Effect ofPanax ginseng extract on passive avoidance retention in old rats

Female rats of two groups (6 and 27 months) were tested in the passive avoidance test to investigate the age-dependency of the learning ability. The results showed a significantly better avoidance behavior in the young adult animals compared to the older ones. The influence of a 13-day treatment with Panax ginseng (30 mg/kg/d, oral) on 27 month old rats caused a considerably prolonging of the latency time in comparison to the untreated control group of the same age. In the open field the treated rats exhibited neither an altered locomotion nor exploration nor a changed emotional reactivity which could explain the improved avoidance reaction.     

Antiplatelet components in Panax ginseng

Panaxynol and ginsenosides Ro, Rg1, and Rg2 were found to be the main antiplatelet components in the diethyl ether and 1-butanol fractions, respectively, during the activity-guided fractionation of Panax ginseng, Panaxynol inhibited the aggregation, release reaction, and thromboxane formation in rabbit platelets while ginsenosides Ro, Rg1, and Rg2 suppressed the release reaction only.     

Effect ofPanax ginseng on the development of morphine induced tolerance and dependence (VI). On the oral administration of ginseng ether fraction and saponins

The present study was undertaken to determine the inhibitory effects of orally adminstered ginseng saponins(GS), protopanaxadiol saponins(PD), protopanaxatriol saponins(PT) and ginseng ether fraction(GE) on the development of morphine induced tolerance and physical dependence in mice and also to determine the hepatic glutathione contents. GS, PD and PT inhibited significantly the development of morphine induced tolerance and physical dependence, but GE was effective only on the inhibition of the development of morphine induced physical dependence. GS, PD, PT and GE also inhibited the hepatic glutathione level decrease induced by morphine multiple injections.     

Stabilization of β-D-galactosidase from heat and chemical inactivation with the extract ofPanax ginseng C.A. Meyer

Staiblization effect ofPanax ginseng C. A. Meyer on β-D-galactosidase inactivation was pro ved by kinetic studies of thermal inactivation of the enzyme. The water extractPanax ginseng C.A. Meyer showed stabilization activity at minimal concentration of 10ppm. The methanolic extract was purified to obtain ginseng saponins, and two groups of the ginsenosides,i.e., protopanaxadiol and protopanaxatriol were isolated. They also showed a protective effect against the thermal and chemical inactivation of the enzyme;p-chloromercuribenzoic acid and hydroxylamine known as protein modifier greatly inactivated the enzyme but inactivation was significantly blocked by the ginseng component. Mg²⁺. known as a cofactor, stabilized the enzyme and the poor stabilization effect by it was potentiated by ginseng components.     

Chemical studies on the ether-soluble alkaloidal fraction ofPanax ginseng. Isolation of 1-carbobutoxy-β-carboline and 1-carbomethoxy-β-carboline

Two alkaloids were isolated from an ether-soluble alkaloidal fraction ofPanax ginseng. They were identified as 1-carbobutoxy-β-carboline and 1-carbomethoxy-β-carboline.     

Alkaloidal constituents fromAconitum jaluense

Aconitum jaluense Komar. (Ranunculaceae) is one of the Aconitum plants growing in Korean peninsula. An investigation of the alkaloidal constituents of this species led to the isolation of seven C19-norditerpenoid and a C20-diterpenoid alkaloid. Three of them have been identified as neoline, mesaconitine, and hypaconitine, which were isolated from this plant collected from Mt. Bultasan in the north part. The other five alkaloids were determined as lipomesaconitine, lipohypaconitine, 15alpha-hydroxyneoline, hokbusine A, and napelline, which have not been found in this plant. Structures of those alkaloids were determined on the basis of their spectral data. It is of interest to note that a comparison of the present work and the previous report showed some differences in the alkaloidal contents.     

人参有效成分抗疲劳作用机制的研究进展

人参不仅是我国传统珍贵的中药材，更是食疗保健佳品，具有多方面抗疲劳作用。人参抗疲劳的主要活性成分包括人参多糖、寡肽和皂苷，可能通过调节糖类代谢、激活磷脂酰肌醇-3-羟激酶（PI3K）/蛋白激酶B（Akt）/哺乳动物雷帕霉素靶蛋白（mTOR）等信号通路、提高骨骼肌线粒体供能效力和加快自由基清除从而产生抗疲劳作用。综述人参多糖、蛋白质、人参皂苷类有效成分抗疲劳药理作用机制，旨在为人参用于各类抗疲劳功能产品的开发应用提供依据。     

Molecular differentiation ofPanax species by RAPD analysis

Traditional taxonomic methods used for the identification and differentiation of ginsengs rely primarily on morphological observations or physiochemical methods, which cannot be used efficiently when only powdered forms or shredded material is available. Randomly amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) was used to determine the unique DNA profiles that are characteristic not only of the genus Panax but also of various Panax subgroups collected from five different countries. RAPD results of OP-5A primer showed a specific single band that is characteristic of all ginseng samples. RAPD results of OP-13B primer demonstrated that OP-13B primer could be used as a unique RAPD marker to differentiate Panax species. These results support that this approach could be applied to distinguish Korean Ginseng (Panax ginseng) from others at the molecular level.     

Studies on the antioxidant components of Korean ginseng (III)

The effective components of Korean ginseng showing the lipid-peroxide depressing activity were isolated. From the ether-soluble acidic fraction of fresh ginseng three phenolic acids were obtained. Salicylic acid and vanillic acid exhibited the potent antioxidant activity, whereasp-hydroxycinnamic acid did not.     

基于UPLC-Q-TOF-MS的西洋参提取物及入血成分分析

目的采用超高效液相色谱-四级杆-飞行时间串联质谱法(UPLC-Q-TOF-MS)对西洋参的主要化学成分及入血成分进行分析鉴定。方法采用超高效液相色谱梯度洗脱分离各主要成分;电喷雾电离源负离子模式检测,四级杆飞行时间串联质谱法对各主要色谱峰进行归属。灌胃给予大鼠3 g·kg~(-1)西洋参粉,收集血清样品。采用UPLC-Q-TOF-MS分析并鉴定西洋参粉提取物及入血成分。结果通过质谱信息并结合对照品数据及相关文献,提取物中共鉴定了22个化合物,大鼠含药血清中共鉴定了8个入血成分。结论 UPLC-Q-TOF-MS可较全面地对西洋参成分进行定性分析,为进一步阐明药效物质基础和建立全面的质量控制提供参考依据。     

Activation of PC12 cells by lipophilic components of Panax ginseng.

The lipid soluble fraction of Panax ginseng C. A. Meyer has been found to possess a stimulatory effect on a para-neuronal culture cell line, namely PC12 cells. Addition of the diethyl ether extract (0.025-0.1 mg/ml) of Ginseng radix to a culture medium promoted the outgrowth of neurites from cells dose-dependently as well as their ready differentiation to respond to carbachol and high KCl-evoked membrane depolarization to induce free Ca2+ accumulation in the cells within a week of culture. Effective constituents of the extract were confined to four major substances detected in the extremely lipophilic front area on silica gel TLC.     

同时测定参附注射液二组份含量方法学研究

目的:建立同时测定参附注射液中人参皂苷Rg1和人参皂苷Re的含量方法.方法:高效液相色谱法,Nova Pak C18柱,流动相:乙腈:水(70:30),检测波长:203nm.结果:人参皂苷Rg1和人参皂苷Re分别在0.7208μg～7.208μg(r=0.9997,n=6)和0.6032μg～6.032μg(r=0.9997,n=6)范围内具有良好的线性关系.加样回收率分别为99.6%(RSD=1.2%)和99.8%(RSD=1.3%).结论:该方法准确,灵敏,便捷,可同时控制参附注射液中人参皂苷Rg1和人参皂苷Re的含量.     

Effect of ginsenosides, active components of ginseng, on capsaicin-induced pain-related behavior

Our recent study demonstrated that ginsenosides had antinociceptive effects by reducing some types of pain-related behavior in mice (Yoon et al., 1998. Ginsenosides induce differential antinociception and inhibit substance P-induced nociceptive response in mice. Life Science 62, PL319-PL325). In the present study we further investigated whether ginsenosides produce antinociceptive effects through an action at central or peripheral site(s) and whether these effects are mediated by the opioid system. Intraperitoneally injected ginsenosides suppressed in a dose-dependent manner the pain-related behavior produced by capsaicin injection into the plantar surface of the hind paw; the ED(50) was 49 mg/kg [26-92 mg/kg, 95% confidence interval (C.I.)]. Intrathecally or intracerebroventricularly administered ginsenosides also suppressed the capsaicin-induced pain-related behavior in a dose-dependent manner; the ED(50)s were 1.72 mg/kg (0.8-3.72 mg/kg, 95% C.I.) and 1. 48 mg/kg (0.8-2.6 mg/kg, 95% C.I.), respectively. On the other hand, subcutaneously injected ginsenosides to the plantar surface prior to the capsaicin injection did not alter the pain-related behavior. Naloxone pretreatment was without effect in blocking the antinociceptive effect of intrathecally administered ginsenosides. Intraperitoneally injected ginsenosides also did not significantly affect the motor response of animals. These results suggest that ginsenosides produce antinociceptive effects through their action at the spinal and/or supraspinal site(s), not at nociceptors in the periphery. In addition, the results suggest that the antinociceptive effects are not mediated by opioid receptors.     

Modification of radiation response in mice by ginsenosides,active components of Panax ginseng

We performed this study to determine the effect of extract of whole ginseng and ginsenosides (total saponin, panaxadiol and panaxatriol) on jejunal crypt survival, endogenous spleen colony formation, and apoptosis in jejunal crypt cells of mice irradiated with high- and low-doses of gamma-radiation. The radioprotective effect of ginseng was compared with the effect of diethyldithiocarbamate (DDC). The jejunal crypts were protected by pretreatment with extract of whole ginseng (i.p.: 50 mg/kg of body weight at 12 and 36 hours before irradiation, p < 0.005). Extract of whole ginseng (p < 0.005), total saponin (p < 0.01) or panaxadiol (p < 0.05) administration before irradiation (i.p.: 50 mg/kg of body weight at 12 and 36 hours before irradiation) resulted in an increase in the formation of the endogenous spleen colony. The frequency of radiation-induced apoptosis in the intestinal crypt cells was also reduced by pretreatment with extract of whole ginseng (p < 0.05), total saponin (p < 0.005) or panaxadiol (p < 0.05) (i.p. at 12 and 36 hours before irradiation). The radioprotective effect on the jejunal crypts and apoptosis in the DDC-treated group appeared similar to that in the ginseng-treated groups. Treatment with DDC showed no significant modifying effects on the formation of the endogenous spleen colony. In the experiment on the effect of ginsenosides, the result indicated that panaxadiol might have a major radioprotective effect. Although the mechanisms of this inhibitory effect remain to be elucidated, these results indicated that ginseng might be a useful radioprotector, especially since it is a relatively nontoxic natural product. Further studies are needed to better characterize the protective nature of ginseng extract and each ginsenoside.