Showing papers on "Ginseng published in 1977"

A Contribution to Our Knowledge of Ginseng

Abstract: The Chinese people discovered ginseng and used it as a revitalizing agent since time immemorial. They are still the world's major consumers of this plant drug. The commercial product of ginseng comes from two species of the genus Panax in the family Araliaceae. These species are P. ginseng C. A. Meyer which is the source plant of the Chinese, Korean and Japanese brands of ginseng, and P. quinquefolius L., which is the source of American ginseng. Phytogeographically, ginseng demonstrates the classical bicentric pattern of plant distribution, with closely related species in eastern Asia and in eastern North America. Ecologically, ginseng is an undergrowth of hardwood mixed deciduous forest. It prefers the northern or the northeastern slope of a hill. Species of the genus Tilia are good indicators of the proper environmental condition for the growth of ginseng. Morphologically, ginseng is a perennial herb with fleshy root, a single annual stem bearing a whorl of palmately compound leaves, and a terminal simple umbel of small 5-merous flowers. The flowers are soon followed by pea-sized fruits developed from inferior ovaries. The fruits are red when ripe. Ginseng is propagated by seed. The commercial products of ginseng consist primarily of roots 2-20 years old. Within this age range, the older the root the higher the market value, provided they are grown in proper conditions. The methods of curing the roots change the color and shape of the products. Chinese ginseng is prepared from roots bleached, boiled, steamed, or sugared in curing. The cultural background for the uses of ginseng by the Chinese people is explained. Ginseng may be used alone in the form of tea, powder, or as a masticatory. It is also used in combination with other drugs of animal, mineral, or plant origin. Forty-two recipes are selected from Pen-ts'oa kang-mu and translated into English for the first time to show the various ways by which ginseng is used in traditional Chinese medicine. A systematic summary of the companion plant drugs of ginseng is presented in the form of a table, showing the distribution of the species in the plant kingdom. The scientific names of the species are given in full.

The Chemical Constituents of Ginseng Plants

Abstract: The dried roots and rhizomes of ginseng (P. ginseng C. A. Meyer) contain many physiologically important constituents. These include ginseng saponins, ginseng oils and phytosterol, carbohydrates and sugars, organic acids, nitrogenous substances, amino acids and peptides, vitamins and minerals, and certain enzymes that have been isolated and characterized. Among these, ginseng saponins are proven to be the principal and most active constituents. Chemical research, therefore, has been focused on these saponins--their extraction, purification, identification, isolation of aglycones (genins), and biosynthesis. So far 13 saponins have been isolated and identified and these, which have been called ginsenosides or panaxosides, are triterpenes of dammarane and oleanane structures. Although American, Japanese, San-ch'i, Himalayan, and Siberian ginseng roots contain many saponins similar to those found in ginseng, the overall components in these ginseng species are quite different. The above-ground parts, particularly the leaves, of these ginseng plants contain many of the saponins normally present in the roots. The search for economical sources of ginseng saponins from nature and even chemical synthesis may likely become the active ginseng research of the future. Continued, meticulous studies are undoubtedly needed to develop these natural panacea into useful, efficacious modern remedies.

A Ginseng farm in Lawrence County, Tennessee

Abstract: American Ginseng, Panax quinquefolius L. (Araliaceae), is a herbaceous perennial of the eastern hardwoods of North America whose range extends, especially in the mountains, into southeastern United States (Fernald, 1950). In Tennessee, it is found principally in the eastern third of the state (Sharp et al., 1960), although it is known to occur also in several counties of Middle Tennessee. Because of their high market value, the roots of the herb have been collected since colonial times by local people who sell to dealers who ship the dried roots to China and Korea (Williams, 195 7). There they are used to prepare beverages and medicinal preparations believed to. be panaceas and aphrodisiacs (Harriman, 1973). In addition, it has been used locally in tea and liquor, primarily for digestive ailments. Chinese ginseng (Panax ginseng C. A. Meyer) has been held in highest esteem as a medicine in China for some 4,000 years (Stuart, 1911), and there exists a large Asian language literature on the pharmacological aspects of ginseng. A number of active constituents are recognized (Hu, 1976), each of which has been found to have a specific effect on the human body (Baranov, 1966). Despite the widespread acceptance of ginseng in Oriental medicine, West European and American physicians have, until recently, considered ginseng to lack any medicinal value whatsoever. However, several million people in Europe and North America are now taking ginseng in some form, and current research on the effect of the root is underway in several western countries as well as in the Soviet Union (Massey, 1976). Because of the great demand and the dwindling supply of wild ginseng, the cultivation of the plant began several centuries ago. The earliest plantations were in south-

Stimulatory effect of Panax ginseng principles on DNA and protein synthesis in rat testes.

Abstract: The effect of fraction 4 of the extract from the roots of Panax ginseng, Oura, on DNA and protein syntheses was investigated. Addition of fraction 4 in vitro stimulated DNA and protein syntheses in testes. The stimulating effect was reduced by pretreatment with cycloheximide. This might give some evidence about the stimulatory effect of ginseng on spermatogenesis.

Effect of ginseng extract on ribonucleic acid and protein synthesis in rat kidney.

Abstract: Administration of the extract from the roots of Panax ginseng C.A. MEYER increased the incorporation rate of labeled precursor into rat renal nuclear RNA, this stimulating effect was dose dependent, and the maximum activity was observed at 8 hr after the treatment. The sequential cytoplasmic RNA synthesis was stimulated maximally at 10 hr after the administration. The stimulating effect of the ginseng extract on RNA synthesis resulted in an increased incorporation of labeled leucine into rat renal protein and the maximum activity was observed at 12 hr after the intraperitoneal administration.

Stimulatory effect of Panax ginseng principles on DNA, RNA, protein and lipid synthesis in rat bone marrow.

Abstract: Effects of extract fraction 3 and 4 from the root of Panax ginseng on bone marrow cells of the rat were investigated. Oral administration of fraction 3 and addition of fraction 4 in vitro stimulated DNA, protein and lipid synthesis in bone marrow cells. The stimulatory effect was reduced by pretreatment of cycloheximide. Single i.p. injection of fraction 4 also increased DNA and RNA synthesis. Numbers of mitosis were increased by oral administration of fraction 3. Extent of the increase was almost equal in both myeloid and erythoid. Numbers of total nucleated cells in bone marrow and reticulocytes in peripheral blood were significantly increased. The hematopoiesis-stimulating action of Panax ginseng and its mechanism of the action were discussed.

Saponins of Korean Ginseng C.A. Meyer(PartII)-The saponins of the ground part of ginseng-

Abstract: For the purpose of utilizing the saponins of the ground part of Panax ginseng, the studies on saponins isolated from the leaves, stems, and flowers of ginseng were Performed. The results were summarized as follows: 1. The crude saponin contents of ginseng loaves, stems, and flowers 12.8%, 1.6% and 6.9% respectively. 2. Infra-red spectrum of ginseng leaf saponin was identical with that of ginseng root.

Saponins of Korean Ginseng Panax ginseng C.A. Meyer (Part III) -Saponins of ginseng by the cultivating locations, sampling seasons, plant parts, growing stages and the processings-

Abstract: The studies on the saponins of Korean ginseng, Panax ginseng CA Meyer, were performed according to the cultivating locations, sampling seasons, plant parts, and growing stages The changes in saponin content in the course of manufacturing Red ginseng and Ginseng extract were observed In this paper, a new method for the determination of the total and the individual saponin glucosides was proposed and applied to the samples under study The method employing Digital Densitorol DMU-33C (Toyo electric Co, Japan) followed the separation of the saponins by means of a preparative thin layer chromatography The saponin contents and their fractional distribution were summarized as follows: 1 The average concentrations(% plant dry weight) of semi-purified saponins in the roots of Korean ginseng planted in the various locations were 50%(Keumsan), 60% (Kimpo), and 54% (Pocheon), respectively 2 There were 33% saponins in White ginseng(Rhizome) and 127% saponins in Ginseng tail (Fibrous root) 3 Regarding the year of growth, the contents of saponins were 903mg (2-year-old ginseng), 2544mg (3-year-old ginseng), 4042mg (4-year-old ginseng) 9996mg (5-year-old ginseng), and 13771mg (6-year-old ginseng) respectively, and the saponin factions containing panaxatriol as an aglycone increased 4 Thin layer chromatography revealed that Red ginseng yielded many saponins which Shibata et al designated as (221%), , -Rc(126%), -Re (157%), and , (93%) 5 299% of crude saponins were isolated from ethanolic extract of Panax ginseng fibrous root and their extraction yield was 942% of fibrous root saponin