Ginsenosides from American ginseng: chemical and pharmacological diversity

Ginseng occupies a prominent position in the list of best-selling natural products in the world. Compared to the long history of use and widespread research on Asian ginseng, the study of American ginseng is relatively limited. In the past decade, some promising advances have been achieved in understanding the chemistry, pharmacology and structure-function relationship of American ginseng. To date, there is no systematic review of American ginseng. In this review, the different structures of the ginsenosides in American ginseng are described, including naturally occurring compounds and those resulting from steaming or biotransformation. Preclinical and clinical studies published in the past decade are also discussed. Highlighted are the chemical and pharmacological diversity and potential structural-activity relationship of ginsenosides. The goal is that this article is a useful reference to chemists and biologists researching American ginseng, and will open the door to agents in drug discovery.     

20(R)-Ginsenoside Rf: A new ginsenoside from red ginseng extract

In spite of the general concept that herbal supplements are safe, there is a lack of appropriate quality control measures and regulations that often culminates in serious undesirable effects such as allergic reactions and renal and liver damage. Thus, there is a growing need to establish a suitable methodology that enables authentication and quality assurance of herbal products. The root of Panax ginseng C. A. Meyer (Araliaceae), commonly called ginseng, is traditionally recognized as a prominent herbal medicine in Far East Asia. There are two types of processed ginseng, white and red ginseng, based on processing methods, and these play a significant role in modifying ginsenosides, which are the major bioactive metabolites in these products. Herein we purify and characterize a new ginsenoside, 20(R)-ginsenoside Rf, utilizing NMR, UPLC-ESI-Q-TOF-MS and validate the metabolite is generated from its epimer, 20(S)-ginsenoside Rf during the steaming process to manufacture red ginseng. We further propose a relevant mechanism for the chemical conversion. This finding updates chemical profiling of ginseng products that can be employed in quality assurance and authentication.     

Authentication of traditional Chinese medicine using infrared spectroscopy: distinguishing between ginseng and its morphological fakes

The quality of pharmaceutical products such as ginseng is important for ensuring consumer safety and efficacy. Ginseng is an expensive herb, and adulteration with other cheaper products may occur. Quality assurance of ginseng is needed since many of its commercial products now come in various formulations such as capsules, powder, softgels and tea. Thus traditional means of authentication via smell, taste or physical appearance are hardly reliable. Herbs like ginseng tend to exhibit characteristic infrared fingerprints due to their different chemical constituents. Here we report for the first time a rapid means of distinguishing American and Asian ginsengs from two morphological fakes – sawdust and Platycodon grandiflorum, via pattern differences and principal component analysis of their infrared spectra. Our results show that ginseng can be distinguished from both sawdust and Platycodon grandiflorum, hence there is a potential of using infrared spectroscopy as a novel analytical technique in the authentication of ginseng.     

Ginseng for Health Care: A Systematic Review of Randomized Controlled Trials in Korean Literature

Objective

This systematic review was performed to summarise randomised clinical trials (RCTs) assessing the efficacy and safety of ginseng in the Korean literature.

Method

The study involved systematic searches conducted in eight Korean Medical databases. The methodological quality of all of the included studies was assessed using the Cochrane Risk of Bias tool. We included all RCTs on any type of ginseng compared to placebo, active treatment or no treatment in healthy individuals or patients regardless of conditions.

Results

In total, 1415 potentially relevant studies were identified, and 30 randomised clinical trials were included. Nine RCTs assessed the effects of ginseng on exercise capacity, cognitive performance, somatic symptoms, quality of life, and sleeping in healthy persons. Six RCTs tested ginseng compared with placebo for erectile dysfunction, while another four studies evaluated the effects of ginseng against no treatment for gastric and colon cancer. Two RCTs compared the effect of red ginseng on diabetes mellitus with no treatment or placebo, and the other nine RCTs assessed the effects of ginseng compared with placebo or no treatment on various conditions. The methodological caveats of the included trials make their contribution to the current clinical evidence of ginseng somewhat limited. However, the 20 newly added trials (66.7% of the 30 trials) may provide useful information for future trials. Ginseng appears to be generally safe, and no serious adverse effects have been reported.

Conclusions

The clinical effects of ginseng have been tested in a wide range of conditions in Korea. Although the quality of RCTs published in the Korean literature was generally poor, this review is useful for researchers to access studies that were originally published in languages that they would otherwise be unable to read and due to the paucity of evidence on this subject.     

人参茎叶提取物对刺参生长、免疫及抗病力的影响

以初始体重为(4.910.17) g的刺参(Apostichopus japonicas)为研究对象,研究投喂不同剂量人参茎叶提取物对刺参生长、免疫及抗病力的影响,探讨人参茎叶提取物在刺参养殖中的应用。在每千克基础饲料中分别添加10、20、40和80 g人参茎叶提取物作为实验组,并以基础饲料为对照进行为期30d的饲喂养殖。结果显示,投喂人参茎叶提取物对刺参的生长并无显著影响,刺参特定生长率不随人参茎叶提取物添加量的增加而提高。当人参茎叶提取物添加量为80 g/kg时,刺参体腔细胞总数、呼吸暴发强度、细胞吞噬活性、超氧化物歧化酶活力、总一氧化氮合酶活力均显著高于对照组(P0.05);当人参茎叶提取物添加量为40 g/kg时,细胞吞噬活性也显著高于对照组(P0.05),但其余免疫指标与对照组相比无显著差异(P0.05);当人参茎叶提取物的添加量不大于20 g/kg时,各项免疫指标与对照组之间均无显著差异(P0.05)。攻毒实验表明, 20、40和80 g/kg人参茎叶提取物组的健康率要高于对照组,其中80 g/kg人参茎叶提取物组健康率为80.56%要显著高于对照组和10 g/kg人参茎叶提取物组(P0.05)。人参茎叶提取物可作为免疫增强剂应用于刺参的养殖中来提高刺参的免疫和抗病能力。       

高光效膜对人参生态的影响

1 引言 人参属五加科多年生草本药用植物,耐阴、喜生针阔混交林或杂木下,在强光照射下会发生日灼病,为避免这种伤害,长期以来,人们模拟野生参的生长环境,创造了全阴棚人参栽培法,挡住了中午强光的直射,但影响了透光量,从而影响到产量。近年来,随着人参栽培技术的进步,改全阴棚为透光棚,但并未根本解决问题。本文试图通过对人参生态的研究,进行人参栽培技术改革,从而提高了人参的产量与质量。     

In vivo effects of Panax ginseng extracts on the cytochrome P450-dependent monooxygenase system in the liver of 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin-exposed guinea pig

The effects of the subchronic administration of Panax ginseng extracts were examined on the hepatic cytochrome P450-dependent monooxygenase system of guinea pigs pre-exposed to 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD). Panax ginseng extracts were intraperitoneally administered to guinea pigs at 100 mg/kg/day for 14 days from 1 week after a single intraperitoneal injection of 1 microg of TCDD/kg of body weight. TCDD treatment increased the total cytochrome P450 content 2.86-fold, and this was remarkably inhibited by the administration of Panax ginseng extracts. Treatment with ginseng extract alone also decreased the contents of cytochrome P450 by 33%, but both TCDD and ginseng extracts had no effect on cytochrome b(5) content. The administration of TCDD resulted in a 1.73-fold increase in microsomal NADPH-cytochrome P450 reductase activity in the guinea pig liver, and this was significantly inhibited by ginseng extracts, but treatment with ginseng extracts alone had no effect on its activity, and no statistical changes in the activity of NADPH-cytochrome b(5) reductase were observed in guinea pig liver due to TCDD and/or ginseng extract administration. Compared to the control, ECOD activity remarkably (1.76-fold) increased after TCDD administration, but this increase was completely inhibited by treatment with ginseng extract. Treatment with ginseng extract alone resulted in a 50% reduction of ECOD activity. TCDD administration remarkably induced benzphetamine demethylation (BPDM) activity, while ginseng extract also slightly increased the enzyme's activity, but the induction attributed to ginseng extracts was not statistically significant. Even though administration of ginseng extracts slightly inhibited TCDD-induced BPDM activity, the inhibition was not statistically significant. These results indicate that ginseng extract exerts different effect on the induction of P450 isozymes. From these results, we suggest that Panax ginseng extracts may act as an inhibitor of CYP1A rather than that of CYP2B.     

The influence of lead and arsenite on the inhibition of human breast cancer MCF-7 cell proliferation by American ginseng root (Panax quinquefolius L.)

American ginseng root (Panax quinquefolius) has a number of purported therapeutic effects, including inhibition of cancer cell proliferation. The ability of environmentally relevant heavy metals to alter ginseng effects on cancer cell growth was the subject of this study. A water extract of American ginseng root was applied alone or in combination with physiologically relevant doses of either lead (Pb) or arsenite to MCF-7 breast cancer cells in vitro and effects on cell proliferation were determined. Ginseng alone produced a significant dose-dependent inhibition of MCF-7 cell proliferation starting at 0.5 mg ml(-1). Treatment of MCF-7 cells with 2.5 microM arsenite significantly decreased MCF-7 cell proliferation (p < 0.01). When cells were treated with arsenite (1.25 or 2.5 microM) in combination with ginseng extract (0.5 mg ml(-1)), there was an apparent synergistic inhibition of cell proliferation. Treatment of MCF-7 breast cancer cells with 50 microM Pb significantly decreased cell proliferation relative to control (p < 0.01), and concomitant ginseng and Pb treatment did not lead to a further decrease. These results suggest that contaminant heavy metals, some of which have been detected in ginseng root extracts or commercial ginseng preparations, may alter the biological activity of ginseng.     

Ginsenosides: prospective for sustainable biotechnological production

Panax ginseng C.A. Meyer (ginseng) is a well-known medicinal plant that has been traditionally used in the oriental countries for centuries. Wild ginseng is a scarce and rare commodity. Field cultivation of the ginseng plant is a time-consuming and labor-intensive process. Ginsenosides, a group of glycosylated triterpenes, also known as saponins, are the principal bioactive constituents of ginseng. The use of cell and organ culture processes has been sought as a potential alternative for the efficient mass production of ginseng raw material. Various bioprocessing strategies have been developed to date. Cells and adventitious roots have been cultured in large-scale bioreactors and various strategies have been developed accordingly for the enhancement of biomass and ginsenoside accumulation. This review highlights the recent progress in the cultivation of ginseng cell and organ cultures for the production of ginsenosides from bioreactor cultures. In addition, the metabolism and biochemistry of ginsenoside biosynthesis, genomic and proteomic studies in ginseng, metabolic engineering, biosafety, toxicological evaluation, and efficacy assessment of ginseng raw material are also summarized and thoroughly discussed.     

Characterization of RNase-like major storage protein from the ginseng root by proteomic approach

The most abundant root proteins of ginseng (Panax ginseng) have been detected and identified by comparative proteome analysis with cultured hairy root of ginseng. Four abundant proteins (28, 26, 21 and 20 kDa) of P. ginseng had isoforms with different pl values on two-dimensional gel electrophoresis (2DE). The results of N-terminal and internal amino acid sequencing, however, showed that all of them originate from a 28 kDa protein, known as ginseng major protein (GMP). The GMP gene was searched for in the expressed sequence tag database of P. ginseng and found to encode a 27.3 kDa protein having 238 amino acid residues. Analysis of the amino acid sequences indicates that GMP exhibits high sequence homology with plant RNases and RNase-like proteins. However, purified GMP had no RNase activity even though it has conserved amino acid residues known to be essential for active sites of RNase. The GMPs present in ginseng main root were not expressed in cultured hairy roots of ginseng. 2DE analysis showed that the amounts of GMPs in main roots change according to seasonal fluctuation. These results suggest that the GMPs are root-specific RNase-like proteins, which function as vegetative storage proteins of ginseng for survival in the natural environment.     

Mycotoxins in root extracts of American and Asian ginseng bind estrogen receptors alpha and beta

The estrogenic activity of ginseng has been the subject of conflicting reports. Cell proliferation, induction of estrogen-responsive genes, and isolated cases of adverse reactions such as postmenopausal vaginal bleeding and gynecomastia have been reported after ginseng treatment. Other studies report antiproliferative effects with no induction of estrogen-responsive genes. We developed estrogen receptor (ER) alpha and ER alpha competitive binding assays using recombinant receptors and [(3)H]-17 alpha-estradiol to detect phytoestrogens in extracts of Asian ginseng root (Panax ginseng C. A. Meyer) and American ginseng root (Panax quinquefolius L.). Root extracts contained substances that bound both receptor isoforms. These substances had a two to three times greater affinity for ER alpha. Significantly higher binding was found in methanol extracts than in hot water extracts. Subsequent analysis of the extracts revealed significant ER binding attributable to zearalenone, the estrogenic mycotoxin produced by several Fusarium species. The ER showed no binding affinity for Rb1 and Rg1, the major ginsenosides found in P. quinquefolius and P. ginseng, respectively. Thus, ginseng extraction methods, plant species tested, and mycotoxin contaminants may help to explain the disparate literature reports. The prevalence and health significance of fungal contamination in herbal products used for medicinal purposes should be further investigated.     

Fungal sensitivity to and enzymatic deglycosylation of ginsenosides

A ginseng pathogen, Cylindrocarpon destructans, and five nonpathogens were tested for their sensitivity to a total ginsenoside fraction (T-GF), a protopanaxadiol-type ginsenoside fraction (PPD-GF) and a protopanaxatriol-type ginsenoside fraction (PPT-GF) from the roots of Panax ginseng C.A. Meyer. The results showed that T-GF inhibited growth of the five ginseng nonpathogens, while it promoted growth of the ginseng pathogen C. destructans. PPT-GF and PPD-GF both inhibited the growth of the five ginseng nonpathogens, although the activity of PPT-GF was higher than that of PPD-GF. PPT-GF and PPD-GF exhibited different activities on C. destructans: PPT-GF inhibited its growth, whereas PPD-GF significantly enhanced its growth. The subsequent analysis of enzymatic degradation of ginsenosides by the test fungi showed that C. destructans can consecutively hydrolyze the terminal monosaccharide units from the sugar chains attached at C3 and C20 in PPD-type ginsenosides by extracellular glycosidase activity to yield four major products, gypenoside XVII (G-XVII), compound O, compound Mb and the ginsenoside F₂. By contrast, the ginseng nonpathogens Aspergillus nidulans and Cladosporium fulvum have no extracellular glycosidase activity toward sugar chains attached to C3 in PPD-type ginsenosides. These results indicated that ginsenosides might act as host chemical defenses, while the ginseng root pathogenic fungi might counter their toxicity by converting PPD-type ginsenosides into growth or host recognition factors. The ability of ginseng root pathogens to deglycosylate PPD-type ginsenosides may be a pathogenicity factor.     

Ginseng reduces the micronuclei yield in lymphocytes after irradiation

To assess the effect of Chinese ginseng in modifying the radiation-induced micronuclei (MN) yield in human G(o) peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBL), we conducted the cytokinesis-blocked (CB) MN assay in blood samples obtained from healthy volunteers (n=4). Before (137)Cs ex vivo irradiation, mononuclear cell cultures from each sample were incubated 24 h with different concentrations (0-2000 microg ml(-1)) of crude water extract of ginseng dry root. We found that (1) at 0 Gy and without the presence of ginseng, MN yield (mean+/-S.E.M.) was 11.7+/-2.7 per 1000 binucleated (BN) cells. Different concentrations of ginseng crude water extract did not affect the MN yields and the proliferative activity of PBL; (2) after 1 and 2 Gy exposure, radiation alone sharply increased the MN yields, respectively, to 119.6+/-17.4 and 340.5+/-20.9 per 1000 BN cells. However, treatment with ginseng for 24 h before radiation exposure, resulted in a significant linear decline of MN yields as ginseng concentration increases. Compared to radiation alone, the extent to which ginseng water extract reduced the MN yields induced by 1 Gy exposure was 46.0% at 1500 microg ml(-1) and 61.5% at 2000 microg ml(-1), and with 2 Gy exposure, it was 38.6% at 1500 microg ml(-1) and 46.5% at 2000 microg ml(-1); (3) MN data suggested a tendency for overdispersion relative to the Poisson model; and (4) over the different levels of ginseng concentrations, the trend in micronucleated BN index was as similar as that of the MN yields. These results indicated that (1) ginseng crude water extract exerts no apparent cytogentic effect on human PBL at concentrations up to 2000 microg ml(-1) as evaluated by the CBMN assay; and (2) the protection of ginseng water extract against (137)Cs-induced MN in human PBL is concentration-dependence. Therefore, our findings indicated that ginseng may have therapeutic value as a possible radioprotector for normal tissue during radiotherapy of cancer patients.     

Linking biological activity with herbal constituents by systems biology-based approaches: effects of Panax ginseng in type 2 diabetic Goto-Kakizaki rats

Although a number of animal experiments and clinical trials have investigated the effects of ginseng roots on diabetes, the relationship between their therapeutic effects on diabetes and the quality and the growth age of this herb have not yet been reported. This study systematically investigated the effects of 3- to 6-year-old ginseng roots on glycemic and plasma lipid control in a rat model of type 2 diabetes. Six groups of male Goto-Kakizaki (GK) rats received either metformin, 3- to 6-year-old ginseng roots, or no treatment. The treatments were administered twice daily for 9 weeks. A combined approach was used that involved applying liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry-based lipidomics, measuring biochemical parameters and profiling the components of ginseng roots of different ages. Compared to the untreated controls, treatment with 4- and 6-year-old ginseng roots significantly improved glucose disposal, and 5-year-old ginseng treatment significantly increased high density lipoprotein cholesterol. Treatment with 6-year-old ginseng significantly decreased total plasma triacylglyceride (TG) and very-low-density lipoprotein cholesterol and improved plasma glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c). In addition, treatment with 4- to 6-year-old ginseng influenced plasma lipidomics in diabetic GK rats by reducing TG lipid species. Metformin significantly reduced fasting blood glucose by 41% and reduced HbA1c by 11%, but showed no effects on the plasma lipid parameters. The present study demonstrates that ginseng roots show growth age-dependent therapeutic effects on hyperlipidemia and hyperglycemia in diabetic GK rats. These age-dependent effects may be linked with the variation in both the ratios and concentrations of specific bioactive ginsenosides in ginseng roots of different growth ages. This study introduced novel systems biology-based approaches for linking biological activities with potential active components in herbal mixtures.     

A phase I clinical study of Andrographis paniculata fixed combination Kan Jang versus ginseng and valerian on the semen quality of healthy male subjects.

The safety of different doses of Kan Jang--a fixed combination of Andrographis paniculata special extract (SHA-10) and Acanthopanax senticosus--compared to two extensively used medicinal plants, Valeriana officinalis and Panax ginseng in the form of standardized extracts, has been examined. A phase I clinical study was designed to evaluate the effect on semen quality of healthy males in terms of spermatogenesis and quality of semen. The results of the study revealed no significant negative effect of Kan Jang on male semen quality and fertility, but rather a positive trend with respect to the number of spermatozoids in the whole ejaculate, the percentage of active (normokinetic) forms of spermatozoids, and fertility indexes, together with a decrease in the percentage of inactive (diskinetic) forms of spermatozoids. In the group receiving ginseng, no significant negative effects on the fertility parameters were revealed and there was a clear decrease in the percentage of diskinetic forms of spermatozoids. Subjects receiving valerian showed a temporary increase in the percentage of normokinetic spermatozoids and a decrease in diskinetic forms, but these changes had no effect on fertility indices. The results indicate that Kan Jang, ginseng and valerian are safe with respect to effects on human male sterility when administered at dose levels corresponding to approximately 3 times the human daily dose.     

Analysis of wood thrush (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Hylocichla mustelina</Emphasis>) movement patterns to explain the spatial structure of American ginseng (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Panax quinquefolius</Emphasis>) populations

American ginseng (Panax quinquefolius) is America’s premier wild-harvested, medicinal plant that inhabits the forest understory of eastern deciduous forests. Recent research revealed that birds, particularly wood thrushes (Hylocichla mustelina), disperse ginseng seeds by regurgitating viable seeds 15–37 min after consuming the berries. We carried out two studies to examine the potential effect of thrushes on spatial dispersion patterns of ginseng. First, to analyze how far wood thrushes could disperse seeds, two wood thrushes were outfitted with radio transmitters and tracked for multiple days. Second, for 28 natural populations of ginseng, we created a clustering index to quantify to what degree populations were structured into spatially separated units. To further detect spatial impacts of thrushes, we analyzed inter-cluster distances and the overall spread of ginseng populations. Over the time period in which wood thrushes retain ginseng in their guts, the seeds would be dispersed a mean distance of 15.2–21.7 m. The observed distances ranged from 0–96.6 m. These distances were comparable to the overall spread metric for ginseng populations with wood thrushes, which had increased spacing in comparison to those without wood thrushes. The mean dispersion index differed for populations with and without wood thrushes. It is imperative to understand the interaction between wood thrushes and ginseng to facilitate conservation, as both species are experiencing population declines. Dispersal of seeds by wood thrushes could play an important role in allowing species such as ginseng to respond to climate change, deer browse, overharvesting, and other environmental stresses.     

辽东山区林参复合经营土壤质量评价

林参复合经营是辽东山区典型的林下经济模式之一,而林下参的生长对于环境条件要求很高,其中,土壤质量是制约人参生长的重要因素之一,并对人参产业的健康发展至关重要。目前,阔叶混交林、针阔混交林和蒙古栎纯林是辽东山区广泛分布的林参复合经营林分类型,选择3种林分下立地特征相似、人参种植年限不同的样地,测定土壤物理、化学和生物学因子共25项指标,采用方差分析、主成分分析、相关分析等统计学方法和专家经验法构建了林参复合经营土壤质量评价最小数据集(MDS),并利用模糊数学法对不同样地土壤质量进行了定量评价。结果表明,研究区林参复合经营土壤质量评价最小数据集包括容重、pH、有机质、速效K、全Zn、微生物量N、酸性磷酸酶和细菌共8项指标。此外,土壤质量值由高到低依次为针阔混交林对照样地(0.764)蒙古栎纯林对照样地(0.745)针阔混交林14a人参样地(0.614)蒙古栎纯林20a人参样地(0.385)阔叶混交林12a人参样地(0.361)阔叶混交林对照样地(0.354)阔叶混交林6a人参样地(0.323)阔叶混交林9a人参样地(0.308)阔叶混交林3a人参样地(0.230),说明林分类型特征和人参种植年限对土壤质量会产生不同程度影响。今后,在辽东山区林参复合经营发展过程中,可以该最小数据集为基础,充分考虑土壤质量状况,并适当进行管理,以保障人参健康生长,促进人参产业可持续发展。     

Research Progress on Anti-Inflammatory Mechanisms of Black Ginseng

In recent years, black ginseng, a new type of processed ginseng product, has attracted the attention of scholars globally. Ginsenoside and ginseng polysaccharide, the main active substances of black ginseng, have been shown to carry curative effects for many diseases. This article focuses on the mechanism of their action in anti-inflammatory response, which is mainly divided into three aspects: activation of immune cells to exert immune regulatory response; participation in inflammatory response-related pathways and regulation of the expression level of inflammatory factors; effect on the metabolic activity of intestinal flora. This study identifies active anti-inflammatory components and an action mechanism of black ginseng showing multi-component, multi-target, and multi-channel characteristics, providing ideas and a basis for a follow-up in-depth study of its specific mechanism.     

Quantitative Comparison of Ginsenosides and Polyacetylenes in Wild and Cultivated American Ginseng

Quantitative comparison of seven ginsenosides in wild and cultivated American ginseng revealed that the Rg₁/Rd ratio presented a significantly large difference between cultivated and type‐I (one of the defined chemotypes) wild American ginseng, facilitating this ratio as a characteristic marker for differentiating these two groups. Similarly, the ratio (Rg₁+Re)/Rd, and the ratio of protopanaxatriol (PPT)‐type ginsenosides to protopanaxadiol (PPD)‐type ginsenosides showed a large difference between these two groups. On the other hand, type‐II wild samples were found to have high Rg₁/Rb₁ and Rg₁/Re ratios and low panaxydol/panaxynol ratio, which is entirely different from Type‐I American ginseng, but is very similar to that of Asian ginseng. This not only suggests that the chemotype should be taken into consideration properly when using these parameters for differentiating American and Asian ginseng, but also indicates that type‐II wild American ginseng may have distinct pharmacological activities and therapeutic effects.     

Stimulation of Rg3 ginsenoside biosynthesis in ginseng hairy roots elicited by methyl jasmonate

It has been recognized that ginsenoside Rg3 is not naturally produced in ginseng although this ginsenoside can accumulate in red ginseng as the result of a thermal process. In order to determine whether or not Rg3 is synthesized in ginseng, hairy roots were treated with methyl jasmonate (MJ). From HPLC analysis, no peak for Rg3 was observed in the controls. However, Rg3 did accumulate in hairy roots that were MJ-treated for 7?days. Rg3 content was 0.42?mg/g (dry weight). To gain more insight into the effects of MJ on UDP-glucosyltransferase (UGT) activity, we attempted to evaluate ginsenoside Rg3 biosynthesis by UGT. A new peak for putative Rg3 was observed, which was confirmed by LC-MS/MS analysis. Our findings indicate that the proteins extracted from our hairy root lines can catalyze Rg3 from Rh2. This suggests that our ginseng hairy root lines possess Rg3 biosynthesis capacity.