From in vivo and in vitro experiments using Korean Red Ginseng and its main components. ginsenoside saponins, it was found that ginesenoside may exerts its anti-thrombotic action by decreasing $TXA_2$ formation in platelets and increasing $PGI_2$ formation in vascular walls. This may certainly contribute to prevention and development of atherosclerosis and thrombosis by administration of Korean Red Ginsengs.

In biological system, there are enzymes such as superoxide dismutase(SOD), catalase and glutathione(GSH) peroxidase which scavenge reactive oxygen species as well as antioxidants such as ceruloplasmin, albumin and nonprotein-bound SH including GSH related to defense mechanism. In the present study, the protective effects of ginsenoside $Rb_2$ against oxidative stress were investigated in the SAM-R/1 mice. Treatment with ginsenoside $Rb_2$ significantly increased Cu, Zn-SOD and Mn-SOD in the liver. Ginsenoside $Rb_2$ tended to increase hepatic catalase activity and significantly increased serum albumin and nonprotein-bound SH levels in the liver. But treatment with ginsenoside $Rb_2$ showed a significant decrease in hepatic malondialdehyde(MDA) levels compared to control group. Furthermore, we compared the effects in the hepatic SOD, MDA and serum albumin. These findings suggest that the increase of antioxidants by ginsenoside $Rb_2$ results in the protective effects against reactive oxygen species.

We reported earlier (Br. J. Pharmac. 82. 485 - 491. 1984) that ginsenosides from Panax ginseng CA. Meyer antagonized noradrenaline or prostaglandin $F_{2\alpha}-induced$ contractions of pulmonary and intrapulmonary arterial rings of rabbits. Because this effect resembled that of acetylcholine (ACh). we questioned whether these acitons were due to release of nitric oxide from vaseular endothelium. We therefore determined whether ginsenosides could vasodilate preconstricted lungs and also protect against free radical injury. which normally eliminates the vasodilator response to ACh(J. Appl. Physiol. 71. 821 - 825. 1991 J. We found that ginsenoside $Rg_1$ or a mixture of saponins could ,a) vasodilate perfused. $U_{46619}-preconstricted$ lungs. b) promote increased synthesis of nitric oxide by endothelial cells in culture and c) prevent the pulmonary edema often associated with free radical injury (Biochem. Biophys. Res. Comm. 189. 670 - 676. 1992). Thus, vasodilator and protective effects of ginsenosides against free radical injury may reflect enhanced synthesis and release of nitric oxide. These data suggest that ginsenosides may be useful in treatment of pulmonary and systemic hypertension. Aided by grants from the National Institutes of Health. Bethesda.

Intravenous administration of saponin extracted from the root of Panax ginseng lowered the blood pressure dose-dependently (10-200 mg/kg, B.W) in anesthetized rats. Therefore, experiments were designed to study the hypothesis that the lowering of blood pressure is associated with the release of endothelium-derived relaxing factor and the accumulation of guanosine 3, 5-cyclic monophosphate (cGMP). Rings of thoracic aorta with and without endothelium were suspended for the measurement of isometric tension in organ chamber and the tissue content of cGMP was measured by radioimmunoassay. All experiments were performed in the presence of $indomethacin(10^{-5}M).$ Ginseng saponin $(10^{-5}-3{\times}10^{-6}g/ml)$ relaxed contractions induced by phenylephrine $10^{-6}M)$ in the aorta with endothelium but not in that without endothelium. Treatment of aortic rings with $N^G$ monomethyl-L-arginine (L-NMMA, $10^{-4}M$ for 30 min), a competitive inhibitor of nitric oxide synthase, and methylene blue $(MB,\;3{\times}10^{-7}M$ for 30 min). an inhibitor of soluble guanylate cyclase, diminished the relaxation induced by Ginseng saponin. Ginseng saponin $10^{-4}g/ml$ for 2 min) increased the accumulation of cGMP in rings with endothelium. L-NMMA and MB inhibited the accumulation of cGMP induced by Ginseng saponin. These data suggest that vascular relaxations induced by Ginseng saponin are mediated by release of endothelium-derived relaxing factor and the accumulation of cGMP. The effect of Ginseng saponin on endothelial function in hypercholesterolemic rabbits was examined. In hypercholesterolemic rabbits fed with $2\%$ cholesterol for 8 weeks, relaxation of aortic rings to acetylcholine was impaired. The impaired relaxations of aortic rings in hypercholesterolemic rabbits were improved by dietary supplementation of Ginseng saponin, probably because of an improved release of endothelium - derived relaxing factor.

To find out the mechanisms of anticancer effect of ginseng, we performed prospective randomized study for the 39 patients with stomach cancer who had undergone radical subtotal or total gastrectomy and postoperative immunochemotherapy with PMF from July 1991 to November 1991 at Department of Surgery, Seoul National University Hospital. The patients were randomly divided into study and control group: the study group was administered with powdered red ginseng of 5400mg daily dose for 12 months postoperatively, the control group was simply followed-up. There were no significant differences between study and control group in twelve months postoperative body weights, triceps skin fold, hemoglobin. albumin, total protein, PNI, total WEC and lymphocyte count, and T-cell percentage (p>0.05). The results of preoperative DNCB skin test of study group was (0) for 8 patients and (+) for 12 patiens. but after operation, it showed the tendency of decreasing (0) and (+) ratio and increasing tendency of (++) ratio (p<0.05), but those of control group showed no increasing tendency of the degree of positive DNCB skin test. From the above results, we could conclude that ginseng had anti - cancer effect by the way of immune mechanism and could be an adjunct to the patients with stomach cancer postoperatively.

In an attempt toward the synthesis of the difficulty accessible ginseng saponins the four dammarane glycosides identical to the natural $ginsenosides-Rh_2,$ - F2, compound K and chikusetsusaponin - LT8 have been prepared from betulafolienetriol(=dammar-24-ene-$3{\alpha},12{\beta}\;20(S)-triol).\;3-O-{\beta}-D-Glucopyranoside$ of 20(S) - protopanaxadiol $(=ginsenoside-Rh_2)$ have been obtained by the regio - and stereoselective glycosylation of the $12-O-acetyldammar-24-ene-3{\beta},\;12{\beta},$ 20(S)-triol. The 12-ketoderivative of 20(S)-protopanaxadiol has been used as aglycon in synthesis of chikusetsusaponin - LT8. Attempted regio - and stereoselective glycosylation of the less reactive tertiary C - 20 - hydroxyl group in order to synthesize the $20-O-{\beta}-D-glucopyranoside$ of 20(S)-protopanaxadiol(=compound K) using 3, 12 - di - O - acetyldammar - 24 - ene - $3{\beta},12{\beta},20(S)$-trial as aglycon was unsuccessful. Glycosylation of 3, 12 - diketone of betulafolienetriol followed by $NaBH_4$ reduction yielded the $20-O-{\beta}-D-glucopyranoside\;of\;dammar-24-ene-3{\beta},12{\alpha},$ 20(S)-triol, the $12{\alpha}-epimer$ of 20(S) - protopanaxadiol. Moreover, a number of semisynthetic ocotillol - type glucosides, analogs of natural pseudoginsenosides, have been prepared.

It has been reported that ginseng is effective in the central nervous system, immune system, and the strong inflammatory responses. However, there has been no research report yet about the effect of ginseng on allergic hypersensitivity reactivity. To confirm the ginseng effects on the release of mediators(histamine. leukotrienes etc.) which cause the hypersensitivity reactivity and inflammatory response, we used actively sensitized guinea pig airway tissues by utilizing the superfusion technique. In this procedure. the contractile response and mediators released after antigen stimulation of sensitized tissues, and IgG and IgE antibody products were measured in sera of immunized animals. Then the results of the controll group were compared to those of ginseng pretreatment groups. In the total saponin(TS) and panaxatriol(PT) pretreatment, histamine release decreased by $20\%$ in the tracheal tissues after active sensitization by ovalbumin(OVA, 10mg/kg), but in the lung parenchyma, histamine release decreased by $40\%.$ Panaxadiol(PD) significantly decreased histamine release by $40\%$ in the both tissues after active sensitization. TS, PT and PD of ginseng poorly blocked leukotrienes (LTs) and prostagrandin $D_2(PGD_2)$ release(less than $10\%$). Ginseng TS and PT had no effect on the serum IgG antibody production by ovalbumin, whereas PD significantly increased serum IgG antibody contents(approximately by 2 times). However, $IgG_1$ antibody products in the serum of guinea pig actively sensitized with ovalbumin after PD pretreatment were decreased, compared to that with ovalbumin alone. IgE antibody production by passive cutaneous anaphylaxis(PCA) titer in the TS pretreatment increased 3 times more than in the absence of TS(PCA titer by PT was not detected). These studies show that some ginseng saponins can in part act to inhibit mediator release in antigen - induced airway smooth muscle by inducing the IgG antibody production which has been changed in the specificity.

Lipophilic fraction(LF) from Panax ginseng C.A. Meyer inhibited the aggregation of human platelets induced by th rombin(0.1u/$m{\ell}$). LF and Molsidomine(vasodilator) induced the stimulation of cGMP - elevation and 50KD - Phosphorylation. and then the inhibition of 20KD - Phosphorylation in human platelets activated by thrombin. LF also inhibited the $Ca^{2-}-influx$ into platelets. When rat(SD : male) was fed with LF, the level of cGMP was increased in rat platelets stimulated by collagen and thrombin. On the other hand. verapamil, $Ca^{2-}-antagonist$ increased cAMP level ;n platelet stimulated by thrombin. but LF does not affected. However LF potently inhibited the thromboxane $A_2(TXA_2)$ production. The results suggest that the inhibitory effects of LF are mediated by regulation the phosphorylatior. of 50KD via cGMP-elevation and depend upon the decrease of $TXA_2$ level.

Backgrounds Diabetes mellitus is associated with accelerated atherosc lerosis and predispose to specific microvascular problems. This study was performed to evaluate the usefulness of red ginseng as adjunctive therapeutic agent of NIDDM especially in preventing chronic diabetic complications. Materials and Methods We treated 50 patients with NIDDM for 5 month with 2 regimens: 1)oralhypoglycemic drug therapy only(the control group), 2)oral hypoglycemic group). The patients were recruited at Korea university hospital from June, 1992 to October, 1992 and the following inclusion criteria were used: l)age above 35 years 2)initial body weight within or above ideal body weight 3)fasting blood glucose level greater than 140mg/dl 4)no previous history of diabetes mellitus or no history of blood glucose control for recent 3 months of more. The patients were seen every 2 weeks for remaining 3 months. At every visit FBS and PP2hr blood glucose were measured with blood pressure and body weight. Lipid profiles were checked every 4 weeks and platelet function test was perfomed with aggregometer after administration of ADP, epineprine and collagen every 4 weeks. Free fatty acid were also analyzed every 8 weeks and glycosylated hemoglobin was measured every 12 weeks. Results The results were as follows: 1. The mean values for fasting and PP2hr blood glucose decreased significantly in the control group than in the ginseng group. 2. The weight gain was less in the ginseng group than in the control group. The levels of systolic blood pressure decreased' significantly in the ginseng group than in the control group. 3. There was no significant differences of lipid profiles in both groups. 4. The platelet hyperaggregation was improved more significantly in the ginseng group than in the control group. Conclusions In patients with NIDDM who were recieving oral hypoglycemic drug therapy, the addition of red ginseng improved platelet function and blood pressure, but induced less weight gain. The data suggests that red ginseng may be useful as a therapeutic adjunct especially in preventing chronic complications of NIDDM.

Acidic polysaccharide from Korean red ginseng was found to inhibit pancreatic lipase activity and cause reduction of plasma triglyceride level after oral administration of corn oil emulsion to rats. Thus acidic polysaccharide may reduce plasma triglyceride through its inhibitory action on pancreatic lipase and successive inhibition of intestinal absorption of fat due to reduction of lipolysis. In the course of this experiment, we found an unknown ninhydrin positive substance in Korean red ginseng. The unknown substance was identified to be arginyl-fructosyl glucose(Arg - Fru - Glc). Coment of this new compound was $5.37\%$ in Korean red ginseng powder. Sucrase and maltase activities in mucous layer of rat jejunum were found to be inhibited by Arg-Fru-Glc. Physiological significance of the new compound was discussed based on these experimental results.

The lowering effect of cholesterol in Sprague Dawley rats was investigated with panaxydol which was purified from the petroleum ether soluble fraction(PESF) of Korean red ginseng. The level of total cholesterol(TC), Triglyceride(TG) and low density lipoprotein(LOL)-cholesterol in serum was reduced by $48\%,\;47\%\;and\;41\%,$ respectively while high density lipoprotein(HDL)-cholesterol was in creased up to $29\%$ as compared with their control values when the panaxydol(20 umoles. 5 mq/kq/day) was adminstered by intraperitoneal rout for 3 consecutive days along with a $1\%$ cholesterol diet. The hepatic ester cholesterol content which was increased in proportion to the cholesterol content of the diet in the control, clearly decreased with panaxydol administration to about $40\%$ regardless of the two diet cholesterol content. $1\%\;or\;2\%.$ A threshold of supression on the serum lipid levels in both administration routes was observed: the maximium suppression in i.p. and p.o. administration was observed to be at 5mq/kq b.w. and in the range of 50 - 100 mg/kg b.w., respectively. Panaxydol may reduce serum lipid and cholesterol levels by inhibiting cholesterol absorption and/or by modulating the cholesterol metabolism. at least in part.

The effects of total ginseng saponin. extracts of Panax ginseng C.A. Meyer, on the differentiation of F9 teratocarcinoma stem cells were studied. F9 stem cells cultured in the presence of ginseng saponin together with dibutyric cAMP became parietal endoderm - like cells. Moreover, the expressions of differentiation marker genes. laminin. type IV collagen. and retinoic acid $receptor-{\beta}(RAR{\beta})$ were increased after treatment of ginseng saponin. Among various ginsenosides purified from crude ginseng saponin, $Rh_1\;and\;Rh_2$ caused the differentiation of F9 cells most effectively. Since ginsenosides and steroid hormone show resemblance in chemical structure. we studied the possibility of the involvement of a steroid receptor in the differentiation process induced by ginsenosides. According to Southwestern blot analysis, a 94 kDa protein regarding as a steroid receptor was detected in F9 cells cultured in the medium containing ginseng saponin. Based on these data, we suggest that ginseng saponin, especially ginsenosides $Rh_1\;and\;Rh_2$ cause the differentiation of F9 cells and the effects of ginsenosides might be exerted via binding with a steroid receptor or its analogous nuclear receptor.

한국산 고려 홍삼을 산 또는 알칼리로 가수분해하여, 여러가지 사포게닌과 프로사포게닌을 제조하였으며, 분광학적 데이터와 물리 데이터 등으로부터 이들의 화학 구조를 결정하였다. 이들 중 몇종의 분해산물은 A549, SK - OV. - 3, P388, L1210, SK - Mel - 2 및 K562 등의 암세포에 대하여 세포 독성을 나타내었다. Diol계와 triol계 모두 20번 탄소의 절대구조만이 다른 입체 이성체간의 세포독성의 차이는 인정되지 않았으며, diol 계의 물질들이 triol계 물질보다는 더 높은 활성을 나타내었다. 일반적으로 결합된 탄소의 수가 적을수록 세포독성은 강하여지는 경향??? 보였다.

Korean ginseng has been widely used as medicine from ancient times in Asia. Current breeding efforts in Korea include the individual plant selection and the subsequent pure - line isolation, and considerable number of lines with desirable traits have thus been isolated. However, there were rare data on genetic maker and its analysis for selection of superior varieties. For taxonomic characterization and development of genetic markers for ginseng breeding, molecular biological methods including the RFLP and RAPD methods were applied. Cytoplasmic DNA of ginseng was analyzed for RFLP analysis. However. there is no different pattern among the chloroplast DNA or mitochondrial DNA of variants. In the case of RAPD analysis, the band patterns using 4 of 10 RAPD primers show the distinctive polymorphism among 9 ginseng variants, and lines, and Similarity Index(SI) on polymorphism was calculated for the extent and nature of these variabilities in ginseng. The sequences of 4 selected primers were TGCCGAGCTG, AATCGGGCTG. GAAACGGGTG, and GTGACGTAGG. By SI based on the polymorphic band patterns, Chungkyung - Chong and Hwangskoog - Chong, and JakyungChong 81783 and Jinjakyung of Russia showed the most close SI. The data of KG10l coincided with the fact that it was released from Hwangskoog - Chong. and Jakyung - Chong 81783 and Jinjakyung of Russia showed the most close SI. The data of KG101 coincided with the fact that it was released from Hwangskoog - Chong by breeding process. The data of Jakyung strains indicated the significant variation among the strains. From these results, RAPD analysis method could be succesively applied to the classification and genetic analysis for breeding of Korean ginseng.

Ginseng root explants and calli induced from selected cell lines were cultured on modified Murashige and Skoog's media supplemented with different concentrations of organic or inorganic compounds and plant growth requlators to clarify the effects of chemical composition and plant growth regulators in the medium on the growth of ginseng calli and the production of ginseng saponin. For optimum growth of calli, the concentrations of 2, 4-D and sucrose were the range of 1 to 3 mg/${\ell}$l and 1 to $3\%,$ respectively. And it was clarified that sucrose, nitrogen, phosphate, calcium, magmesian plant growth regulators and their concentrations influcenced the relative biosynthesis of saponin in tissue cultures of Panax ginseng. The patterns of ginsenosides, pharmacologically useful component, were different among the cell lines and contents of ginsenosides were much higher in selected cell lines than in original cell line.

An American ginseng(Panax quillquefolium L) industry has emerged in British Columbia, Canada over the past ten years. Interest has grown very rapidly and with this development, attention is now moving away from field production issues and emphasis is being directed to enhancements in ginseng storage, drying and processing. There is a dearth of knowledge on these aspects even though they are crucial to international competitiveness. Enhancement dicatates the application of a systems approach to optimizing the harvest and post - harvest production system(crop digging, pre - washing cold storage. washing, drying and post - drying storage). Research in British Columbia to date has focussed on drying and storage issues and has resulted in the design of an enhanced commercial drying system. The role of dryer management, loading rates, airflow rates and pre - drying cold storage on American ginseng root drying rates and root quality were examined. From the dryer management experiments, there are distinct advantages to size sorting root to yield optimum drying rates. If unsorted root is used, efficiency is increased if the trays are systematically rotated. Loading rate experiments illustrate that increasing rates above those currently used in commercial dryers are possible without any sacrifice in quality. This has significant implications for commercial drying. Pre - drying cold storage is a most significant tool for managing drying operations. Over a period of six weeks, no discernable decrease in quality was found as a consequence of cold storage. Further, the moisture loss and the associated root surface changes(loss of surface soil in storage for example) provide new challenges for root quality management. Continued research and technological innovation will be crucial in addressing the demanding challenges of the future.

Panax ginseng has been reported to protect animals or to help them recover from physical, chemical, or biological stress. The antistress effects of ginseng were evaluated through the measurement of adrenal ascorbic acid, rectal temperature, and plasma level of glucose. lipids and corticosterone. During the treadmill experiments of the antifatigue study, the groups of rats receiving P. ginseng or P. quinquefolius extracts were consistently found to leave fewer fecal boli on the wheel compared with controls. This phenomenon may be due to the reported antistress effects of ginseng. Another possibility could be that the Panax species examined produced anticholinergic effects which in turn inhibited the production of fecal boli. After an anticholinergic study. employing physostigmine and atropine as controls, anticholinergic effect was found not essential for the decrease of fecal boli number left on the wheels during antifatigue studies. The results were consistent with the antistress activity reported previously. Even though the active constituents responsible for the antistress effects of ginseng remained to be determined, the fecal boli counts for stressed rats can be employed as a new protocol for evaluating the antistress effects of ginseng.

The effects of Korean Red Ginseng (KRG) in rats submitted to exhaustion exercise have been studied, by measuring different enzymatic and hematological parameters in plasma and muscle. KRG powder was daily administered to 15 male Wistar rats for a period of two weeks. Another group of 15 rats with the same characteristics were administered physiological saline. Both groups were divided as follows: 5 control. 5 exercised till exhaustion and 5 recovered for 48 h after exhaustion. The following results were obtained for the groups treated with KRG in rapport to those treated with saline: - Higher endurance to running, - Increase of the osmotic resistence of red blood cells and higher presence of reticulocytes. - Lower triglyceride levels in plasma. - Increase non statistically significant of urea levels in plasma, - Lower non statistically significant hypoglycemia after exhaustion exercise. - Decrease of liver glycogen after exercise and faster recovery of the resting - level. - Protective effect on tissular damage produced by exhaustion exercise - Lower LDH activity in all studied muscles. only statistically significant in the WG.

Ginseng saponins have been known as main active principles and analyzed as the index components in ginseng and its products for quality control. But it is generally difficult to analyze the saponins in crude drug preparations. Saponins, Prosapogenins and sapogenins of crude drug preparation were identified by TLC and determined quantitatively by HPLC. $Prosapogemins-Rg_3\;-Rg_2\;and\;{\Delta}^{20}-prosapogenin$ were extracted with ethyl acetate from $50\%$ acetic acid hydrolyzates of saponin fractions and identified by TLC with lower phase of $CHCl_3/MeOH/H_2$ O\65:35:10. v/v)on silica gel plate, and quantified by HPLC on $Lichrosorb-NH_2$ column with $CH_3CN/H_2O(90:10,\;v/v).$ Sapogenins. panaxadiol and panaxatriol. were extracted with ethyl ether from $7\%-sulfuric$ acid hydrolyzates of saponin fractions and identified by TLC with chloroform/acetone(1 : 1 v/v) on silica gel plate. and quantified by HPLC on u - Bondapak $C^{18}$ column with $CH_3CN/MeOH/CHCl_3(83:10:7.\;v/v).$ These analyses of prosapogenins and sapogenins are more useful for quality control than those of saponins in crude drug preparations such as So - Shi - Ho - Tang(소시호탕), Sa - Kun - Ja - Tang(사군자탕), Yook - Kun - Ja - Tang(육군자탕), and In - Sam -Tang(인삼탕)