Ginsenosides

In cosmetology, although the use of natural products can be considered as a fancy, research related to the hair growth has been considered. Some synthetic products, as minoxidil and finasteride have been used to stimulate the hair. However, several important side effects have been reported with these drugs. Natural products are gaining popularity mainly due to, in general, their fewer side effects and better formulation strategies. Hair loss is a dermatologic disorder and urges the necessity of alternative treatments with hair growth promoting potential, as the medicinal plants. Among the medicinal plants used to treat the hair loss and to promote the hair growth, there is the Panax ginseng. The purpose of this study was to review the published researches concerning the use of Panax ginseng in investigations involving the hair growth using the PubMed database. Eight studies have reached the inclusion criteria to be
analyzed. Considering the selected papers, there is a predominance of experimental procedures with the compound ginsenoside. The aim of the works was mainly related to investigation on the molecular and cellular mechanisms responsible for hair growth in presence of Panax ginseng or a compound related to this natural product. The number of publications in PubMed with the keyword Panax ginseng involving hair growth is about 0.43 %. The results indicate that Panax ginseng has stood out as a promising natural source with relevant effects in treatment of hair loss, despite the small number of publications selected involving the keywords “Panax ginseng” AND “hair loss”. Putting together the findings, it is concluded that the use of Panax ginseng and its chemical products could be an important strategy to manage the loss hair.

The aim of this study is to explore the potential enhancing effect of ginsenoside 20(S)-Rh2 (Rh2) towards ciprofloxacin (CIP) against Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) infection in vitro and in vivo, and analyze the possible mechanisms through NorA inhibition from a target cellular pharmacokinetic view. In combination with non-toxic dosage of Rh2, the susceptibilities of S. aureus strains to CIP were significantly augmented, and the antibacterial kinetics of CIP in the S. aureus strains were markedly promoted. This enhancing effect of Rh2 towards CIP was also observed in S. aureus infected peritonitis mice, with elevated survival rate and reduced bacteria counts in blood. However, Rh2 did not influence the plasma concentrations of CIP. Further analysis indicated that Rh2 significantly promoted the accumulations of CIP in S. aureus, and inhibited the NorA mediated efflux of pyronin Y. The expressions of NorA gene on S. aureus were positively correlated with the enhancing effect of Rh...

The objective of this study was to determine the relationship between light levels in the understory of a broadleaf forest and the content of six ginsenosides (Rg(1), Re, Rb(1), Rc, Rb(2,) and Rd) in 1- and 2-year-old American ginseng (Panax quinquefolius L.) roots. Our results revealed that ginsenoside contents in 1- and 2 year-old roots collected in September were significantly related to direct and total light levels, and duration of sunflecks. At this time, the effect of light levels accounted for up to 48 and 62% of the variation in ginsenoside contents of 1- and 2-year-old American ginseng roots. Also, red (R) and far red (FR) light, and the R:FR ratio significantly affected Rd, Rc, and Rg(1) contents in 2-year-old roots, accounting for up to 40% of the variation in ginsenoside contents.

Keloid scars are large protruding claw-shaped lesions that develop beyond the confines of the wound and uniquely appears only in humans. For thousands of years ginseng has been used in the traditional medicine in oriental countries. It occupies a prominent position in the list of the best-selling medicinal herbs in the world. Panax ginseng often called Asian or Korean ginseng, is the most extensively used and the best grade of ginseng and the term of 'ginseng' generally refers to Panax ginseng. Previous studies have revealed that ginseng inhibits NF-kappa B, TGF-β, IL-6, ACE and MMP-2 and these factors play a pivotal role in keloid formation pathogenesis. Therefore it could be reasoned that ginseng could be effective for the treatment of the keloid scars. Clinical studies by topical applications of iPanax notoginseng (800 µg/ml) are warranted.

Ginseng is a medicinal herb that requires cultivation under shade conditions, typically for 4-6 years, before harvesting. The principal components of ginseng are ginsenosides, glycosylated tetracyclic terpenes. Dammarene-type ginsenosides are classified into two groups, protopanaxadiol (PPD) and protopanaxatriol (PPT), based on their hydroxylation patterns, and further diverge to diverse ginsenosides through differential glycosylation. Three early enzymes, dammarenediol-II synthase (DS) and two P450 enzymes, protopanaxadiol synthase (PPDS) and protopanaxatriol synthase (PPTS), have been reported, but glycosyltransferases that are necessary to synthesize specific ginsenosides have not yet been fully identified. To discover glycosyltransferases responsible for ginsenoside biosynthesis, we sequenced and assembled the ginseng transcriptome de novo and characterized two UDP-glycosyltransferases (PgUGTs): PgUGT74AE2 and PgUGT94Q2. PgUGT74AE2 transfers a glucose moiety from UDP-glucose (UD...

A reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatographic method has been developed and validated for quantitative determination of deflazacort in tablets and in compounded capsules. Isocratic chromatography was performed on a C18 column with acetonitrile–water 80:20 (v/v) as mobile phase at a flow rate of 1.0 mL min−1. UV detection was at 240 nm. The linearity of the method was good (r > 0.999), as also were intra-day and inter-day precision (RSD <2%) and accuracy (recovery >98%). The method was also validated for specificity and robustness. The results showed the proposed method is suitable for its intended use.

Ginseng rusty root, a disorder of unknown cause (s), in which reddish-brown to orange-brown areas develop on the surface of field-grown roots, was studied at the cellular and biochemical levels. Using light microscopy, the affected areas were shown to comprise of the epidermis and underlying 6-8 cell layers of the cortical tissues. Rusty root areas ranged from small clusters of 3-4 cells to larger expanding areas of &amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;80 cells. These cells appeared golden-brown and stained a bluish-green with Toluidine Blue indicating the presence of phenolic compounds. Energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy and atomic emission spectrometry of affected epidermal cells revealed a significant accumulation of Fe, Al, Si, Mg and other cations when compared to adjoining healthy cells. The concentrations of the six most common ginsenosides found in ginseng roots (Rg(1), Re, Rb(1), Rc, Rb(2), and Rd) were reduced by 40-50% in rusty root-affected epidermal and cortical tissues when compared to adjacent healthy tissues. Total phenolic compounds were increased by up to threefold in affected tissues and HPLC analysis revealed significantly higher levels of quercetin, cinnamic acid, vanillic acid, p-coumaric acid, benzoic acid, chlorogenic acid and catechin. In vitro phenolic-metal binding assays confirmed that phenolic compounds were able to sequester positively-charged metal ions, in particular Fe, to form a phenolic-metal ion complex. In ginseng callus cultures, accumulation of phenolic compounds was increased threefold within 12 h of treatment with chitosan (1%), and to a lesser extent by wounding. Specific defense enzymes, namely phenylalanine ammonia-lyase (PAL, E.C. 4. 3. 1. 5.), polyphenoloxidase (PPO, E.C. 1. 10. 3. 1.) and peroxidase (POD, E.C. 1. 11. 1. 7.), were also significantly enhanced in treated callus tissues and in rusty root tissues. On field-grown ginseng roots, application of chitosan induced symptoms similar to rusty root, whereas wounding and ethylene treatments did not. Based on these results, rusty root symptoms on ginseng are proposed to result from an induction of host defense responses, especially phenolic production, in epidermal and underlying cortical cells. This induction is likely due to attempted invasion by as-yet uncharacterized chitin-containing soil fungi, which were observed in many of the affected cells. Subsequent oxidation of phenolic compounds and sequestration of metal ions, in particular Fe, appear to be largely responsible for the symptoms observed.

In this study, Rh2-treated graphene oxide (GO-Rh2), lysine-treated highly porous graphene (Gr-Lys), arginine-treated Gr (Gr-Arg), Rh2-treated Gr-Lys (Gr-Lys-Rh2) and Rh2-treated Gr-Arg (Gr-Arg-Rh2) were synthesized. MTT assay was used for evaluation of cytotoxicity of samples on ovarian cancer (OVCAR3), breast cancer (MDA-MB), Human melanoma (A375) and human mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) cell lines. The percentage of apoptotic cells was determined by terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP nick-end labeling (TUNEL) assay. The hemolysis and blood coagulation activity of nanostructures were performed. Interestingly, Gr-Arg, Gr-Lys, Gr-Arg-Rh, and Gr-Lys-Rhwere more active against cancer cell lines in comparison with their cytotoxic activity against normal cell lines (MSCs) with ICvalues higher than 100 μg/ml. The results of TUNEL assay indicates a significant increase in the rates of TUNEL positive cells by increasing the concentrations of nanomaterials. Results were also ...

A Gram-reaction negative, catalase and oxidase positive, aerobic, non-motile, light yellow colored and rod-shaped bacterium (designated Gsoil 809T) isolated from soil of ginseng field, was characterized by a polyphasic approach to clarify its taxonomic position. Strain Gsoil 809T was observed to grow optimally at 30 ºC and at pH 7.0 on nutrient agar medium. Strain Gsoil 809T possessed β-glucosidase activity, which was responsible for its ability to transform protopanaxatriol type ginsenoside Rg1 to ginsenoside Rh1. Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequences indicated that strain Gsoil 809T belongs to the genus Arachidicoccus of the family Chitinophagaceae and was most closely related to A. rhizosphaerae Vu-144T (98.1 %). The DNA G+C content was 39.4 mol%. The DNA-DNA hybridization relatedness between strain Gsoil 809T and A. rhizosphaerae Vu-144T was 41.27 ± 1.03 %. The major polar lipids were phosphatidylethanolamine and one unknown polar lipid. The predominant quinone ...

Purpose Cisplatin, a chemotherapeutic agent, causes significant nausea and vomiting. It is postulated that cisplatin-induced oxidant stress may be responsible for these symptoms. We tested whether pretreatment with American ginseng berry extract (AGBE), an herb with potent antioxidant capacity, and one of its active antioxidant constituents, ginsenoside Re, could counter cisplatin-induced emesis using a rat pica model. Methods In rats, exposure to emetic stimuli such as cisplatin causes significant kaolin intake, a phenomenon called pica. We therefore measured cisplatin-induced kaolin intake as an indicator of the emetic response. Rats were pretreated with vehicle, AGBE (dose range 50–150 mg/kg, IP) or ginsenoside Re (2 and 5 mg/kg, IP). Rats were treated with cisplatin (3 mg/kg, IP) 30 min later. Kaolin intake, food intake, and body weight were measured every 24 h for 120 h. Additionally, the free radical scavenging activity of AGBE was measured in vitro using ESR spectroscopy. Results A significant dose-response relationship was observed between increasing doses of pretreatment with AGBE and reduction in cisplatin-induced pica. Kaolin intake was maximally attenuated by AGBE at a dose of 100 mg/kg. Food intake also improved significantly at this dose (P<0.05). Pretreatment with ginsenoside Re (5 mg/kg) also decreased kaolin intake (P<0.05). In vitro studies demonstrated a concentration-response relationship between AGBE and its ability to scavenge superoxide and hydroxyl radicals. Conclusion Pretreatment with AGBE and its major constituent, Re, attenuated cisplatin-induced pica, and demonstrated potential for the treatment of chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting. Significant recovery of food intake further strengthens the conclusion that AGBE may exert an antinausea/antiemetic effect.

Ginseng rusty root, a disorder of unknown cause (s), in which reddish-brown to orange-brown areas develop on the surface of field-grown roots, was studied at the cellular and biochemical levels. Using light microscopy, the affected areas were shown to comprise of the epidermis and underlying 6–8 cell layers of the cortical tissues. Rusty root areas ranged from small clusters of

In this study, red ginseng extract (RGE) was converted into high-content minor ginsenosides by fermenting with Bgp1 enzymes at 37°C for 5 days. Compared to the RGE, the minor ginsenoside contents were increased in fermented red ginseng extract (FRGE). Moreover, the amount of minor ginsenosides such as Rh1 (11%) and Rg2 (16%) was slightly augmented, while the level of Rg3 (33%) was significantly increased after bioconversion. Furthermore, we also examined and compared the effect of RGE and FRGE on the differentiation and mineralization of preosteoblastic MC3T3-E1 cells. Similarly, the level of mRNA expression of intracellular alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity, type-1 collagen (Col-I) was also increased. Based on the comparison, it is clear that the FRGE has improved effects on bone formation and differentiation of preosteoblastic MC3T3-E1 cells.