• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.35-38
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• 1997

We investigated the effects of ginseng protopanaxadiol (PD) and protopanaxatriol (PT) saponins on the spontaneous contractility of intestine. Treatment with PD saponins showed a slight inhibition of spontaneous contraction of rabbit jejunum. In contrast, PT saponins showed much larger inhibition with dose-dependent manner in a range of 25~250 $\mu\textrm{g}$/ml. The inhibitory effect by PT saponins was not desensitized with continuous presence of PT saponins for several minutes. In addition, leu-enkephalin (1 PM) also inhibited the spontaneous contraction of rabbit jejunum but the in- hibition by leu-enkephalin was desensitized rapidly. The presence of PT saponins prevented the desenstization induced by leu-enkephalin. In conclusion, we found that PT saponins exert inhibition of spontaneous contractility of rabbit jejunum and the pattern of inhibition is different from that of opioid.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.32 no.1
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• pp.110-117
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• 1999

Free radicals formed during the metabolism of environmental chemicals are known to induce mutagenicity, while different types of antioxidants suppress this event. The purpose of this study was to determine the antioxidative and antimutagenic effects of soybean saponins, and to examine the relationship between these two effects for the elucidation of mechanisms involved in the anticarcinogenicity of soybean saponins. Also, antioxidative and antimutagenic effects of soybean saponins were compared with those of kinown antioxidants. For the measurement of antioxidative capacity, soybean saponins, L-ascorbic acid, $\alpha$-tocophoerol, and BHT at concentrations between 005 and 1.0mg/ml were tested for their ability to donate hydrogens and to reduce the formation of thiobarbituric substances(TBARS). Antimutagenic activity was examined using the Ames salmonella test system at concentrations of 600, 900 or 1200ug/ml. Study results showed soybean saponins and all of the other antioxidants tested possessed dose-dependent antioxidative activities. The ability of hydrogen-donation to DPPH was in the order of L-ascorbic acid>$\alpha$-tocopherol=>BHT>soybean saponins. TBARS formation was also inhibited by these compounds, in the order of BHT>$\alpha$-tocopherol=L-ascorbic acid>soybean saponins. Soybean saponins and other antioxidants also showed antimutagenicity in a dose-dependent manner. Especially, soybean saponins and BHT were excellent antioxidants compounds, inhibiting near 80% of the mutagenic effects at a concentration of 1200ug/ml. The correlation coefficients between antioxidative capacity and antimutagenicity for each compund was statistically significant at p<0.05. These results indicate that soybean saponins possess antioxidative and antimutagenic capacities. Also, antimutagenicity of saponins and other antioxidats is partly due to their antioxidative activities.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.1 no.2
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• pp.143-149
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• 1997

We studied the effects of ginseng protopanaxadiol (PD) and protopanaxatriol (PT) saponins on the analgesia using several pain tests such as writhing, formalin, and tail-flick test. Using mouse, pretreatment of PD or PT saponins (i.p.) induced inhibition of abdominal constrictions caused by 0.9% acetic acid administration(i.p.). The $AD_{50}$ was around 27 (17-43) mg/kg for PD and 13.5 (3-61) mg/kg for PT saponins in writhing test. Both PD and PT saponins also showed the inhibition of bitings and lickings of hindpaw after administration of 1% formalin. In particular, both PD and PT saponins showed analgesic effects on second phase of pain. The $AD_{50}$ was 44.5 (26-76) mg/kg for PD and 105 (55-200) mg/kg for PT saponins in second phase of formalin test. For first phase pain inhibition by PD or PT saponins, they were required higher concentrations. However, PD saponins showed weak analgesic effects in tail-flick test with high concentration. In conclusion, we found that both PD and PT saponins have the analgesic effects in writhing test and second phase of pain in formalin test. These results suggest that both PD and PT saponins inhibit neurogenic or tonic pain rather than acute pain.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.28 no.10
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• pp.1022-1030
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• 1995

Saponins are glycosidic compounds present in many plant foods. They are characterized by their ability to lyse cell membranes due to their surface-active properties. Saponins are believed to interact primarily with cholesterol in the cell membrane. In this study, the interaction of soybean(SS) with cell membrane was investigated using erythrocytes as a model. Mechanisms of interaction was also investigated by measuring their binding capacity with different membrane lipid fractions. Throughout the study, gypsophilla saponin(GS) and quillaja saponin(QS) were used to evaluate the membranolytic activity of soybean saponins. All saponins released hemoglobin in a concentration-dependent manner. SS induced 40% hemolysis at the concentration of 400 ppm, however there was no increase in hemoglobin release above 400ppm concentration. 5ppm of GS and 8 ppm of QS hemolyzed 100% of erythrocytes. Isolation of SS fractions by thin layer chromatography revealed that only one non-polar saponin possesses strong hemolytic activity. When saponins were incubated decreased the release of cholesterol. When the hemolytic activity of saponins was measured in the presence of other major membrane lipid components, sphingomyelin significantly reduced the hemolytic activity of SS, while cholesterol reduced the activity of QS. GS showed high affinity to other component(s) in the incubation media as well as lipids. These results suggest that the membranolytic activity of saponins are related to their specific chemical structure, which determines the interaction behavior between saponins and different membrane components, and thereby influence the biological activity.

• Korean Journal of Plant Resources
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• v.10 no.4
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• pp.334-345
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• 1997

This research was conducted to determine contents of saponins and alkloids for plants distributed in the sourthern region of Korea. The extracts from each plants were purified by solvent fractionation, column chromatography, TLC and analyzed GC and HPLC. As a result, contents crude gingseng saponins and saikosaponins were the highest in Oenothera odorata and Metaplexis japonica, respectively. and contents crude alkaloids was the highest in Metaplexis japonica among the all plants xamined. HPLC was conducted to detect of saponins. As a result, ginseng saponin-like substances was detected in the extracts of Euphobia splendens, Taraxacum mongolicum and Metaplexis japonica, gingsen-like substances and its of saikosaponin c-like substances was detected in the extracts of Camellia japonica and Aleurites fordii. GC was conducted to detect of alkaloid. As a result, nicotine-like substances was detected in only the extracts of Fatsia japonica.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.27 no.2 s.66
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• pp.103-110
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• 2006

Objectives : This study was conducted to investigate the effects of ginseng saponins and commercial surfactants such as Triton X-100, sodium deoxycholate, and sodium dodecyl sulfate on the gastric enzyme-catalyzed hydrolysis. Methods : Saponins (a surface-active plant component) from fresh ginseng root were extracted to examine its effect on the gastric enzyme-catalyzed hydrolysis. Commercial surfactants such as Triton X-100, sodium deoxycholate, and sodium dodecyl sulfate were also employed in the hydrolysis system to compare their effects with that of the ginseng saponins. The effects of surfactants on the gastric enzyme-catalyzed hydrolysis were measured by using a spectrophotometer. A spectropolarimeter was used to examine the conformational change of enzymes and substrates by the addition of ginseng saponins into the system. Results : Both the tryptic and the peptic digestion of milk casein or eggalbumin were slightly improved with an increase in the amount of ginseng saponins in the system. Triton X-100 showed an effect similar to that of ginseng saponins, while sodium dodecyl sulfate and sodium deoxycholate diminished the hydrolysis. Circular dichroism spectra of enzymes and substrates was significantly changed by the addition of ginseng saponins into the system. Conclusions : These results show that ginseng saponins affect positively the gastric enzyme-catalyzed hydrolysis, and suggest that the digestion of substrates by gastric enzymes is affected by the change of enzyme conformation by ginseng saponins.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.16 no.11
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• pp.4751-4758
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• 2015

Echinodermata use saponins in chemical defense against pathogens and predators. The molecular mechanisms of antimetastatic effects of brittle star saponins are still unknown. The present study examined antioxidant capacity and invasive ability in HeLa carcinoma cells exposed to brittle star crude saponins. Discolorating methods with DPPH and ABTS and expression of SOD-2 with RT-PCR were used to estimate the antioxidant activity. The anti-invasive activity of extracted saponins was examined through adhesion of HeLa cells to extracellular matrix, wound healing and evaluation of the mRNA levels of MMP-2 and MMP-9 by real time-PCR. The results showed that extracted saponins had cytotoxicity against cervical cancer cells and ABTS and DPPH scavenging properties with $IC_{50}$ values of 604.5, $1012{\mu}g/ml$, respectively. Further, we found that, in wound healing assay, brittle star saponins could prevent invasion of HeLa cells in a concentration dependent manner. Furthermore, cell adhesion assay demonstrated blockage of cell attachment to extracellular matrix with an $IC_{50}$ concentration of $16.1{\mu}g/ml$. The significant dose dependent down regulation of MMP-2 and MMP-9 in treated cells demonstrated that isolated saponins can decline tumor metastasis in vitro. The brittle star saponins remarkably prevented cervical cancer invasion and migration associated with down regulation of matrix metalloproteinase expression. Therefore, saponins could be suggested as an anti-invasive candidate against cervical cancer and an antioxidant as well.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.15 no.3
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• pp.179-182
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• 1991

The relationship between the brain monoamines and morphine tolerance was examined in ginseng total saponins treated mice. Ginseng total saponins (100 mg/kg, i.p.) did not antagonize morphine (10 mg/kg, s.c.) analgesia in mice. Daily treatment with ginseng total saponins (100 mg/kg) did not affect the brain levels of noradrenaline, dopamine and serotonin for 5 days but inhibited the development of morphine tolerance. This inhibition of the development of morphine tolerance was not attributed to the reductions of brain noradrenaline, dopamine and serotonin in mice treated with ginseng total saponins (100 mg/kg) daily. This result suggest that a newly equilibrated state of neurologic function may involve an underlying mechanism in mice treated with ginseng total saponins.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.19 no.2
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• pp.122-126
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• 1995

The effects of treating bovine heart mitochondria with potassium chloride and surfactants such as digitonin and n-dodecy-$\beta$-maltoside (DMS) including plant saponins on extracting cytochrome c were examined. The spectra given by the cytochrome c-containing solutions from the extraction were inspected to ascertain whether ginseng and bellflower saponins could be used instead of the generally- employed surfactants of digitonin and DMS. These studies implied that the effect of ginseng saponins is superior to that of digitonin but inferior to that of DMS, and give rise to the idea of substitutional property of ginseng saponins for the widely-employed surfactants in the extraction of mitochondria intermembrane cytochrome c. The substitution for the solubilizing surfactants by bellflower saponins could, however, not presumably be anticipated; while ginseng saponin mixture are a suitable substitute.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.29 no.3
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• pp.126-130
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• 2005

Ginseng saponins have been known as main active principles and are quantified as the index components of ginseng and its products for quality control. However ginseng saponins are easily hydrolyzed in acidic solutions of crude drug preparations. Due to the hydrolysis of saponins in acidic condition, it is generally difficult to determine ginseng saponins In crude drug preparations. Ginseng saponins, prosapogenins and sapogenins of crude drug extracts were quantified by HPLC. Ginseng saponins were quantified by HPLC on $Lichrosorb-NH_2$ column with acetonitrile/water/1-butanol(80:20:10, v/v). Ginseng $prosapogenin-Rg_2$ and $-Rg_2$ were extracted with ethyl acetate from $50\%$ acetic acid hydrolyzates of saponin fractions and quantified by HPLC on $Lichrosorb-NH_2$ column with acetonitrile/water(90:10, v/v). Ginseng sapogenins, panafadiol and panaxatriol, were extracted with diethyl ether from $7\%-sulfuric$ acid hydrolyzates of saponin fractions and quantified by HPLC on ${\mu}-Bondapak\;C_{18}$ column with acetonitrile/methano1/chloroform(83:10:7, v/v). These methods of analyses of sapogenins and prosapogenins were more useful for quality control than those of ginseng saponins in some of crude drug preparations.