Search PubMed⌕ Search

SEARCH · Search PubMed

Results for “GINSENG”

Search indexed PubMed citations on genomics, clinical trials, systematic reviews and public health. Explore titles, authors and supplied subject terms, then open the PubMed record.

Quote a phrase for an exact phrase match. Source license links do not imply unrestricted reuse.

At least 1,639 records · Page 91Linked to original sources
PubMed2004

Attenuating effect of a traditional korean formulation, Paeng-Jo-Yeon-Nyeon-Baek-Ja-In-Hwan (PJBH), on hydrogen peroxide-induced injury in PC12 cells.

The Paeng-Jo-Yeon-Nyeon-Baek-Ja-In-Hwan (PJBH) prescription is a dried decoctum consisting of a mixture of 18 medicinal herbs that include Semen Biotae, Fructus Torilis seu cnidii, Fructus Rubi, Herba Dendrobii, Radix Morindae officinalis, Cortex Eucommiae, Radix Aspragi, Radix Polygalae, Radix Dipsaci, Ramulus Cinnamomi, Rhizoma Acori graminei, Rhizoma Alismatis, Rhizoma Dioscoreae, Radix Ginseng, Radix Rehmanniae preparata, Fructus corni, Fructus Schisandrae and Herba Cistanches. The effect of PJBH extracts on H2O2-induced toxicity in the rat pheochromocytoma line PC12 was examined by measurements of cell lesion, level of lipid peroxidation and antioxidant enzyme activities, since free radicals are involved in neurodegeneration in Alzheimer's disease (AD). After a 30 min exposure of the cells to H2O2 (150 microM), a marked decrease in cell survival, activities of glutathione peroxidase and catalase as well as an increased production of malondialdehyde (MDA) were found. Pretreatment of the cells with PJBH (0.5-10 microg/ml) prior to H2O2 exposure significantly elevated cell survival, antioxidant enzyme activities and resulted in a decrease in the level of MDA. The effects of the PJBH on hydrogen peroxide-induced injury in PC12 cells were also examined. PJBH had a remarkable elevating effect on catalase and GSH-Px activities as well as cell survival, suggesting that cytoprotective effects of the PJBH are involved in stimulation against intermediate concentrations of H2O2-induced PC12 cell injury. The above-mentioned neuroprotective effects were also compared with the effect of tacrine. The results suggest that PJBH has potential for use as a novel neuronal therapeutic agent.

Alzheimer Disease↗
PubMed2004

Immunopotentiating effect of a 'Yang'-promoting formula of traditional Chinese medicine on aged female BALB/c mice.

The 'Yang'-promoting traditional Chinese medicines (TCM) are used to boost vigor and enhance immunity in humans. In this study, the immunopotentiating effect of VI-28, a 'Yang'-promoting TCM formula containing extracts of radix ginseng, cornu Cervi pantotrichum and radix Salvia miltiorrhizae, was investigated. Groups of 8-month-old female ex-breeder BALB/c mice were fed on ordinary mouse food or food containing a low (0.5%) or high (2%) dose VI-28 for up to 18 weeks. From week 6, mice on the TCM-containing diet were much healthier, stronger and more alert than those on the normal mouse food. Furthermore, their thymuses were significantly bigger and heavier than those of the control mice. Histological examination revealed structural changes typical of thymic involution in mice of the control group, whilst the microstructure of thymuses from mice taking TCM-containing food was comparable to that of mice of a much younger age, indicating a positive effect of VI-28 on slowing down thymic involution. Functional analysis of splenocytes from mice of different groups suggested that oral administration of VI-28 corrected the hyporesponsiveness of T lymphocytes in aged mice. These results have important implications for our understanding of the mechanisms of the immunoboosting effect of TCM.

Aging↗
PubMed2006

CKBM stimulates MAPKs but inhibits LPS-induced IFN-gamma in lymphocytes.

CKBM is an herbal formula composed of five Chinese medicinal herbs (Panax ginseng, Schisandra chinensis, Fructus crataegi, Ziziphus jujuba and Glycine max) supplemented with processed Saccharomyces cerevisiae. It has been demonstrated that CKBM is capable of triggering the release of IL-6 and TNFalpha from human peripheral blood mononuclear cells. In this report, T-lymphocytic Sup-T1 cells and B-lymphocytic Ramos cells were utilized as cellular models to investigate how CKBM regulates intracellular signaling as well as the production of cytokines. CKBM stimulated the three major subgroups of mitogen-activated protein kinase (i.e. ERK, JNK and p38) in Sup-T1 cells, but only triggered the activation of ERK and p38 in Ramos cells. The induction of mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPK) activations varied with the duration of treatment, as well as with the dosage of CKBM. In terms of cytokine production, treatment of CKBM alone did not trigger the release of IL-1beta and IFNgamma, but it suppressed the LPS-induced IFNgamma production from both Sup-T1 cells and Ramos cells. In view of the therapeutic effects of traditional Chinese medicines in inflammatory and autoimmune disorders, the results suggest that CKBM may exhibit its immuno-modulatory effects by regulating intracellular signaling as well as cytokine production in different lymphocytic cell types.

Cell Line↗
PubMed2006

In vitro immunomodulatory activities of a newly concocted traditional Chinese medicine formula: VI-28.

Previous studies have suggested that Vigconic VI-28, an anti-aging traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) formula containing Radix Ginseng and Cornu Cervi Pantotrichum, possesses immunological efficacy. This in vitro study further investigated the immunomodulatory effects of the hot water extracts of VI-28. The study included (1) colorimetric 5-bromo-2'-deoxy-uridine proliferation ELISA for estimating mitogenicity in human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC), (2) immunofluorescence staining for measuring the expression of IL-2 receptor alpha (CD25) on lymphocytes, (3) cytometric bead array (CBA) for quantifying cytokine liberation from PBMC, and (4) intracellular immunophenotyping for macrophage phagocytosis and hydrogen peroxide (H(2)O(2)) production from monocytes. The results demonstrated that VI-28 (1) could dose-dependently inhibited the proliferation of unstimulated and lipopolysaccharide-activated PBMC but enhanced the proliferation of phytohemagglutinin-activated PBMC at concentrations of <1 mg/mL, (2) significantly augmented the expression of CD25 on lymphocytes at concentrations of 0.4 mg/mL or above (p < 0.05), (3) dose dependently (0.1-1.0 mg/mL) activated macrophage phagocytosis and monocyte synthesis of H(2)O(2) and (4) significantly increased the production of cytokines IL-8, IL-10, IL-12 and IL-1beta at various concentrations of VI-28 (p < 0.05). The results suggest that VI-28 is a potential immunomodulator which probably acts through the activation of lymphocytes and monocytes.

Cells, Cultured↗
PubMed2001

Adaptogenic activity of a novel, withanolide-free aqueous fraction from the roots of Withania somnifera Dun.

The practitioners of the traditional Indian system of medicine regard Withania somnifera Dun. as the 'Indian ginseng'. A new withanolide-free aqueous fraction was isolated from the roots of this plant and was evaluated for putative antistress activity against a battery of tests such as hypoxia time, antifatigue effect, swimming performance time, swimming induced gastric ulceration and hypothermia, immobilization induced gastric ulceration, autoanalgesia and biochemical changes in the adrenal glands. This bioactive fraction exhibited significant antistress activity in a dose-related manner in all the parameters studied. The extract of Withania somnifera root (a commercial preparation available locally) was used to compare the results. A preliminary acute toxicity study in mice showed a good margin of safety.

Animals↗
PubMed2005

Liquid chromatography/mass spectrometric analysis of rat samples for in vivo metabolism and pharmacokinetic studies of ginsenoside Rh2.

In vivo metabolism and pharmacokinetic studies on rat were conducted for ginsenoside Rh2, one of the components from ginseng that shows promise of anticancer activity. Liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry (LC/MS) and tandem mass spectrometry (MS/MS) with electrospray ionization were used to determine Rh2 and its metabolites in rat plasma, urine and feces. An average half-life of 16 min in plasma was obtained after intravenous administration to male Sprague-Dawley rats at 5 mg/kg. No Rh2 was detected in plasma samples collected from 0 to 24 h following oral administration at 100 mg/kg, and only 0.12-0.25% of the dosed amount was found in the feces samples collected from 0 to 48 h after oral administration at 100 mg/kg. Three metabolites of Rh2 were detected in the feces samples. Oxygenation and deglycosylation were found to be the major metabolic pathways of Rh2. Intense metabolism, rather than excretion, appears to be the reason for the fast clearance of this ginsenoside.

Administration, Oral↗
PubMed2007

Intramolecular interchain reactions in bidesmosidic glycosides, a new insight into carbohydrate rearrangements induced by electrospray ionisation.

Glycoconjugates are a class of complex molecules that are widely distributed in the plant kingdom and in some marine organisms. This class of compounds has a wide range of biological activities such as anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, antifungal, anticancer, antiulcer, and immunoenhancing actions.1-3 Some of them also show various toxic activities such as cytotoxic, hemolytic, cardiotoxic, and teratogenic. Among these compounds, steroidal and triterpenoid saponins have long been known as components of widely used herbal drugs and pharmaceutical preparations; ginseng, Tribulus terrestris, Quillaja saponaria, and Digitalis ssp. are just a few examples. Thus, identification of saponins in herbal drugs used worldwide is of significance in phytochemical and toxicological quality control studies, and for the production of safe health products. Therefore, there is continuing demand for methods to rapidly identify and characterize these natural products.

Carbohydrate Sequence↗
PubMed1994

Ginsenoside-Rg1 regulates the induction of tyrosine aminotransferase gene transcription in rat hepatocyte cultures.

Ginsenosides present in the roots of Panax ginseng C.A. Meyer have been shown to induce a number of hepatocyte gene expression. We have recently demonstrated that ginsenoside-Rg1 (G-Rg1) stimulated the enzyme activity of tyrosine aminotransferase (TAT), a hepatocyte specific enzyme, of which enzyme activity was dose-dependently inhibited by RU486, a specific glucocorticoid antagonist. This study was therefore designed to determine whether G-Rg1 induces the transcriptional activity of TAT gene and to investigate whether G-Rg1 induces the gene transcription by glucocorticoid receptor- or cAMP-mediated induction mechanism. The slot blot hybridization analysis revealed that the TAT-mRNA level was increased by 9.3-fold in hepatocyte cultures in response to G-Rg1 stimulation. In contrast, the inductive effect of G-Rg1 was almost equally inhibited, that is, by 49% or 50% respectively in the presence of RU486 or Rp-cAMPs, a specific competitive inhibitor of protein kinase A. These results in hepatocyte cultures suggest that G-Rg1 modulates the TAT gene transcription through its influence on a functional or cooperative interaction between glucocorticoid receptor- and cAMP-mediated induction mechanism.

Animals↗
PubMed2001

Herbal Medicines and Epilepsy: The Potential for Benefit and Adverse Effects.

The widespread availability and use of herbal medicines raise the potential for adverse effects in the epilepsy population. Herbal sedatives (kava, valerian, chamomile, passionflower) may potentiate the effects of antiepileptic medications, increasing their sedative and cognitive effects. Despite some antiseizure effects in animal models, they should not be used in place of standard seizure medications because efficacy has not been established. Anecdotal, uncontrolled observations suggest that herbal stimulants containing ephedrine (ephedra or ma huang) and caffeine (cocoa, coffee, tea, maté, guarana, cola or kola) can exacerbate seizures in people with epilepsy, especially when taken in combination. Ginkgo and ginseng may also exacerbate seizures although the evidence for this is similarly anecdotal and uncertain. St. John's wort has the potential to alter medication pharmacokinetics and the seizure threshold. The essential oils of many plants contain epileptogenic compounds. There is mixed evidence for evening primrose and borage lowering the seizure threshold. Education of both health care providers and patients is the best way to avoid unintentional and unnecessary adverse reactions to herbal medicines.

Journal Article↗
PubMed2002

The escalating cost and prevalence of alternative medicine.

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study was to measure trends in the prevalence and cost of alternative medicines and alternative practitioner use in an Australian population and to obtain a profile of users and their beliefs. METHODS: In 2000, we repeated a 1993 representative population survey of persons ages 15 years or older living in South Australia, which provided 3,027 personal interviews. We assessed the rates of use, types of alternative medicine and therapists, costs, and beliefs of users and nonusers. Comparisons in usage patterns with the 1993 survey were also made. FINDINGS: In 2000, the overall use of at least one nonmedically prescribed alternative medicine (excluding calcium, iron, and prescribed vitamins) was 52.1% (CI +/- 1.8). Users were more likely to be female, be better educated, have a higher income, and be employed. Since 1993, females were using significantly more herbal medicines, ginseng, Chinese medicines, and aromatherapy oils. Many were self-prescribed. Among users, 57.2% (CI +/- 1.2) did not tell their doctor. In 2000, 23.3% of respondents had visited at least one alternative practitioner with increasing use of acupuncturists, reflexologists, aromatherapists, and herbal therapists. Most thought alternative medicines were safe but thought they were, or should be, subject to the same standards as prescribed medicines. Among respondents, 92.9% wished product information to be of standard and content similar to those supplied with pharmaceuticals. INTERPRETATION: Extrapolation of the costs to the Australian population gives an expenditure on alternative therapies in 2000 of $AUD2.3 billion and for the U.S. population an annual expenditure of $US34 billion. In Australia this represents a 120 and 62% increase in the cost of alternative medicines and therapists, respectively, since 1993. In 2000 expenditure on alternative therapies was nearly four times the public contribution to all pharmaceuticals. The public appears to have ambivalent standards for alternative therapies but wishes to be empowered with accurate information to facilitate self-prescription. The public health ramifications of an expanding alternative medicine industry are great.

Adult↗
PubMed2002

Biosynthesis of triterpenoid saponins in plants.

Many different plant species synthesise triterpenoid saponins as part of their normal programme of growth and development. Examples include plants that are exploited as sources of drugs, such as liquorice and ginseng, and also crop plants such as legumes and oats. Interest in these molecules stems from their medicinal properties, antimicrobial activity, and their likely role as determinants of plant disease resistance. Triterpenoid saponins are synthesised via the isoprenoid pathway by cyclization of 2,3-oxidosqualene to give primarily oleanane (beta-amyrin) or dammarane triterpenoid skeletons. The triterpenoid backbone then undergoes various modifications (oxidation, substitution and glycosylation), mediated by cytochrome P450-dependent monooxygenases, glycosyltransferases and other enzymes. In general very little is known about the enzymes and biochemical pathways involved in saponin biosynthesis. The genetic machinery required for the elaboration of this important family of plant secondary metabolites is as yet largely uncharacterised, despite the considerable commercial interest in this important group of natural products. This is likely to be due in part to the complexity of the molecules and the lack of pathway intermediates for biochemical studies. Considerable advances have recently been made, however, in the area of 2,3-oxidosqualene cyclisation, and a number of genes encoding the enzymes that give rise to the diverse array of plant triterpenoid skeletons have been cloned. Progress has also been made in the characterisation of saponin glucosyltransferases. This review outlines these developments, with particular emphasis on triterpenoid saponins.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed2001

Biochemical engineering of the production of plant-specific secondary metabolites by cell suspension cultures.

Plant cell culture has recently received much attention as a useful technology for the production of valuable plant-derived secondary metabolites such as paclitaxel and ginseng saponin. The numerous problems that yet bewilder the optimization and scale-up of this process have not been over emphasized. In spite of the great progress recorded in recent years towards the selection, design and optimization of bioreactor hardware, manipulation of environmental factors such as medium components, light irradiation, shear stress and O2 supply needs detailed investigations for each case. Recent advances in plant cell processes, including high-density suspension cultivation, continuous culture, process monitoring, modeling and control and scale-up, are also reviewed in this chapter. Further developments in bioreactor cultivation processes and in metabolic engineering of plant cells for metabolite production are expected in the near future.

Bioreactors↗
PubMed1996

The major birch pollen allergen, Bet v 1, shows ribonuclease activity.

The major birch (Betula alba L.) pollen allergen, Bet v 1, has been shown to be homologous to pathogenesis-related proteins in a number of plants. Recently, it was demonstrated that a ginseng protein with high homology to an intracellular pathogenesis-related protein of parsley and to Bet v 1 is a ribonuclease (RNase). Birch pollen extract was separated in an RNase activity gel. Four major RNase bands were excised from the gel, reseparated by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and identified by Western blotting with a specific Bet v 1 monoclonal antibody and patient's serum. Thus the monomer and the dimer of Bet v 1 showed RNase activity. Purified recombinant Bet v 1 was shown to degrade plant RNA. The RNase activity of recombinant Bet v 1 was 180 units.mg-1.

Allergens↗
PubMed1989

Attenuation of anorexia induced by heat or surgery during sustained administration of ginsenoside Rg1 into rat third ventricle.

Effects of ginsenoside Rg1 (Rg1), a major component of panax ginseng, on modulation of ingestive behavior were investigated. No direct effect was observed on food intake after 10 microliters infusion of 1.0, 2.0, 4.0 or 8.0 mM Rg1 into the rat third ventricle for 10 min. Continuous osmotic infusion of 4.0 mM Rg1 at a rate of 0.966 microliter/h into the third ventricle prevented feeding suppression caused by surgical procedure to implant an osmotic minipump. Continuous infusion of Rg1 attenuated anorexia, increased water intake, and decreased ambulation, that were produced by elevation of environmental temperature from 21 degrees C to 30 degrees C. Consequently, rats maintained body weight and rectal temperature unchanged. The results indicate that sustained central administration of Rg1 may relieve anorexia caused by implantation surgery or by a heated environment.

Animals↗
PubMed1994

Potentiation of cytotoxicity of mitomycin C by a polyacetylenic alcohol, panaxytriol.

Polyacetylenic alcohol, panaxytriol, which was isolated from Panax ginseng C. A. Meyer, has antiproliferative activity against several kinds of tumor cells. In this paper, the effect of panaxytriol on the cytotoxicity of mitomycin C (MMC) against a human gastric carcinoma cell line, MK-1, was investigated. The combination of a subthreshold concentration of MMC and panaxytriol produced a significant cytotoxic effect, which indicates that the effects of panaxytriol and MMC are synergistic. A synergistic effect was observed when MK-1 cells were treated with the mixture of MMC and panaxytriol or treated with MMC followed by panaxytriol. In contrast, when MK-1 cells were exposed to panaxytriol and then to MMC, only an additive effect was induced. With the aim of finding a possible mechanism, the effect of panaxytriol on the accumulation of MMC into the MK-1 cells was examined. Cellular concentrations of MMC were measured by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). When MK-1 cells were treated with a mixture of panaxytriol and MMC or first with MMC and then with panaxytriol, the cellular level of MMC was significantly higher than that in MK-1 cells treated with MMC alone, but no significantly increased accumulation was found when MK-1 cells were treated with panaxytriol followed by MMC. These results suggest that synergistic effects of panaxytriol and MMC may be induced by acceleration of the effect of MMC on cellular accumulation by panaxytriol. In addition, they suggest that the enhanced accumulation of MMC in MK-1 cells treated with panaxytriol can probably be attributed to the decreased fluidity of the cell membrane caused by panaxytriol.

Adenocarcinoma↗
PubMed1995

A possible mechanism for the cytotoxicity of a polyacetylenic alcohol, panaxytriol: inhibition of mitochondrial respiration.

A polyacetylenic alcohol, panaxytriol, isolated from Panax ginseng C. A. Meyer inhibits both tumor cell growth in vitro and the growth of B16 melanoma transplanted into mice. Our preliminary studies indicated that panaxytriol localizes to the mitochondria in human breast carcinoma cells (Breast M25-SF). This study focused on the effects of panaxytriol on mitochondrial structures and function in Breast M25-SF. The results indicate that panaxytriol rapidly inhibits cellular respiration and disrupts cellular energy balance in Breast M25-SF. At concentrations between 11.3 and 180 microM, panaxytriol causes a dose-dependent inhibition of the conversion of the tetrazolium (MTT assay) by mitochondrial dehydrogenase within 2 h. A 1-h treatment with 180 microM panaxytriol causes a significant loss of rhodamine-123 from cells with mitochondria prestained with rhodamine-123 (by flow cytometry). Specific toxic changes were observed by electron microscopy in the mitochondria of Breast M25-SF within 1 h after treatment with more than 180 microM panaxytriol. These data indicate that 180 microM panxytriol rapidly disrupts cellular energy balance and respiration in Breast M25-SF and suggest that panaxytriol may lower cellular ATP concentrations. After treatment with 180 microM panaxytriol, cellular ATP levels were 40% of those in control cells after 1 h. ATP depletion preceded the loss of cellular viability. Neither ATP depletion nor cytolysis was found in human erythrocytes that have no mitochondria. Thus, ATP depletion resulting from a direct inhibition of mitochondrial respiration is a critical early event in the cytotoxicity of panaxytriol.

Adenosine Diphosphate↗
PubMed1993

Inhibitory effects by oral administration of ginsenoside Rh2 on the growth of human ovarian cancer cells in nude mice.

Recently two new compounds, ginsenosides Rh1 and Rh2, have been isolated from an ethanol extract of the processed root of Panax ginseng CA Meyer, and Rh2 (but not Rh1) has been found to cause growth inhibition of cultured B16 melanoma cells. We have also demonstrated that Rh2 caused inhibition of cultured human ovarian cancer cell (HRA) proliferation. The effect of oral administration of Rh2 on tumor growth and survival of nude mice bearing HRA cells was examined. Nude mice were inoculated subcutaneously in the right flank with 10(6) HRA cells. After 7 days of tumor inoculation 2 mg/kg cis-diamminedichloroplatinum(II) (cisplatin) was administered intraperitoneally once a week for 5 weeks. In Rh2-treated groups. Rh2 was dissolved in absolute ethanol, adjusted with distilled water to 1, 15, and 120 microM, and 0.4 ml of each concentration was administered orally by canula every day for 90 days, from the next day of tumor inoculation. The tumor volume, hematocrit and body weight were measured every week. On days 56 and 63 after tumor inoculation, the tumor volumes in all groups treated with Rh2 were significantly less than those in an ethanol-treated control group and also in cisplatin treated group. After 70 days, the tumor growth in nude mice treated with 15 microM and 120 microM Rh2 was significantly inhibited compared to that in a cisplatin treated group as well as a control group. Consequently, the survival of nude mice treated with 15 microM and 120 microM Rh2 was also significantly prolonged, compared to that of cisplatin treated mice. No toxic effects were observed in any of the mice.

Administration, Oral↗