Ginsenoside profiles and related gene expression during foliation in Panax ginseng Meyer

Supplementation of complex natural feed additive containing (C. militaris, probiotics and red ginseng by-product) on rumen-fermentation, growth performance and carcass characteristics in Korean native steers

This study evaluated the effects of a complex natural feed additive on rumen fermentation, carcass characteristics and growth performance in Korean-native steers. In this study, in vitro and in vivo experiment were conducted. Seven different levels of complex natural feed additive (CA) were added to the buffered rumen fluid using AnkomRF gas production system for 12, 24 and 48 h. All experimental data were analyzed by mixed procedure of SAS. Total gas production increased in the CA groups, with the highest response observed in the 0.06% group at 48 h of incubation (linear, p = 0.02; quadratic, p < 0.01). Regarding rumen fermentation parameters, the total volatile fatty acid (TVFA) tended to increase in all the CA groups (p = 0.07). The concentrations of butyrate, iso-butyrate, and iso-valerate significantly increased in all treatment groups (p < 0.05). In the in vivo experiment, 23 Korean-native steers were allocated to two groups: (1) Control and (2) Treatment; control +0.07% CA (DM basis), in a randomized complete-block design and blocked by body weight (ave. body weight = 641.96 kg ± 62.51 kg, p = 0.80) and feed intake (ave. feed intake = 13.96 kg ± 0.74 kg, p = 0.08) lasted for 252 days. Average daily gain decreased in the treatment group (p < 0.01). Backfat thickness significantly decreased in the CA group (p = 0.03), whereas meat color tended to increase (p = 0.07). In conclusion, in the in vitro experiment, the inclusion of complex natural feed additive decreased methane proportion and tended to increase TVFA production, but supplementation to Korean native steers decreased average daily gain and backfat thickness.

Regulation of transcriptome networks that mediate ginsenoside biosynthesis by essential ecological factors

Ginseng, a valuable Chinese medicinal herb, is renowned worldwide for its effectiveness in alleviating certain conditions and promoting overall health. In this study, we performed weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA) on the accumulation of essential saponins under the influence of 13 essential environmental factors (including air temperature, air bottom temperature, surface mean temperature, soil temperature, surface shortwave radiation, soil moisture, soil water content, rainfall, total precipitation, elevation, soil type, soil pH, and soil water potential). We identified a total of 40 transcript modules associated with typical environmental factors and the accumulation of essential saponins. Among these, 18 modules were closely related to the influence of typical environmental factors, whereas 22 modules were closely related to the accumulation of essential saponins. These results were verified by examining the transcriptome, saponin contents, environmental factor information and the published data and revealed the regulatory basis of saponin accumulation at the transcriptome level under the influence of essential environmental factors. We proposed a working model of saponin accumulation mediated by the transcriptional regulatory network that is affected by typical environmental factors. An isomorphic white-box neural network was constructed based on this model and the predicted results of the white-box neural network correlated with saponin accumulation. The effectiveness of our correlation-directed graph in predicting saponin contents was verified by bioinformatics analysis based on results obtained in this study and transcripts known to affect the biosynthesis of saponin Rb1. The directed graph represents a useful tool for manipulating saponin biosynthesis while considering the influence of essential environmental factors in ginseng and other medicinal plants.

Comparison of Phytochemical Profiles of Wild and Cultivated American Ginseng Using Metabolomics by Ultra-High Performance Liquid Chromatography-High-Resolution Mass Spectrometry

American ginseng (Panax quinquefolius L.) has been recognized as a valuable herb medicine, and ginsenosides are the most important components responsible for the health-beneficial effects. This study investigated the secondary metabolites responsible for the differentiation of wild and cultivated American ginsengs with ultrahigh-performance liquid chromatography-high resolution mass spectrometry (UHPLC-HRMS)-based metabolomic approach. An in-house ginsenoside library was developed to facilitate data processing and metabolite identification. Data visualization methods, such as heatmaps and volcano plots, were utilized to extract discriminated ion features. The results suggested that the ginsenoside profiles of wild and cultivated ginsengs were significantly different. The octillol (OT)-type ginsenosides were present in greater abundance and diversity in wild American ginsengs; however, a wider distribution of the protopanaxadiol (PPD)-and oleanolic acid (OA)-type ginsenosides were found in cultivated American ginseng. Based on the tentative identification and semi-quantification, the amounts of five ginsenosides (i.e., notoginsenoside H, glucoginsenoside Rf, notoginsenoside R1, pseudoginsenoside RT2, and ginsenoside Rc) were 2.3-54.5 fold greater in wild ginseng in comparison to those in their cultivated counterparts, and the content of six ginsenosides (chicusetsusaponin IVa, malonylginsenoside Rd, pseudoginsenoside Rc1, malonylfloralginsenoside Rd6, Ginsenoside Rd, and malonylginsenoside Rb1) was 2.6-14.4 fold greater in cultivated ginseng compared to wild ginseng. The results suggested that the in-house metabolite library can significantly reduce the complexity of the data processing for ginseng samples, and UHPLC-HRMS is effective and robust for identifying characteristic components (marker compounds) for distinguishing wild and cultivated American ginseng.

Key Glycosyltransferase Genes of Panax notoginseng: Identification and Engineering Yeast Construction of Rare Ginsenosides

Panax notoginseng is one of the most famous valuable medical plants in China, and its broad application in clinical treatment has an inseparable relationship with the active molecules, ginsenosides. Ginsenosides are glycoside compounds that have varied structures for the diverse sugar chain. Although extensive work has been done, there are still unknown steps in the biosynthetic pathway of ginsenosides. Here, we screened candidate glycosyltransferase genes based on the previous genome and transcriptome data of P. notoginseng and cloned the full length of 27 UGT genes successfully. Among them, we found that PnUGT33 could catalyze different ginsenoside substrates to produce higher polarity rare ginsenosides by extending the sugar chain. We further analyzed the enzymatic kinetics and predicted the catalytic mechanism of PnUGT33 by simulating molecular docking. After that, we reconstructed the biosynthetic pathway of rare ginsenoside Rg₃ and gypenoside LXXV in yeast. By combining the Golden Gate method and overexpressing the UDPG biosynthetic genes, we further improved the yield of engineering yeast strain. Finally, the shake-flask culture yield of Rg₃ reached 51 mg/L and the fed-batch fermentation yield of gypenoside LXXV reached 94.5 mg/L, which was the first and highest record.

Cerium-Promoted Ginsenosides Accumulation by Regulating Endogenous Methyl Jasmonate Biosynthesis in Hairy Roots of Panax ginseng

Among rare earth elements, cerium has the unique ability of regulating the growth of plant cells and the biosynthesis of metabolites at different stages of plant development. The signal pathways of Ce3+-mediated ginsenosides biosynthesis in ginseng hairy roots were investigated. At a low concentration, Ce3+ improved the elongation and biomass of hairy roots. The Ce3+-induced accumulation of ginsenosides showed a high correlation with the reactive oxygen species (ROS), as well as the biosynthesis of endogenous methyl jasmonate (MeJA) and ginsenoside key enzyme genes (PgSS, PgSE and PgDDS). At a Ce3+ concentration of 20 mg L-1, the total ginsenoside content was 1.7-fold, and the total ginsenosides yield was 2.7-fold that of the control. Malondialdehyde (MDA) content and the ROS production rate were significantly higher than those of the control. The activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD) was significantly activated within the Ce3+ concentration range of 10 to 30 mg L-1. The activity of catalase (CAT) and peroxidase (POD) strengthened with the increasing concentration of Ce3+ in the range of 20-40 mg L-1. The Ce3+ exposure induced transient production of superoxide anion (O2•-) and hydrogen peroxide (H2O2). Together with the increase in the intracellular MeJA level and enzyme activity for lipoxygenase (LOX), there was an increase in the gene expression level of MeJA biosynthesis including PgLOX, PgAOS and PgJMT. Our results also revealed that Ce3+ did not directly influence PgSS, PgSE and PgDDS activity. We speculated that Ce3+-induced ROS production could enhance the accumulation of ginsenosides in ginseng hairy roots via the direct stimulation of enzyme genes for MeJA biosynthesis. This study demonstrates a potential approach for understanding and improving ginsenoside biosynthesis that is regulated by Ce3+-mediated signal transduction.

Synthesis and characterization of glycol chitosan coated selenium nanoparticles acts synergistically to alleviate oxidative stress and increase ginsenoside content in Panax ginseng

The objective of the present study is synthesis of glycol chitosan coated selenium nanoparticles (GC-Se NPs) and evaluation of oxidative stress and ginsenoside accumulation in P. ginseng C. A. Meyer. We synthesized (Se NPs and GC-Se NPs) and characterized using various spectroscopic analyses. The highest concentration (20 mg L^-1) of GC-Se NPs induced moderate ROS (O₂^- and H₂O₂) accumulation and upregulation of PgSOD and PgCAT showing good biocompatibility and less toxicity at the highest concentration. Furthermore, ginsenoside biosynthetic pathway genes (PgHMGR, PgSS, PgSE, PgDDS) also showed significant upregulation upon 20 mg L^-1 GC-Se NPs treatment. At 20 mg L^-1 GC-Se NPs treatment, ginsenoside accumulated upto 217.47 mg/mL and 169.86 mg/mL mainly due to the increased proportion of Rb1 and Re ginsenosides. Altogether, our results suggested that ecofriendly conjugation of GC with Se NPs could be used as a bio fortifier to enhance the ginsenoside profile and to increase the quality of ginseng roots.

Phytochemistry of ginsenosides: Recent advancements and emerging roles

Ginsenosides, a group of tetracyclic saponins, accounts for the nutraceutical and pharmaceutical relevance of the ginseng (Panax sp.) herb. Owing to the associated therapeutic potential of ginsenosides, their demand has been increased significantly in the last two decades. However, a slow growth cycle, low seed production, and long generation time of ginseng have created a gap between the demand and supply of ginsenosides. The biosynthesis of ginsenosides involves an intricate network of pathways with multiple oxidation and glycosylation reactions. However, the exact functions of some of the associated genes/proteins are still not completely deciphered. Moreover, ginsenoside estimation and extraction using analytical techniques are not feasible with high efficiency. The present review is a step forward in recapitulating the comprehensive aspects of ginsenosides including their distribution, structural diversity, biotransformation, and functional attributes in both plants and animals including humans. Moreover, ginsenoside biosynthesis in the potential plant sources and their metabolism in the human body along with major regulators and stimulators affecting ginsenoside biosynthesis have also been discussed. Furthermore, this review consolidates biotechnological interventions to enhance the biosynthesis of ginsenosides in their potential sources and advancements in the development of synthetic biosystems for efficient ginsenoside biosynthesis to meet their rising industrial demands.

Exogenous Putrescine Enhances Salt Tolerance and Ginsenosides Content in Korean Ginseng (Panax ginseng Meyer) Sprouts

The effect of exogenously applied putrescine (Put) on salt stress tolerance was investigated in Panax ginseng. Thirty-day-old ginseng sprouts were grown in salinized nutrient solution (150 mM NaCl) for five days, while the control sprouts were grown in nutrients solution. Putrescine (0.3, 0.6, and 0.9 mM) was sprayed on the plants once at the onset of salinity treatment, whereas control plants were sprayed with water only. Ginseng seedlings tested under salinity exhibited reduced plant growth and biomass production, which was directly interlinked with reduced chlorophyll and chlorophyll fluorescence due to higher reactive oxygen species (hydrogen peroxide; H2O2) and lipid peroxidation (malondialdehyde; MDA) production. Application of Put enhanced accumulation of proline, total soluble carbohydrate, total soluble sugar and total soluble protein. At the same time, activities of antioxidant enzymes like superoxide dismutase, catalase, ascorbate peroxidase, guaiacol peroxidase in leaves, stems, and roots of ginseng seedlings were increased. Such modulation of physio-biochemical processes reduced the level of H2O2 and MDA, which indicates a successful adaptation of ginseng seedlings to salinity stress. Moreover, protopanaxadiol (PPD) ginsenosides enhanced by both salinity stress and exogenous Put treatment. On the other hand, protopanaxatriol (PPT) ginsenosides enhanced in roots and reduced in leaves and stems under salinity stress condition. In contrast, they enhanced by exogenous Put application in all parts of the plants for most cases, also evidenced by principal component analysis. Collectively, our findings provide an important prospect for the use of Put in modulating salinity tolerance and ginsenosides content in ginseng sprouts.

Knockdown of p62/sequestosome enhances ginsenoside Rh2-induced apoptosis in cervical cancer HeLa cells with no effect on autophagy

p62/sequestosome is a multifunctional adaptor protein that participates in a wide variety of cellular processes. 20(S)-Ginsenoside Rh2 (G-Rh2) has various biological effects, including anticancer activity. We found that G-Rh2 can induce apoptosis and autophagy in HeLa cells. G-Rh2 significantly enhanced the transcriptional level of p62. A siRNA was constructed to knock down p62 and assess its effect on apoptosis induced by G-Rh2. p62 protein levels were successfully downregulated in cells transfected with the p62-specific siRNA. Silencing of p62 further decreased cell viability while also enhancing cell apoptosis, reactive oxygen species generation, the ratio of Bax to Bcl-2, and the cleavage of PARP. p62 knockdown decreased expression levels of Nrf2. Moreover, silencing of p62 had no significant effect on autophagy induced by G-Rh2. These results suggest that combining G-Rh2 treatment with inhibition of p62 may be a potential treatment strategy for cervical cancer.

Changes in the Leaf Physiological Characteristics and Tissue-Specific Distribution of Ginsenosides in Panax ginseng During Flowering Stage Under Cold Stress

Panax ginseng is a valuable traditional herbal medicine material with numerous applications. Ginsenosides are the key bioactive compounds in ginseng. Cold stress can activate stress tolerance mechanisms that regulate biomass and biosynthesis in ginseng tissue. In this study, the effects of short- and long-term cold stress (5°C) on the physiological characteristics, tissue-specific ginsenoside distributions, and ginsenoside synthesis gene expressions of 3-year-old P. ginseng during the flowering period were investigated. Short-term cold stress significantly reduced ginseng biomass (root fresh weight and dry weight), and increased malondialdehyde, proline, soluble sugar, and soluble protein concentrations. Superoxide dismutase, peroxidase, and catalase activities also increased significantly under cold stress. With prolongation of the cold stress period, all antioxidant enzyme activity decreased. The protopanaxatriol-type ginsenoside concentrations in the taproots (phloem and xylem) and fibrous roots, as well as the protopanaxadiol-type ginsenoside concentrations in the leaves, increased significantly under short-term cold stress. The key genes (SE, DS-II, CYP716A52v2, and CYP716A53v2) involved in the ginsenoside biosynthesis pathway were significantly positively correlated with the ginsenoside accumulation trends. Thus, short-term cold stress can stimulate membrane lipid peroxidation, in turn stimulating the antioxidant enzyme system to alleviate oxidative damage and increasing the expression of key enzyme genes involved in ginsenoside biosynthesis. During agricultural production, protopanaxadiol/protopanaxatriol ratios could be manipulated by low-temperature storage or treatments.

Growth and bioactive phytochemicals of Panax ginseng sprouts grown in an aeroponic system using plasma-treated water as the nitrogen source

Ginseng (Panax ginseng Meyer) sprouts are grown to whole plants in 20 to 25 days in a soil-less cultivation system and then used as a medicinal vegetable. As a nitrogen (N) source, plasma-treated water (PTW) has been used to enhance the seed germination and seedling growth of many crops but has not been investigated for its effects on ginseng sprouts. This study established an in-situ system for N-containing water production using plasma technology and evaluated the effects of the PTW on ginseng growth and its bioactive phytochemicals compared with those of an untreated control. The PTW became weakly acidic 30 min after the air discharge at the electrodes because of the formation of nitrate (NO₃^‒) and nitrite (NO₂^‒) in the water. The NO₃^‒ and NO₂^‒ in the PTW, together with potassium ions (K⁺), enhanced the shoot biomass of the ginseng sprout by 26.5% compared to the untreated control. The ginseng sprout grown in the PTW had accumulated more free amino acids and ginsenosides in the sprout at 25 days after planting. Therefore, PTW can be used as a liquid N fertilizer for P. ginseng growth and phytochemical accumulation during sprouting under aeroponic conditions.

Cumulative Production of Bioactive Rg3, Rg5, Rk1, and CK from Fermented Black Ginseng Using Novel Aspergillus niger KHNT-1 Strain Isolated from Korean Traditional Food

Ginseng is an ancient herb widely consumed due to its healing property of active ginsenosides. Recent researchers were explored to increase its absorption and bioavailability of ginsenosides at the metabolic sites, due to its pharmacological activity. The purpose of this study was to investigate the isolation and characteristics of components obtained by a shorter steaming cycle (seven cycles) of white ginseng to fermented black ginseng, using a novel strain of Aspergillus niger KHNT-1 isolated from fermented soybean. The degree of bioactive of Rg3 increased effectively during the steaming process, and biotransformation converted the color towards black along active ginsenosides. Glycol moiety associated with C-3, C-6, or C-20 underwent rapid biotransformation and hydrolysis, such as Rb1, Rb2, Rc, Rd → Rg3, F2, and was converted to CK. Dehydration produces Rg3 → Rk1, Rg5. Rh2 → Rk2; thus, converted fermented black ginseng was solvent-extracted, and the isolated components were identified by TLC, HPLC, and quantification by LCMS. The unique composition obtained during this process with Rk1, Rg3, Rg5, and CK is nontoxic to HaCaT cell line up to 200 ug/mL for 24 h and was found to be effective in B16BL6 cell lines, in a dose- and time-dependent manner. Thus, it is a suitable candidate for nutraceuticals and cosmeceuticals.

Unraveling dynamic metabolomes underlying different maturation stages of berries harvested from Panax ginseng

BACKGROUND

Ginseng berries (GBs) show temporal metabolic variations among different maturation stages, determining their organoleptic and functional properties.

METHODS

We analyzed metabolic variations concomitant to five different maturation stages of GBs including immature green (IG), mature green (MG), partially red (PR), fully red (FR), and overmature red (OR) using mass spectrometry (MS)-based metabolomic profiling and multivariate analyses.

RESULTS

The partial least squares discriminant analysis score plot based on gas chromatography-MS datasets highlighted metabolic disparity between preharvest (IG and MG) and harvest/postharvest (PR, FR, and OR) GB extracts along PLS1 (34.9%) with MG distinctly segregated across PLS2 (18.2%). Forty-three significantly discriminant primary metabolites were identified encompassing five developmental stages (variable importance in projection > 1.0, p < 0.05). Among them, most amino acids, organic acids, 5-C sugars, ethanolamines, purines, and palmitic acid were detected in preharvest GB extracts, whereas 6-C sugars, phenolic acid, and oleamide levels were distinctly higher during later maturation stages. Similarly, the partial least squares discriminant analysis based on liquid chromatography-MS datasets displayed preharvest and harvest/postharvest stages clustered across PLS1 (11.1 %); however, MG and PR were separated from IG, FR, and OR along PLS2 (5.6 %). Overall, 24 secondary metabolites were observed significantly discriminant (variable importance in projection > 1.0, p < 0.05), with most displaying higher relative abundance during preharvest stages excluding ginsenosides Rg1 and Re. Furthermore, we observed strong positive correlations between total flavonoid and phenolic metabolite contents in GB extracts and antioxidant activity.

CONCLUSION

Comprehending the dynamic metabolic variations associated with GB maturation stages rationalize their optimal harvest time per se the related agroeconomic traits.

Spatial protein expression of Panax ginseng by in-depth proteomic analysis for ginsenoside biosynthesis and transportation

Background

Panax ginseng, as one of the most widely used herbal medicines worldwide, has been studied comprehensively in terms of the chemical components and pharmacology. The proteins from ginseng are also of great importance for both nutrition value and the mechanism of secondary metabolites. However, the proteomic studies are less reported in the absence of the genome information. With the completion of ginseng genome sequencing, the proteome profiling has become available for the functional study of ginseng protein components.

Methods

We optimized the protein extraction process systematically by using SDS-PAGE and one-dimensional liquid chromatography mass spectrometry. The extracted proteins were then analyzed by two-dimensional chromatography separation and cutting-edge mass spectrometry technique.

Results

A total of 2,732 and 3,608 proteins were identified from ginseng root and cauline leaf, respectively, which was the largest data set reported so far. Only around 50% protein overlapped between the cauline leaf and root tissue parts because of the function assignment for plant growing. Further gene ontology and KEGG pathway revealed the distinguish difference between ginseng root and leaf, which accounts for the photosynthesis and metabolic process. With in-deep analysis of functional proteins related to ginsenoside synthesis, we interestingly found the cytochrome P450 and UDP-glycosyltransferase expression extensively in cauline leaf but not in the root, indicating that the post glucoside synthesis of ginsenosides might be carried out when growing and then transported to the root at withering.

Conclusion

The systematically proteome analysis of Panax ginseng will provide us comprehensive understanding of ginsenoside synthesis and guidance for artificial cultivation.

Pathogenesis strategies and regulation of ginsenosides by two species of Ilyonectria in Panax ginseng: power of speciation

BACKGROUND

The valuable medicinal plant Panax ginseng has high pharmaceutical efficacy because it produces ginsenosides. However, its yields decline because of a root-rot disease caused by Ilyonectria mors-panacis. Because species within Ilyonectria showed variable aggressiveness by altering ginsenoside concentrations in inoculated plants, we investigated how such infections might regulate the biosynthesis of ginsenosides and their related signaling molecules.

METHODS

Two-year-old ginseng seedlings were treated with I. mors-panacis and I. robusta. Roots from infected and pathogen-free plants were harvested at 4 and 16 days after inoculation. We then examined levels or/and expression of genes of ginsenosides, salicylic acid (SA), jasmonic acid (JA), and reactive oxygen species (ROS). We also checked the susceptibility of those pathogens to ROS.

RESULTS

Ginsenoside biosynthesis was significantly suppressed and increased in response to infection by I. mors-panacis and I. robusta, respectively. Regulation of JA was significantly higher in I. robusta-infected roots, while levels of SA and ROS were significantly higher in I. mors-panacis-infected roots. Catalase activity was significantly higher in I. robusta-infected roots followed in order by mock roots and those infected by I. mors-panacis. Moreover, I. mors-panacis was resistant to ROS compared with I. robusta.

CONCLUSION

Infection by the weakly aggressive I. robusta led to the upregulation of ginsenoside production and biosynthesis, probably because only a low level of ROS was induced. In contrast, the more aggressive I. mors-panacis suppressed ginsenoside biosynthesis, probably because of higher ROS levels and subsequent induction of programmed cell death pathways. Furthermore, I. mors-panacis may have increased its virulence by resisting the cytotoxicity of ROS.

Gintonin-Enriched Fraction Suppresses Heat Stress-Induced Inflammation Through LPA Receptor

Heat stress can be caused by various environmental factors. When exposed to heat stress, oxidative stress and inflammatory reaction occur due to an increase of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in the body. In particular, inflammatory responses induced by heat stress are common in muscle cells, which are the most exposed to heat stress and directly affected. Gintonin-Enriched Fraction (GEF) is a non-saponin component of ginseng, a glycolipoprotein. It is known that it has excellent neuroprotective effects, therefore, we aimed to confirm the protective effect against heat stress by using GEF. C2C12 cells were exposed to high temperature stress for 1, 12 and 15 h, and the expression of signals was analyzed over time. Changes in the expression of the factors that were observed under heat stress were confirmed at the protein level. Exposure to heat stress increases phosphorylation of p38 and extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) and increases expression of inflammatory factors such as NLRP3 inflammasome through lysophosphatidic acid (LPA) receptor. Activated inflammatory signals also increase the secretion of inflammatory cytokines such as interleukin 6 (IL-6) and interleukin 18 (IL-18). Also, expression of glutathione reductase (GR) and catalase related to oxidative stress is increased. However, it was confirmed that the changes due to the heat stress were suppressed by the GEF treatment. Therefore, we suggest that GEF helps to protect heat stress in muscle cell and prevent tissue damage by oxidative stress and inflammation.

Comprehensive comparative analysis of chloroplast genomes from seven Panax species and development of an authentication system based on species-unique single nucleotide polymorphism markers

BACKGROUND

Panax species are important herbal medicinal plants in the Araliaceae family. Recently, we reported the complete chloroplast genomes and 45S nuclear ribosomal DNA sequences from seven Panax species, two (P . quinqu e folius and P . trifolius) from North America and five (P . ginseng, P . notoginseng, P . japonicus, P . vietnamensis, and P . stipuleanatus) from Asia.

METHODS

We conducted phylogenetic analysis of these chloroplast sequences with 12 other Araliaceae species and comprehensive comparative analysis among the seven Panax whole chloroplast genomes.

RESULTS

We identified 1,128 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP) in coding gene sequences, distributed among 72 of the 79 protein-coding genes in the chloroplast genomes of the seven Panax species. The other seven genes (including psaJ, psbN, rpl23, psbF, psbL, rps18, and rps7) were identical among the Panax species. We also discovered that 12 large chloroplast genome fragments were transferred into the mitochondrial genome based on sharing of more than 90% sequence similarity. The total size of transferred fragments was 60,331 bp, corresponding to approximately 38.6% of chloroplast genome. We developed 18 SNP markers from the chloroplast genic coding sequence regions that were not similar to regions in the mitochondrial genome. These markers included two or three species-specific markers for each species and can be used to authenticate all the seven Panax species from the others.

CONCLUSION

The comparative analysis of chloroplast genomes from seven Panax species elucidated their genetic diversity and evolutionary relationships, and 18 species-specific markers were able to discriminate among these species, thereby furthering efforts to protect the ginseng industry from economically motivated adulteration.

Glycosyltransformation of ginsenoside Rh2 into two novel ginsenosides using recombinant glycosyltransferase from Lactobacillus rhamnosus and its in vitro applications

Background

Ginsenoside Rh2 is well known for many pharmacological activities, such as anticancer, antidiabetes, antiinflammatory, and antiobesity properties. Glycosyltransferases (GTs) are ubiquitous enzymes present in nature and are widely used for the synthesis of oligosaccharides, polysaccharides, glycoconjugates, and novel derivatives. We aimed to synthesize new ginsenosides from Rh2 using the recombinant GT enzyme and investigate its cytotoxicity with diverse cell lines.

Methods

We have used a GT gene with 1,224-bp gene sequence cloned from Lactobacillus rhamnosus (LRGT) and then expressed in Escherichia coli BL21 (DE3). The recombinant GT protein was purified and demonstrated to transform Rh2 into two novel ginsenosides, and they were characterized by nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) techniques and evaluated by 3-(4, 5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2-5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide assay.

Results

Two novel ginsenosides with an additional glucopyranosyl (6→1) and two additional glucopyranosyl (6→1) linked with the C-3 position of the substrate Rh2 were synthesized, respectively. Cell viability assay in the lung cancer (A549) cell line showed that glucosyl ginsenoside Rh2 inhibited cell viability more potently than ginsenoside Rg3 and Rh2 at a concentration of 10 μM. Furthermore, glucosyl ginsenoside Rh2 did not exhibit any cytotoxic effect in murine macrophage cells (RAW264.7), mouse embryo fibroblasts cells (3T3-L1), and skin cells (B16BL6) at a concentration of 10 μM compared with ginsenoside Rh2 and Rg3.

Conclusion

This is the first report on the synthesis of two novel ginsenosides, namely, glucosyl ginsenoside Rh2 and diglucosyl ginsenoside Rh2 from Rh2 by using recombinant GT isolated from L. rhamnosus. Moreover, diglucosyl ginsenoside Rh2 might be a new candidate for treatment of inflammation, obesity, and skin whiting, and especially for anticancer.

20(S)-Ginsenoside Rg3 Promotes HeLa Cell Apoptosis by Regulating Autophagy

20(S)-Ginsenoside Rg3 (GRg3) has various bioactivities including anti-cancer effects and inhibition of autophagy. However, no reports have investigated the appearance of autophagy or the connection between autophagy and apoptosis in HeLa cells treated with 20(S)-GRg3. Cell viability was measured by CCK-8 (cell counting kit-8) assays. Apoptosis and the cell cycle were analyzed by Hoechst 33342 staining and flow cytometry. Apoptotic pathways were examined by ROS (reactive oxygen species) determination and rhodamine 123 assays. Western blot analysis was used to determine changes in protein levels. Autophagy induction was monitored by acidic vesicular organelle staining and EGFP-LC3 transfection. 20(S)-GRg3 inhibited autophagy of cells in a starved state, making it impossible for cells to maintain a steady state through autophagy, and then induced apoptosis. 20(S)-GRg3 blocked the late stage of autophagy (fusion of lysosomes and degradation of autophagic lysosomes), including a decrease in acidic vesicular organelle fluorescence, increased LC3 I–II conversion, accumulation of EGFP-LC3 fluorescence, GFP-mRFP-LC3 red-green fluorescence ratio, degradation of the substrate p62, and loss of the balance between autophagy and apoptosis, which induced apoptosis. ROS increased, the mitochondrial membrane potential decreased, apoptotic inducer AIF was released from mitochondria, and nuclear transfer occurred, triggering a series of subsequent apoptotic events. Autophagy inducer rapamycin inhibited the apoptosis induced by 20(S)-GRg3, whereas autophagy inhibitor BA1 promoted apoptosis induced by 20(S)-GRg3. Therefore, 20(S)-GRg3 promoted HeLa cell apoptosis by regulating autophagy. In the autophagic state, 20(S)-GRg3 can be used as a novel autophagy inhibitor in synergy with tumor-blocking therapies such as chemotherapy, which supports its application in the medical field.

Comparative Analysis of Ginsenoside Profiles: Antioxidant, Antiproliferative, and Antigenotoxic Activities of Ginseng Extracts of Fine and Main Roots

The aim of this study was to compare ginsenosides profiles, and antioxidant, antiproliferative, and antigenotoxic activities of ginseng extract derived from fine and main roots. The result of the analysis showed a higher total content of ginsenoside in fine roots than in main roots; differences in levels between the different extracts were also confirmed. The oxygen radical absorbance capacity (ORAC) assay showed that H₂O main root extract had a significantly higher activity than that from fine roots. MeOH and H₂O extracts from the fine and main roots also exhibited stronger cellular antioxidant capacity 2,2’-azobis(2-amidinopropane) dihydrochloride-induced oxidative stress in HepG2 cells compared with the positive control. Through calculating the half-maximal inhibitory concentration values, the cytotoxicity of the main root extracts were ranked as follows: MeOH (6.1±1.2 μg/mL)> H₂O (6.6±0.1 μg/mL)> ethanol (10.4±0.6 μg/mL); however, the cytotoxicity of all fine root extracts did not significantly differ. All the fine root extracts showed an inhibitory capacity against 4-hydroxynonenal-induced DNA damage, however only the MeOH extract of the main root showed a decrease in DNA damage. All three solvent extracts from the fine roots reduced DNA damage more in the H₂O₂-treated group, whereas only the MeOH and H₂O extracts of the main roots produced a significant reduction. Levels of Rg3 ginsenoside were positively correlated with indices of the ORAC value, and total ginsenoside contents showed a negative correlation with DNA damage induced by H₂O₂. This study suggests that ginseng and the extraction solvent both affect levels of ginsenoside. Furthermore, the antioxidant potency of ginseng can be attributed to the content of some ginsenosides.

Biofabrication of streptomycin-conjugated calcium phosphate nanoparticles using red ginseng extract and investigation of their antibacterial potential

Conjugation of nanoparticles (NPs) with antibiotics for treating multidrug resistant pathogens has been enormously studied now a days. In the current investigation, calcium phosphate (CaP) NPs were produced by co-precipitation using red ginseng extract as the reducing agent and were conjugated to the antibiotic streptomycin to form streptomycin-conjugated NPs (CPG-S NPs). The CPG-S NPs antibacterial activity was evaluated in this study against eight plant and five foodborne pathogenic bacteria. The synthesized CPG-S NPs were characterized by UV-VIS spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, X-ray powder diffraction, and thermogravimetric and differential thermogravimetric analysis. CPG-S NPs exhibited promising antibacterial activity against all eight plant pathogenic bacteria and three of the five foodborne pathogenic bacteria tested; the diameter of inhibition zones ranged between 9.74-16.95 mm and 9.82-15.84 mm, respectively. CPG-S NPs displayed 50-100 μg/mL of minimum inhibitory concentration and 100 μg/mL of minimum bactericidal concentration against the plant and foodborne pathogenic bacterial strains, respectively. Furthermore, the SEM image of bacteria treated with CPG-S NPs displayed cells with a ruptured cell wall and fewer cells compared to the SEM image of untreated control bacteria displaying uniform and intact cells. SEM confirmed that CPG-S NPs degraded the bacterial cell wall and membrane resulting in lysed bacterial cells. In conclusion, the results suggest that CPG-S NPs could be effectively utilized in formulating drugs to treat bacterial plant or dental diseases and in manufacturing dental products such as toothpaste, mouthwashes, and artificial teeth.

Discovery of a new primer set for detection and quantification of Ilyonectria mors-panacis in soils for ginseng cultivation

Background

Korean ginseng is an important cash crop in Asian countries. However, plant yield is reduced by pathogens. Among the Ilyonectria radicicola-species complex, I. mors-panacis is responsible for root-rot and replant failure of ginseng in Asia. The development of new methods to reveal the existence of the pathogen before cultivation is started is essential. Therefore, a quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction method was developed to detect and quantify the pathogen in ginseng soils.

Methods

In this study, a species-specific histone H3 primer set was developed for the quantification of I. mors-panacis. The primer set was used on DNA from other microbes to evaluate its sensitivity and selectivity for I. mors-panacis DNA. Sterilized soil samples artificially infected with the pathogen at different concentrations were used to evaluate the ability of the primer set to detect the pathogen population in the soil DNA. Finally, the pathogen was quantified in many natural soil samples.

Results

The designed primer set was found to be sensitive and selective for I. mors-panacis DNA. In artificially infected sterilized soil samples, using quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction the estimated amount of template was positively correlated with the pathogen concentration in soil samples (R ²  = 0.95), disease severity index (R ²  = 0.99), and colony-forming units (R ²  = 0.87). In natural soils, the pathogen was recorded in most fields producing bad yields at a range of 5.82 ± 2.35 pg/g to 892.34 ± 103.70 pg/g of soil.

Conclusion

According to these results, the proposed primer set is applicable for estimating soil quality before ginseng cultivation. This will contribute to disease management and crop protection in the future.

The Effects of Environmental Factors on Ginsenoside Biosynthetic Enzyme Gene Expression and Saponin Abundance

Panax ginseng C.A. Meyer is one of the most important medicinal plants in Northeast China, and ginsenosides are the main active ingredients found in medicinal ginseng. The biosynthesis of ginsenosides is regulated by environmental factors and the expression of key enzyme genes. Therefore, in this experiment, ginseng in the leaf opened stage, the green fruit stage, the red fruit stage, and the root growth stage was used as the test material, and nine individual ginsenosides and total saponins (the sum of the individual saponins) were detected by HPLC (High Performance Liquid Chromatography). There was a trend of synergistic increase and decrease, and saponin accumulation and transfer in different tissues. The expression of key enzyme genes in nine synthetic pathways was detected by real-time PCR, and the correlation between saponin content, gene expression, and ecological factors was analyzed. Correlation analysis showed that in root tissue, PAR (Photosynthetically Active Radiation) and soil water potential had a greater impact on ginsenoside accumulation, while in leaf tissue, temperature and relative humidity had a greater impact on ginsenoside accumulation. The results provide a theoretical basis for elucidating the relationship between ecological factors and genetic factors and their impact on the quality of medicinal materials. The results also have guiding significance for realizing the quality of medicinal materials.

Genome and evolution of the shade-requiring medicinal herb Panax ginseng

Panax ginseng C. A. Meyer, reputed as the king of medicinal herbs, has slow growth, long generation time, low seed production and complicated genome structure that hamper its study. Here, we unveil the genomic architecture of tetraploid P. ginseng by de novo genome assembly, representing 2.98 Gbp with 59 352 annotated genes. Resequencing data indicated that diploid Panax species diverged in association with global warming in Southern Asia, and two North American species evolved via two intercontinental migrations. Two whole genome duplications (WGD) occurred in the family Araliaceae (including Panax) after divergence with the Apiaceae, the more recent one contributing to the ability of P. ginseng to overwinter, enabling it to spread broadly through the Northern Hemisphere. Functional and evolutionary analyses suggest that production of pharmacologically important dammarane-type ginsenosides originated in Panax and are produced largely in shoot tissues and transported to roots; that newly evolved P. ginseng fatty acid desaturases increase freezing tolerance; and that unprecedented retention of chlorophyll a/b binding protein genes enables efficient photosynthesis under low light. A genome-scale metabolic network provides a holistic view of Panax ginsenoside biosynthesis. This study provides valuable resources for improving medicinal values of ginseng either through genomics-assisted breeding or metabolic engineering.

Quantitative Analyses of the Functional Constituents in SanYangSam and SanYangSanSam

Objective

SanYangSam and SanYangSanSam are traditional Korea-medical herbs that are grown from Panax ginseng C.A. Meyer. In our previous studies, we found that the functional compounds in SanYangSam and SanYangSanSam were different and depended on the type and the cultivation environment of ginseng. This study aimed to profile the functional constituents in SanYangSam and SanYangSanSam.

Methods

To profile the functional aspects of the many compounds that have therapeutic activities in SanYangSam and SanYangSanSam extracts, we used liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry and quadrupole orthogonal acceleration time-of-flight mass spectrometry.

Results

A total of four major compounds were detected; two of which were the natural flavonoids kaempferol and quercetin. Among others, two polyacetylene compounds, including panaxydol and panaxynol, were detected.

Conclusion

In this study, we found that panaxydol, one of the polyacetylene constituents of ginseng, is a candidate anti-cancer agent in SanYangSam and SanYangSanSam pharmacopuncture. In addition, we found that the panaxydol levels in the SanYangSanSam extract were over 30 times those in the SanYangSam extract.

Seasonal Variation and Possible Biosynthetic Pathway of Ginsenosides in Korean Ginseng Panax ginseng Meyer

Whereas Korean ginseng, Panax ginseng Meyer, is harvested in the fall, the variation of ginsenoside content in field-grown ginseng across seasonal development has never been investigated in Korea. Thus, ultra-high performance liquid chromatography (UHPLC) analysis of nine major ginsenosides, including ginsenoside Rg1, Re, Rf, Rg2, Rb1, Rc, Rb2, Rd, and Ro, in the roots of five-year-old P. ginseng cultivated in Bongwha, Korea in 2017 was performed. The total ginsenoside content changed as many as three times throughout the year, ranging from 1.37 ± 0.02 (dry wt %) in January to 4.26 ± 0.03% in May. Total ginsenoside content in the harvest season was 2.49 ± 0.03%. Seasonal variations of panaxadiol-type ginsenosides (PPD) and panaxatriol-type ginsenosides (PPT) were found to be similar, but more PPD was always measured. However, the seasonal variation of oleanolic acid-type ginsenoside, Ro, was different from that of PPD and PPT, and the highest Ro content was observed in May. The ratio of PPD/PPT, as well as other representative ginsenosides, was compared throughout the year. Moreover, the percent composition of certain ginsenosides in both PPD and PPT types was found to be in a complementary relationship each other, which possibly reflected the biosynthetic pathway of the related ginsenosides. This finding would not only provide scientific support for the production and quality control of the value-added ginseng products, but also facilitate the elucidation of the ginsenoside biosynthetic pathway.

20(S)-Ginsenoside Rh2 Induce the Apoptosis and Autophagy in U937 and K562 Cells

Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) and Chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML) are common leukemia in adults. 20(S)-GRh2 is an important bioactive substance that is present in Panax ginseng. However, there are no investigations that deal with the comparison of apoptosis, the occurrence of autophagy, and the relationship between apoptosis and autophagy after being treated with 20(S)-GRh2 in AML and CML. In this study, we explored the effect of 20(S)-GRh2 on the AML and CML (U937 and K562). Fluorescence microscopy, CCK-8, Quantitative realtime PCR, Western blot, transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and flow cytometric analysis were used to detect the occurrence of cell proliferation inhibition, apoptosis, and autophagy. By using the above methods, it was determined that apoptosis induced by 20(S)-GRh2 was more obvious in K562 than U937 cells and 20(S)-GRh2 could generate autophagy in K562 and U937 cells. When pretreated by a specific inhibitor of autophagy, (3-methyladenine), the 20(S)-GRh2-induced apoptosis was enhanced, which indicated that 20(S)-GRh2-induced autophagy may protect U937 and K562 cells from undergoing apoptotic cell death. On the other hand, pretreated by an apoptosis suppressor (Z-VAD-FMK), it greatly induced the autophagy and partially prevented 20(S)-GRh2 induced apoptosis. This phenomenon indicated that 20(S)-GRh2-induced autophagy may serve as a survival mechanism and apoptosis and autophagy could act as partners to induce cell death in a cooperative manner. These findings may provide a rationale for future clinical application by using 20(S)-GRh2 combined autophagy inhibitors for AML and CML.

Cylindrocarpon destructans/Ilyonectria radicicola-species complex: Causative agent of ginseng root-rot disease and rusty symptoms

Cylindrocarpon destructans/Ilyonectria radicicola is thought to cause both rusty symptom and root-rot disease of American and Korean ginseng. Root-rot disease poses a more serious threat to ginseng roots than rusty symptoms, which we argue result from the plant defense response to pathogen attack. Therefore, strains causing rotten root are characterized as more aggressive than strains causing rusty symptoms. In this review, we state 1- the molecular evidence indicating that the root-rot causing strains are genetically distinct considering them as a separate species of Ilyonectria, namely I. mors-panacis and 2- the physiological and biochemical differences between the weakly and highly aggressive species as well as those between rusty and rotten ginseng plants. Eventually, we postulated that rusty symptom occurs on ginseng roots due to incompatible interactions with the weakly aggressive species of Ilyonectria, by the established iron-phenolic compound complexes while root-rot is developed by I. mors-panacis infection due to the production of high quantities of hydrolytic and oxidative fungal enzymes which destroy the plant defensive barriers, in parallel with the pathogen growth stimulation by utilizing the available iron. Furthermore, we highlight future areas for study that will help elucidate the complete mechanism of root-rot disease development.

Study on the Correlation between Gene Expression and Enzyme Activity of Seven Key Enzymes and Ginsenoside Content in Ginseng in Over Time in Ji'an, China

Panax ginseng is a traditional medicine. Fresh ginseng is one of the most important industries related to ginseng development, and fresh ginseng of varying ages has different medicinal properties. Previous research has not systematically reported the correlation between changes in key enzyme activity with changes in ginsenoside content in fresh ginseng over time. In this study, for the first time, we use ginseng samples of varying ages in Ji'an and systematically reported the changes in the activity of seven key enzymes (HMGR, FPS, SS, SE, DS, CYP450, and GT). We investigated the content of ginsenoside and gene expression of these key enzymes. Ginsenoside content was measured using HPLC. HPLC, GC-MS, and LC-MS were combined to measure the enzyme activity of the key enzymes. Quantitative PCR was used in the investigation of gene expression. By analyzing the correlation between the enzyme activity and the transcription level of the key enzymes with ginsenoside content, we found that DS and GT enzyme activities are significantly correlated with the ginsenoside content in different ages of ginseng. Our findings might provide a new strategy to discriminate between ginseng of different years. Meanwhile, this research provides important information for the in-depth study of ginsenoside biosynthesis.

Heterologous production of a ginsenoside saponin (compound K) and its precursors in transgenic tobacco impairs the vegetative and reproductive growth

MAIN CONCLUSION

Production of compound K (a ginsenoside saponin) and its precursors in transgenic tobacco resulted in stunted growth and seed set failure, which may be caused by strong autotoxicity of heterologously produced phytochemicals against the tobacco itself. Panax ginseng roots contain various saponins (ginsenosides), which are major bioactive compounds. A monoglucosylated saponin, compound K (20-O-(β-D-glucopyranosyl)-20(S)-protopanaxadiol), has high medicinal and cosmetic values but is present in undetectable amounts in naturally grown ginseng roots. The production of compound K (CK) requires complicated deglycosylation of ginsenosides using physicochemical and/or enzymatic degradation. In this work, we report the production of CK in transgenic tobacco by co-overexpressing three genes (PgDDS, CYP716A47 and UGT71A28) isolated from P. ginseng. Introduction and expression of the transgenes in tobacco lines were confirmed by genomic PCR and RT-PCR. All the lines of transgenic tobacco produced CK including its precursors, protopanaxadiol and dammarenediol-II (DD). The concentrations of CK in the leaves ranged from 1.55 to 2.64 µg/g dry weight, depending on the transgenic line. Interestingly, production of CK in tobacco brought stunted plant growth and gave rise to seed set failure. This seed set failure was caused by both long-styled flowers and abnormal pollen development in transgenic tobacco. Both CK and DD treatments highly suppressed in vitro germination and tube growth in wild-type pollens. Based on these results, metabolic engineering for CK production in transgenic tobacco was successfully achieved, but the production of CK and its precursors in tobacco severely affects vegetative and reproductive growth due to the cytotoxicity of phytochemicals that are heterologously produced in transgenic tobacco.

Anti-Skin-Aging Activity of a Standardized Extract from Panax ginseng Leaves In Vitro and In Human Volunteer

Ginseng leaves contain high saponin composition and content, but are used less often than the root part. To develop a use for the leaves that exploits their properties, we studied ginseng leaves as the raw material of anti-aging cosmetics. This study highlights an assessment of the cellular factivity and clinical efficacy of ginseng leaf extract, providing necessary information relevant to the development of new cosmetic products. Panax ginseng leaf purified extracts (PGLE) were shown to have high contents of Rb3 and Rb2. Rb3, the major chemical components of PGLE, promoted collagen synthesis though the activation of transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) in human skin fibroblast cells. In addition, the possibility of PGLE as an anti-skin-aging agent has also been clinically validated. Our analysis of the crow’s feet wrinkle showed that there was a decrease in the depth of deep furrows in the region of interest (RI) treated with PGLE lotion over an eight-week period. Based on these results, we suggest the possibility that PGLE, having high levels of Rb3, be considered as an attractive, wrinkle-reducing candidate for topical application.

Enhanced Production of Gypenoside LXXV Using a Novel Ginsenoside-Transforming β-Glucosidase from Ginseng-Cultivating Soil Bacteria and Its Anti-Cancer Property

Minor ginsenosides, such as compound K, Rg₃(S), which can be produced by deglycosylation of ginsenosides Rb₁, showed strong anti-cancer effects. However, the anticancer effects of gypenoside LXXV, which is one of the deglycosylated shapes of ginsenoside Rb₁, is still unknown due to the rarity of its content in plants. Here, we cloned and characterized a novel ginsenoside-transforming β-glucosidase (BglG167b) derived from Microbacterium sp. Gsoil 167 which can efficiently hydrolyze gypenoside XVII into gypenoside LXXV, and applied it to the production of gypenoside LXXV at the gram-scale with high specificity. In addition, the anti-cancer activity of gypenoside LXXV was investigated against three cancer cell lines (HeLa, B16, and MDA-MB231) in vitro. Gypenoside LXXV significantly reduced cell viability, displaying an enhanced anti-cancer effect compared to gypenoside XVII and Rb₁. Taken together, this enzymatic method would be useful in the preparation of gypenoside LXXV for the functional food and pharmaceutical industries.

Cross Interaction Between Ilyonectria mors-panacis Isolates Infecting Korean Ginseng and Ginseng Saponins in Correlation with Their Pathogenicity

Ilyonectria mors-panacis belongs to I. radicicola species complex and causes root rot and replant failure of ginseng in Asia and North America. The aims of this work were to identify I. mors-panacis that infect Korean ginseng using molecular approaches and to investigate whether their aggressiveness depends on their ability to metabolize ginseng saponins (ginsenosides) by their β-glucosidases, in comparison with other identified Ilyonectria species. Fourteen isolates were collected from culture collections or directly isolated from infected roots and mainly identified based on histone H3 (HIS H3) sequence. Among them, six isolates were identified as I. mors-panacis while others were identified as I. robusta and I. leucospermi. The pathogenicity tests confirmed that the isolates of I. mors-panacis were significantly more aggressive than I. robusta and I. leucospermi. The major ginsenosides in I. mors-panacis-infected roots were significantly reduced while significantly increased in those infected with other species. In vitro, the isolates were tested for their sensitivity and ability to metabolize the total major ginsenosides (Total MaG), protopanaxadiol-type major ginsenosides (PPD-type MaG), and protopanaxatriol-type major ginsenosides (PPT-type MaG). Unexpectedly, the growth rate and metabolic ability of I. mors-panacis isolates were significantly low on the three different ginsenoside fractions while those of I. robusta and I. leucospermi were significantly reduced on PPT-type MaG and Total MaG fractions and not affected on PPD-type MaG fraction. Our results indicate that major ginsenosides, especially PPT-type, have an antifungal effect and may intervene in ginseng defense during Ilyonectria species invasion, in particular the weak species. Also, the pathogenicity of I. mors-panacis may rely on its ability to reduce saponin content; however, whether this reduction is caused by detoxification or another method remains unclear.

Applications of Panax ginseng leaves-mediated gold nanoparticles in cosmetics relation to antioxidant, moisture retention, and whitening effect on B16BL6 cells

Background

Bioactive compounds in plant extracts are able to reduce metal ions to nanoparticles through the process of green synthesis. Panax ginseng is an oriental medicinal herb and an adaptogen which has been historically used to cure various diseases. In addition, the P. ginseng leaves-mediated gold nanoparticles are the value-added novel materials. Its potential as a cosmetic ingredient is still unexplored. The aim of this study was to evaluate the antioxidant, moisture retention and whitening properties of gold nanoparticles (PgAuNPs) in cosmetic applications.

Methods

Cell-free experiments were performed to evaluate PgAuNP's antioxidant and moisture retention properties and inhibition activity on mushroom tyrosinase. Furthermore, in vitro cell cytotoxicity was evaluated using normal human dermal fibroblast and murine B16BL6 melanoma cells (B16) after treatment with increasing concentrations of PgAuNPs for 24 h, 48 h, and 72 h. Finally, in vitro cell assays on B16 cells were performed to evaluate the whitening effect of PgAuNPs through reduction of cellular melanin content and tyrosinase activity.

Results

In vitro DPPH radical scavenging assay results revealed that PgAuNPs exhibited antioxidant activity in a dose-dependent manner. PgAuNPs exhibited moisture retention capacity and effectively inhibited mushroom tyrosinase. In addition, 3-(4,5-dimethyl-thiazol-2yl)-2,5-diphenyl tetrazolium bromide results revealed that PgAuNPs were not toxic to human dermal fibroblast and B16 cells; in addition, they significantly reduced melanin content, tyrosinase activity, and mRNA expression of melanogenesis-associated transcription factor and tyrosinase in B16 cells.

Conclusion

Our study is the first report to provide evidence supporting that P. ginseng leaves-capped gold nanoparticles could be used as multifunctional ingredients in cosmetics.

OCF can repress tumor metastasis by inhibiting epithelial-mesenchymal transition involved in PTEN/PI3K/AKT pathway in lung cancer cells

A component formula with definite compositions provides a new approach to treat various diseases. Salvia miltiorrhiza and Panax ginseng are widely used in China because of their antitumor properties. In the previous study, the optimizing component formula (OCF), prepared with salvianolic acids, ginsenosides, and ginseng polysaccharides (5, 10, and 5 mg·L⁻¹, respectively) extracted from S. miltiorrhiza and P. ginseng on the basis of IC₅₀ in lung cancer A549 cells and damage minimization on human bronchial epithelial cells in vitro. Currently, we also have demonstrated the inhibitory effect of OCF on A549 cell migration and invasion in vitro. According to Lewis lung cancer cells (LLC) allograft in C57BL/6 mice and A549 xenograft in nude mice experiment, we found that the anti-tumor and anti-metastasis effects of OCF treatment were related to the inhibition of epithelial–mesenchymal transition (EMT). Further studies showed that the inhibitory effect of OCF on EMT was associated with the PTEN/PI3K/AKT pathway. Therefore, all studies revealed that OCF could prevent cancer progression and tumor metastasis by inhibiting EMT involved PTEN/PI3K/AKT signaling pathway in lung cancer cells.

Authentication of Panax ginseng from different regions

The correlation of gene expressions of HMGR and DS with total ginsenoside content was significant.

Rare ginsenoside Ia synthesized from F1 by cloning and overexpression of the UDP-glycosyltransferase gene from Bacillus subtilis: synthesis, characterization, and in vitro melanogenesis inhibition activity in BL6B16 cells

Background

Ginsenoside F1 has been described to possess skin-whitening effects on humans. We aimed to synthesize a new ginsenoside derivative from F1 and investigate its cytotoxicity and melanogenesis inhibitory activity in B16BL6 cells using recombinant glycosyltransferase enzyme. Glycosylation has the advantage of synthesizing rare chemical compounds from common compounds with great ease.

Methods

UDP-glycosyltransferase (BSGT1) gene from Bacillus subtilis was selected for cloning. The recombinant glycosyltransferase enzyme was purified, characterized, and utilized to enzymatically transform F1 into its derivative. The new product was characterized by NMR techniques and evaluated by MTT, melanin count, and tyrosinase inhibition assay.

Results

The new derivative was identified as (20S)-3β,6α,12β,20-tetrahydroxydammar-24-ene-20-O-β-D-glucopyranosyl-3-O-β-D-glucopyranoside (ginsenoside Ia), which possesses an additional glucose linked into the C-3 position of substrate F1. Ia had been previously reported; however, no in vitro biological activity was further examined. This study focused on the mass production of arduous ginsenoside Ia from accessible F1 and its inhibitory effect of melanogenesis in B16BL6 cells. Ia showed greater inhibition of melanin and tyrosinase at 100 μmol/L than F1 and arbutin. These results suggested that Ia decreased cellular melanin synthesis in B16BL6 cells through downregulation of tyrosinase activity.

Conclusion

To our knowledge, this is the first study to report on the mass production of rare ginsenoside Ia from F1 using recombinant UDP-glycosyltransferase isolated from B. subtillis and its superior melanogenesis inhibitory activity in B16BL6 cells as compared to its precursor. In brief, ginsenoside Ia can be applied for further study in cosmetics.