivating year. Comparing the uptake amounts of N, P, K with different cultivating year, they were the highest uptake amount at 4 years old and then were decreased. The management techniques of major mineral in cultivation of ginseng would be studied and evaluated more in order to have better ginseng production.

This study was carried out to have the basic and applied informations relating to increase the productivity and quality of ginseng. 2 years-old ginseng was cultivated under hydroponic culture with the controlled environment conditions in a greenhouse. Major growth characters and yields were investigated with two different temperatures and several growth stages. The plant height and stem diameter were higher at low temperature than those at high temperature. They were not clearly different with six different growth stages. The root length was not clearly different between two temperatures; however it was continuously grown from June until August. The root diameter was higher at low temperature than that at high temperature. It was rapidly increased from June until August. The length, width, and area of leaf were higher at low temperature than those at high temperature. The fresh and dry weights of different plant tissues were also heavier at low temperature than those at high temperature. The moisture content of ginseng root was continuously decreased from June until August. The yield of ginseng was higher at low temperature compared to that at high temperature. The cultivating conditions in hydroponic culture of ginseng, especially temperature, would be an important factor to have better growth and production.

To develop the practical cultivation for paddy field, we investigated the properties of paddy soil, growth characteristics and ginsenoside content of 6-year-old ginseng, Cheonpung variety between poor drainage class (PDC) and imperfect drainage class (IDC). Groundwater level in PDC showed monthly small changes of 20~30 cm, while IDC showed monthly great changes of 28~71 cm depending on rainfall. Soil moisture content in PDC and IDC was 17.2%, 22.5%, respectively. Air temperature in IDC was lower than 0.3℃, while soil temperature was higher than 0.8℃ compare to PDC, respectively. Main soil color of PDC was grayish olive, while IDC was brownish olive. PDC showed yellowish mottles only at underground of 20~40 cm, while IDC showed that at underground of 30~90 cm. IDC showed lower pH, EC, potassium, calcium and magnesium content, but higher organic matter, phosphate, and iron content than that of PDC, respectively. All of EC, organic matter, potassium, calcium, and magnesium content were decreased, but iron content was increased at the subsoil layers of PDC. All of EC, organic matter, phosphorus, and potassium content were decreased, but calcium and magnesium content were increased at the subsoil layers of IDC. Root yield in IDC was more increased by 33% than that of PDC. The moisture content and rusty ratio of ginseng root in IDC were lower than that of PDC. Ginsenoside content in IDC was higher than that of PDC because the ratio of lateral and fine root showing relatively high content of ginsenoside was higher in IDC than that of PDC.

본 연구는 CO2 농도와 온도가 상승함에 따라 인삼의 생육반응 및 광합성 특성의 변화를 알아보기 위해 실험하였다. 유리 온실 안에 대조구(대기중 CO2 농도)와 CO2 + 온도상승구(750-800 ppm, 2℃ 상승)로 나누어 비교하였으며 다음과 같다. 1. 인삼의 개엽율은 1년생 인삼을 이식한 후 1주일 이후인 4월 6일에 CO2 + 온도상승구의 개엽율이 대조구보다 더 높았다. 그러나 최종 개엽율은 CO2 + 온도상승구간 차이가 없었다. 2. 꽃이 나오는 시기는 대조구보다 CO2 + 온도상승구가 3일 빨랐고, 열매관찰시기와 열매 성숙시기는 대조구와 CO2 + 온도상승구간 차이가 없었다. 3. 인삼의 줄기길이는 대조구보다 CO2 + 온도상승구에서 길었고, 잎수는 대조구보다 CO2 + 온도상승구에서 많았다. 4. 지하부 생량무게는 대조구와 CO2 + 온도상승구간 차이가 없었다. 5. 광합성은 모두 대조구보다 CO2 + 온도상승구가 높았다. 대조구 내에서는 년도별 광합성이 차이가 있었다. 하지만 CO2 + 온도상승구에는 1년생과 2년생 간 차이가 없었다. 6. 증산률은 대조구와 CO2 + 온도상승구에서 모두 년생간 차이가 있었다. 1년생은 대조구보다 CO2 + 온도상승구가 높았고, 2년생은 대조구와 CO2 + 온도상승구간 차이가 없었다. 7. 수분이용효율은 대조구와 CO2 + 온도상승구에서 모두 1년생과 2년생간 차이가 있었다. 1년생은 대조구와 CO2 + 온도상승구간 차이가 없었고, 2년생은 대조구 보다 CO2 + 온도상승구가 높았다. 이상으로 볼 때 지구온난화는 인삼의 생육과 생리 생태학적 반응에 다소 긍정적인 영향을 준다.

When ginseng seedlings are cultured in paddy fields, quality degradation and yield reduction are induced by severe plant loss with chlorosis on leaves occurred physiological disorder by excessive salt and poor drainage, rusty-root occurrence, and root rot etc. Accordingly, in order to solve these problems, this study was performed to investigate the treatment method, concentrations and time of activated ion calcium as environment-friendly agricultural materials. Activated ion calcium is an enriched and purified water-soluble mineral calcium component for absorbing quickly into plant as a highly functional calcium and it is an alkaline calcium of 37% (370 ml/1 l) concentration with pH 13. Treatment method was that ginseng seeds were sown after removing water in the shade after seed immersion for 1 minute with active ion calcium of 20-fold diluted solution, and then irrigated 4l per 3.3 m2 with 200-fold, 400-fold, and 600-fold diluted solution before emergence on late March, and supplied 1 time on leaves with 500-fold diluted solution in June and July respectively. The disease rate by treatment of activated ion calcium was that on the treatment of soil irrigated with 200-fold diluted solution compared to non-treated soil, damping-off was 33%, anthracnose was 100% reduced and the occurrence rate of rusty-root was 30% reduced. In addition, when active ion calcium of 200-fold diluted solution were soil irrigated, first and second grade ginseng were respectively 26% and 22% produced more, compared with control.

An important factor in the production of organic ginseng is the control of Alternaria blight and anthracnose, which mostly affect the leaves in the summer. We compared the effects of a lime-bordeaux mixture (LBM) and agricultural chemicals on the growth characteristics and ginsenoside content in 4-year-old ginseng plants when they were sprayed at 15-day intervals from mid-June to the end of September. The increases in leaf length, and survive-leaf ratio in plants sprayed with LBM were greater than the increases of the control plants, but less than those of agricultural chemicals treatment. The root weight per plant in the plants sprayed with LBM increased more distinctly than that in the control plants, while it was significantly lower than that in plants sprayed with agricultural chemicals. The root yield in plants sprayed with LBM increased by 21% compared to the root yield in the control plants, but decreased by 7% compared to that in plants sprayed with agricultural chemicals because of the decreases in leaf area and survive-leaf ratio. Spraying of LBM had a significant effect on the ginsenoside contents. The total ginsenoside content was highest in the control plants and lowest in the plants sprayed with agricultural chemicals and total ginsenoside contents was great relative to survive-leaf ratio and root weight.

The present study examined the effects of Korean white ginseng (WG, Panax ginseng C. A. Meyer) on the learning and memory function and the neural activity in rats with trimethyltin (TMT)-induced memory deficits. The rats were administered with saline or WG (WG 100 or 300 mg/kg, p.o.) daily for 21 days. The cognitive improving efficacy of WG on the amnesic rats, which was induced by TMT, was investigated by assessing the Morris water maze test and by performing immunohistochemistries on choline acetyltransferase (ChAT), acetylcholinesterase (AchE), cAMP responsive element binding protein (CREB) and brain derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF). The rats treated with TMT injection (control group) showed impaired learning and memory of the tasks, but the rats treated with TMT injection and WG administration produced significant improvement of the escape latency to find the platform in the Morris water maze at the 2nd and 4th days compared to that of the control group. In the retention test, the WG 100 and WG 300 groups showed significantly increased crossing number around the platform compared to that of the control group (p < 0.001). Consistently with the behavioral data, result of immunohistochemistry analysis showed that WG 100 mg/kg significantly alleviated the loss of BDNF-ir neurons in the hippocampus compared to that of the control group (p < 0.01). Also, treatment with WG has a trend to be increased the cholinergic neurons in the hippocampal CA1 and CA3 areas as compared to that of the control group. These results suggest that WG may be useful for improving the cognitive function via regulation of neurotrophic activity.

인삼의 시설생산을 위하여 배지 조성 및 차광 정도를 달리한 환경조건 하에서의 생육특성과 생리활성 변화를 검토하고자 온실 및 실내시험을 수행하였다. 적정한 배지 조합은 차광 정도에 따라 달랐는데 무차광에서는 coco peat 단독, 50% 차광에서는 coco peat와 perlite를 50:50으로 혼합하였을 때, 70% 차광에서는 perlite 단독배지에서 유의적으로 높은 생육을 보였다(P〈0.05). 차광은 엽면적, 엽록소 함량, 근장, 지상부 및 지하부 생체중을 유의적으로 감소시켰다. 총 페놀 함량은 지상부(20.7~23.8 mg·kg-1)보다는 지하부(25.8~28.4 mg·kg-1)에서, 무차광(20.7~25.8 mg·kg-1)보다는 차광(23.7~28.4 mg·kg-1)에서 높게 나타났다. 총 플라보노이드 함량은 지하부(6.9~7.0 mg·kg-1)보다는 지상부에서(17.4~26.8 mg·kg-1), 무차광보다는 차광에서 높게 검출되었다. 반면, DPPH 라디컬 소거능 측정을 통한 항산화성은 추출물 농도가 증가할수록 높은 활성을 보였고, 지하부(24.9~28.7%)보다는 지상부에서(31.1~36.5%), 차광보다는 무차광에서 다소 높은 활성을 보였다. 결론적으로 차광은 비닐하우스 조건하에서 재배된 인삼의 생육과 생리활성에 영향을 미치는 것으로 나타났다.

병결점 부근의 저장온도에 따른 수삼의 내적 품질 변화 연구로 수삼을 각각 , 및 에서 16주간 저장하면서 저장온도에 따른 호흡률, 경도, 가용성 고형물함량, 전분함량, pH, 사포닌함량과 관능적 품질의 변화를 조사하였다. 수삼의 호흡률은 저장온도가 낮을수록 낮았으나 그 차이는 미미하였다. 수삼 표피층의 정도는 저장기간이 경과됨에 따라 증가하였고, 내부 조직의 경도는 감소하는 경향을 보였으나 저장온도에 따라 경도 변화의 차이는 뚜렷하지 않았다.

Pharmacological effects of Panax ginseng have been demonstrated in cardiovascular system, endocrine secretion and immune system, together with antitumor, anti-stress and anti-oxidant activities. Modern scientific data show protective effect of ginseng against bone marrow cell death, increased survival rate of experimental animals, recovery of hematopoietic injury, immunopotentiation, reduction of damaged intestinal epithelial cells, inhibition of mutagenesis and effective protection against testicular damages, caused by radiation exposure. And also, ginseng acts in indirect fashion to protect radical processes by inhibition of initiation of free radical processes and thus reduces the radiation damages. The research has made much progress, but still insufficient to fully uncover the action mechanism of ginseng components on the molecule level. This review provides the usefulness of natural product, showing no toxic effects, as an radioprotective agent. Furthermore, the further clinical trials on radioprotection of ginseng need to be highly done to clarify its scientific application. The effective components of ginseng has been known as ginsenosides. Considering that each of these ginsenosides has pharmacological effect, it seems likely that non-saponin components might have radioprotective effects superior to those of ginsenosides, suggesting its active ingredients to be non-saponin series. These results also show that the combined effects of saponin and non-saponin components play an important role in the radioprotective effects of ginseng.

In this study, ginseng flower water extracts were analyzed to set up the ginsenoside content and quality optimization condition. The highest total ginsenoside content among the ginseng flower water extracts was 67.44mg/g which was extracted at 85℃ for 3 hours. In addition, the ginsenoside content decreased according to the increased extraction temperature and time. The highest total content of Rb2 and Re was 37.42mg/g at 75℃ for 6 hours. Total content of Rb2 and Re decreased according to the increased extraction temperature and time. The highest prosapogenin (Rg2 + Rg3 + Rh1) content among the total of ginseng flower water extracts was 18.58mg/g which was extracted at 95℃ for 12 hours. The sweetness, absorbance were increased according to the increased extraction temperature and time. But pH was decreased according to the increased extraction time.

The principal objective of this study was to develop a discrimination method using SSR markers in Korean ginseng cultivars. Five cultivars--Chunpoong, Yunpoong, Gopoong, Sunpoong, and Kumpoong--were evaluated by nine markers out of 22 SSR markers. A total of 23 alleles were detected, ranging from 1 to 4, with an average of 2.6 alleles per locus, and an averages of gene diversity (GD) of 0.480. Nine markers were tested in order to distinguish among five Korean ginseng cultivars. Two markers out of nine SSR markers, GB-PG-065 and GB-PG-142, were selected as key markers for discrimination among Korean ginseng cultivars. Two genotypes were detected in GB-PG-065. Chunpoong and Kumpoong shared the same allele type, and Yunpoong, Gopoong, and Sunpoong shared another identical allele type. In the case of GB-PG-142, a specific allele type differentiated from those of other four cultivars was observed only in Sunpoong cultivar. Consequently, the SSR markers developed in this study may prove useful for the identification of Korean ginseng cultivars and the development of ginseng seed management systems, as well as tests to guarantee the purity of ginseng seeds.

Growth characteristics, root yield and ginsenoside contents of 3-year-old ginseng in greenhouse shaded by 30˚ sloped-curtain made of aluminum were compared to traditional shade facility in order to develop cultural practice for organic ginseng. Light transmittance ratio in greenhouse with 30˚ sloped-curtain shade was distinctly lower than that of traditional shade from sunrise to 9 a.m., while its ratio in greenhouse was higher than traditional shade since 9 a.m. due to the reflection of light. Air temperature of greenhouse was 1.3℃ higher than that of traditional shade on the first ten days of August due to more reflected light. Root yield of greenhouse was 44% higher than that of traditional cultivation because of the inflow of reflected light and the decrease of disease of Alternaria and Anthracnose by blocking rainfall. Dry matter partitioning ratio of rhizome and lateral root were increased in ginseng cultivated at greenhouse due to longer survival time in leaf than traditional cultivation. Total ginsenoside contents cultivated at greenhouse was decreased in the part of taproot, while it was increased in the part of lateral and fine root compare to traditional cultivation. Individual ginsenoside contents between greenhouse and traditional cultivation showed significant difference more frequent in fine root than taproot and lateral root. Total ginsenoside contents including Rb1, Rb2, Rc, Rd, Re, Rf, Rg1, and Rg2 in whole root of 3-year-old ginseng did not showed significant difference by greenhouse and traditional cultivation.

This study was conducted to examine major growth responses, the production and partitioning of dry matter on different growth stages, and yields and to select the optimal shading material in both quality and productivity of ginseng. Two cultivars of ginseng, Cheonpoong and Geumpoong, were cultivated in the paddy soil with three different shading materials; three-layered blue and one-layered black polyethylene (TBP), blue polyethylene sheet (BPS), and aluminium-coated polyethylene sheet (APS). Plant heights were linearly increased until June 24 and then maintained with showing higher height in Cheonpoong than that in Geumpoong cultivar. Root lengths were gradually increased until October 16. They were longer in Cheonpoong than that in Geumpoong cultivar, showing slightly longer with APS compared to TBP and BPS. The ability of producing dry matter of leaves was much higher from April to June compared to those of other growth periods, whereas its ability of root was concentrated from the end of June to the end of August. Among the shading materials, the ability of producing dry matter of shoot was higher with TBP than those with BPS and APS, while its ability of root was not appeared certain tendency unlike the shoot. The yield of ginseng roots was the highest with TBP among three shading materials and it was higher in Cheonpoong than that of Geumpoong cultivar. The shading materials which affect the light intensity and the temperature would be considered as an important factor to get better quality and productivity of Korean ginseng.

인삼을 지하부는 물론 지상부 경엽 부위를 채소용 또는 식품첨가물로 이용하기 위해 낮은 연령 인삼의 지상부 및 지하부의 메탄올 추출물을 이용한 생리활성물질 함량, 항산화성 및 세포독성을 분석하였다. 연령별 인삼의 초장, 근장, 근직경, 지상부 및 지하부 생체중을 기준으로 생육의 차이가 뚜렷하였다. Folin-Denis 방법에 따라 인삼의 메탄올 추출물로부터 총페놀함량을 측정한 결과, 지상부(22.0 - 76.3 mg kg1)가 지하부(19.0 - 28.3 mg kg1)보다 높은 함량을 보였다. 특히, 지상부는 연령이 낮을수록 지하부는 연령이 높을수록 높은 함량을 보였다. 한편, 연령별 인삼의 총플라보노이드 함량은 역시 지상부(23.3 - 138.6 mg kg1)가 지하부(0 - 10.8 mg kg1) 보다 유의적으로 높은 함량을 보였다. 특히 지상부는 연령이 낮을수록 높은 함량을 보였고 지하부는 뚜렷한 경향을 보이지 않았다. 인삼연령별 항산화성을 분석한 결과 인삼의 지상부는 낮은 연령에서, 지하부는 높은 연령에서 높은 DPPH 라디컬 소거능을 보였다. 특히, 지상부의 경우 3년생이 추출물 2,500 mg kg1에서 82.8%로 가장 높은 활성을 보였고 그 다음이 l년생 75.3%, 2년생 68.6% 순으로 높은 활성을 보였으나 나머지 4, 5, 6년생은 40% 이하의 낮은 활성을 보였다. 한편, 지하부(14.8-39.4%)는 지상부 보다 낮은 활성을 보였고, 5년생, 6년생, 4년생, 3년생, 2년생, 1년생 순으로 높은 활성을 보였다. 인삼연령별 세포독성은 연령과 무관한 것으로 나타났으며 폐암세포주(Calu-6)에 대한 5년근의 세포생장 억제율은 52.8%로 가장 높았고, 대장암 세포주(HCT-116)에 대한 억제율은 3년생에서 79.1%로 가장 높게 나타났다. 연령별 생체중은 생리활성물질 함량 및 항산화성에 관련이 있으며, 특히 항산화성을 나타내는 DPPH 라디컬 소거능(r2=0.7366-0.7870 )과 아질산염 제거능(r2=0.5604-0.8794 )은 총페놀함량과 각각 높은 상관관계를 보여 직접적으로 관련이 있는 것으로 나타났다.