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.

Background : While the anti-inflammatory effects of 20 (S)-ginsenoside Rg3 (Rg3) have been studied, it remains unclear how Rg3 regulates lipid metabolism in inflammatory macrophages. Thus, in this study, we characterized some eicosanoids related to the anti-inflammatory effects of 20 (S)-ginsenoside Rg3 in murine macrophages. Methods and Results : UPLC-MS/MS was used to profile various eicosanoids from RAW264.7 cells treated with lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and Rg3. The profiling data were statistically analyzed by principal component analysis, hierarchical clustering analysis and analysis of variance. The anti-inflammatory effect of Rg3 was validated by assessing the levels of nitric oxide, tumor necrosis factor-α, and interleukin-6 in the activated macrophages treated with Rg3. A total of 69 eicosanoids were analyzed in RAW264.7 cells. Principal component and hierarchical cluster analyses differentiated control cells from cells treated with LPS, Rg3, or LPS + Rg3 for 12 or 24 h. Furthermore, some differentially regulated compounds were found between macrophages treated with LPS for 24 h and those treated with LPS + Rg3 for 24 h. Conclusion : Rg3 alters eicosanoid metabolism in activated macrophages treated with LPS. Furthermore, we identified several eicosanoids correlated with the anti-inflammatory activity of Rg3.

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.

최근 들어 홍삼의 발모효과가 실험적으로 입증이 되었으나 임상적인 효능에 대해서는 아직 연구가 부족한 실정이다. 본 임상시험에서는 홍삼사포닌 Rg3 0.003%가 함유된 샴푸(Somang Co., Korea)의 사용에 따른 탈모방지 및 발모 탈모 및 발모효과를 인체적용시험을 통해 확인하고자 한다. 탈모로 진단된 42명의 환자가 참여하였으며, 홍삼사포닌 Rg3 0.003%가 함유된 헤어샴푸를 사용하는 군과 홍삼사포닌 Rg3 0.003%를 제외한 헤어샴푸를 사용하는 군으로 나누어 16주간 제품 사용 후 모발의 굵기, 밀도, 성장속도를 측정하였고, 탈모 개선 정도의 전문가 육안평가 및 피험자의 주관적 만족도로 평가하였다. 또한 제품사용의 피험자 주관적 기호도를 추가적으로 조사하였다. 시험 결과 시험제품 사용 후 16주에서 모발의 굵기, 모발의 밀도 및 모발 성장속도가 모두 통계적으로 유의성 있게 증가하였으며 전문가 육안평가와 피험자의 주관적 설문평가, 환자의 기호도 면에서도 시험제품이 더 우수한 결과를 보였다. 결론적으로 홍삼사포닌 Rg3가 함유된 샴푸는 피부에 자극 없이 탈모방지 및 양모개선 효과에 도움을 주는 제품으로 판단된다.

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.