Journal of Ginseng Research

BACKGROUND: Ginsenoside 20(S)-Rg3 shows promising tumor-suppressive effects in ovarian cancer via inhibiting NF-κB signaling. This study aimed to explore the downstream tumor suppressive mechanisms of ginsenoside Rg3 via this signaling pathway. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A systematical screening was applied to examine the expression profile of 41 kinesin family member genes in ovarian cancer. The regulatory effect of ginsenoside Rg3 on KIF20A expression was studied...

Red ginseng (RG) is widely used as a herbal medicine. As the human lifespan has increased, numerous diseases have developed, and RG has also been used to treat various diseases. Neurodegenerative diseases are major problems that modern people face through their lives. Neurodegenerative diseases, including Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, Huntington's disease, and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis are featured by progressive nerve system damage. Recently, neuroinflammation has emerged as a degenerative factor and is an immune response in which cytokines with nerve cells that constitute the nervous system...

BACKGROUND: Alzheimer's disease (AD) has memory impairment associated with aggregation of amyloid plaques and neurofibrillary tangles in the brain. Although anti-amyloid β (Aβ) protein antibody and chemical drugs can be prescribed in the clinic, they show adverse effects or low effectiveness. Therefore, the development of a new drug is necessarily needed. We focused on the cognitive function of Panax ginseng and tried to find active ingredient(s). We isolated panaxcerol D, a kind of glycosyl glyceride, from the non-saponin fraction of P...

BACKGROUND: Ginsenoside Rg3, a primary bioactive component of red ginseng, has anti-cancer effects. However, the effects of Rg3-enriched ginseng extract (Rg3RGE) on apoptosis and autophagy in breast cancer have not yet been investigated. In the present study, we explored the anti-tumor effects of Rg3RGE on breast cancer cells stimulated CoCl2 , a mimetic of the chronic hypoxic response, and determined the operative mechanisms of action. METHODS: The inhibitory mechanisms of Rg3RGE on breast cancer cells, such as apoptosis, autophagy and ROS levels, were detected both in vitro ...

BACKGROUND: Skeletal muscle denervation leads to motor neuron degeneration, which in turn reduces muscle fiber volumes. Recent studies have revealed that apoptosis plays a role in regulating denervation-associated pathologic muscle wasting. Korean red ginseng (KRG) has various biological activities and is currently widely consumed as a medicinal product worldwide. Among them, ginseng has protective effects against muscle atrophy in in vivo and in vitro . However, the effects of KRG on denervation-induced muscle damage have not been fully elucidated...

BACKGROUND: Although the survival outcomes of childhood cancer patients have improved, childhood cancer survivors suffer from various degrees of immune dysfunction or delayed immune reconstitution. This study aimed to investigate the effect of Korean Red Ginseng (KRG) on T cell recovery in childhood cancer patients who underwent autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (ASCT) from the perspective of inflammatory and senescent phenotypes. METHODS: This was a single-arm exploratory trial...

BACKGROUND: Skeletal muscles play a key role in physical activity and energy metabolism. The loss of skeletal muscle mass can cause problems related to metabolism and physical activity. Studies are being conducted to prevent such diseases by increasing the mass and regeneration capacity of muscles. Ginsenoside Rg5 has been reported to exhibit a broad range of pharmacological activities. However, studies on the effects of Rg5 on muscle differentiation and growth are scarce. METHODS: To investigate the effects of Rg5 on myogenesis, C2C12 myoblasts were induced to differentiate with Rg5, followed by immunoblotting, immunostaining, and qRT-PCR for myogenic markers and promyogenic signaling (p38MAPK)...

BACKGROUND: Gray mold, caused by Botrytis cinerea , is one of the major fungal diseases in agriculture. Biological methods are preferred over chemical fungicides to control gray mold since they are less toxic to the environment and could induce the resistance to pathogens in plants. In this work, we try to understand if ginseng defense to B. cinerea could be induced by fungal hypovirulent strain △ BcSpd1 . BcSpd1 encodes Zn(II)2 Cys6 transcription factor which regulates fungal pathogenicity and we recently reported △ BcSpd1 mutants reduced fungal virulence...

BACKGROUND: Gintonin is a new material of ginseng that acts through the ginseng-derived lysophosphatidic acid (LPA) receptor ligand. The gintonin-enriched fraction (GEF) inhibits amyloid plaque accumulation in the cortex and hippocampus, improves cognitive dysfunction by increasing acetylcholine levels, and promoted hippocampal neurogenesis in an animal model of Alzheimer's disease. We evaluated the effect of the GEF on the cognitive performance of subjects with subjective memory impairment (SMI)...

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: The ability to inhibit aggregation has been demonstrated with synthetically derived ginsenoside compounds G-Rp (1, 3, and 4) and ginsenosides naturally found in Panax ginseng 20(S)-Rg3, Rg6, F4, and Ro. Among these compounds, Rk3 (G-Rk3) from Panax ginseng needs to be further explored in order to reveal the mechanisms of action during inhibition. METHODOLOGY: Our study focused to investigate the action of G-Rk3 on agonist-stimulated human platelet aggregation, inhibition of platelet signaling molecules such as fibrinogen binding with integrin αIIb β3 using flow cytometry, intracellular calcium mobilization, dense granule secretion, and thromboxane B2 secretion...

BACKGROUND: Korean Red Ginseng (KRG) is an effective anti-stress treatment. In this study, we investigated the therapeutic potential effects of KRG on relieving stress in a general population using transcriptome analysis. METHODS: We conducted an 8-week clinical pilot study on 90 healthy men who reported stress. The study was completed by 43 participants in the KRG group and 44 participants in the placebo group. Participants were randomized 1:1 to the KRG and placebo groups...

Panax ginseng Meyer is a traditional Chinese medicine that is widely used as tonic in Asia. The main pharmacologically active components of ginseng are the dammarane-type ginsenosides, which have been shown to have anti-cancer, anti-inflammatory, immunoregulatory, neuroprotective, and metabolic regulatory activities. Moreover, some of ginsenosides (eg, Rh2 and Rg3) have been developed into nutraceuticals. However, the utilization of ginsenosides in clinic is restrictive due to poor permeability in cells and low bioavailability in human body...

BACKGROUND: Myocardial fibrosis post-myocardial infarction (MI) can induce maladaptive cardiac remodeling as well as heart failure. Although 20(S)-ginsenoside Rg3 (Rg3) has been applied to cardiovascular diseases, its efficacy and specific molecular mechanism in myocardial fibrosis are largely unknown. Herein, we aimed to explore whether TGFBR1 signaling was involved in Rg3's anti-fibrotic effect post-MI. METHODS: Left anterior descending (LAD) coronary artery ligation-induced MI mice and TGF-β1-stimulated primary cardiac fibroblasts (CFs) were adopted...

BACKGROUND: Caveolin-1, the scaffolding protein of cholesterol-rich invaginations, plays an important role in store-operated Ca2+ influx and its phosphorylation at Tyr14 (p-caveolin-1) is vital to mobilize protection against myocardial ischemia (MI) injury. SOCE, comprising STIM1, ORAI1 and TRPC1, contributes to intracellular Ca2+ ([Ca2+ ]i ) accumulation in cardiomyocytes. The purified extract of steamed Panax ginseng (EPG) attenuated [Ca2+ ]i overload against MI injury. Thus, the aim of this study was to investigate the possibility of EPG affecting p-caveolin-1 to further mediate SOCE/[Ca2+ ]i against MI injury in neonatal rat cardiomyocytes and a rat model...

BACKGROUND: Our previous investigation indicated that the preparation of Panax ginseng Meyer ( P. ginseng ) inhibited melanogenesis. It comprised salicylic acid (SA), protocatechuic acid (PA), p -coumaric acid ( p -CA), vanillic acid (VA), and caffeic acid (CA). In this investigation, the regulatory effects of P. ginseng phenolic acid monomers on melanin production were assessed. METHODS: In vitro and in vivo impact of phenolic acid monomers were assessed...

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UNLABELLED: Background: ginsenoside Rg5 is a rare ginsenoside with known hypoglycemic effects in diabetic mice. This study aimed to explore the effects of ginsenoside Rg5 on skin wound-healing in the Lepr db/db mutant ( db/db ) mice (C57BL/KsJ background) model and the underlying mechanisms. METHODS: Seven-week-old male C57BL/6J, SLC7A11 -knockout (KO), the littermate wild-type (WT), and db/db mice were used for in vivo and ex vivo studies. RESULTS: Ginsenoside Rg5 provided through oral gavage in db/db mice significantly alleviated the abundance of apoptotic cells in the wound areas and facilitated skin wound healing...

BACKGROUND: Ginseng has been used as a traditional medicine and functional cosmetic ingredients for many years. Recent studies have focused on the potential biological effects of the ginseng berry and its ingredients. (+)-Syringaresinol (SYR) is enriched in ginseng berry and its beneficial effects on the skin have been recently reported. However, little is known about the its effects on the wound healing process of skin. METHODS: Here, we evaluated the skin wound healing effect of (+)-SYR using the human fibroblast Hs68 cell and ex vivo pig and human skin tissue model...

BACKGROUND: Changes to work-life balance has increased the incidence of cervical cancer among younger people. A minor ginseng saponin known as ginsenoside Rk1 can inhibit the growth and survival of human cancer cells; however, whether ginsenoside Rk1 inhibits HeLa cell proliferation is unknown. METHODS AND RESULTS: Ginsenoside Rk1 blocked HeLa cells in the G0/G1 phase in a dose-dependent manner and inhibited cell division and proliferation. Ginsenoside Rk1 markedly also activated the apoptotic signaling pathway via caspase 3, PARP, and caspase 6...