Regenerative ability of somatic single and multiple embryos from cotyledons of Korean ginseng on hormone-free medium

Cotyledon explants of Korean ginseng (Panax ginseng C. A. Meyer) produced somatic embryos directly on growth regulator-free medium. Somatic embryos developed as either multiple or single-state forms, depending on the degree of maturity of the cotyledons. Cotyledon explants from midmature zygotic embryos formed multiple embryos, while cotyledons from fully mature zygotic embryos formed single embryos. Somatic single embryos regenerated into normal plantlets with both roots and shoots, while multiple embryos did not produce roots but regenerated only into multiple shoots. In full-strength MS basal medium, the root growth of plantlets derived from single embryos was weak compared to that of shoots. Deletion of ammonium nitrate from the MS medium promoted the root growth of the plantlets. The ginseng plants with well-developed shoots and roots regenerated from single embryos were successfully acclimatized in a greenhouse when they were planted in soil. Received: 19 July 1997 / Revision received: 6 October 1997 / Accepted: 3 October 1997     

白粉菌属一新种

报道了寄生在人参（ＰａｎａｘｇｉｎｓｅｎｇＭｅｙｅｒ）上的白粉菌属一新种：人参白粉菌（ＥｒｙｓｉｐｈｅｐａｎａｃｉｓＲ．Ｌ．Ｂａｉ．ｅｔＷ．Ｃ．Ｌｉｕｓｐ．ｎｏｖ．）,此为白粉菌有性型在五加科（Ａｒａｌｉ ａｃｅａｅ）植物上寄生的首次记载。模式标本存放在解放军农牧大学真菌标本室     

Effect of plant growth regulators on growth and biosynthesis of phenolic compounds in genetically transformed hairy roots of<Emphasis Type="Italic">Panax ginseng</Emphasis> C. A. Meyer

In this study, morphological alterations, biomass growth, and secondary metabolite production of genetically transformed hairy roots ofPanax ginseng C. A. Meyer, were evaluated after administration of plant growth regulators. The addition of benzylamino purine and kinetin to the culture media increased biomass formation and phenolic compound biosynthesis in the hairy roots. α-Naphthaleneacetic acid and indole-3-butyric acid inhibited hairy root growth, however, low concentrations of indole-3-acetic acid slightly increased hairy root growth. Low concentrations of 2,4-Dichlorophenoxyacetic acid profoundly inhibited growth of hairy roots. The addition of plant growth regulators, such as auxin, did not increase total phenolic compounds in hairy roots that did not contain gibberellic acid and cytokinins. Callus formation was induced in cultures suspended in liquid medium amended with benzylamino purine and kinetin. Hairy roots regenerated from these calluses exhibited an active growth pattern with extensive lateral branching in non-amended medium, similar to the growth pattern of the original hairy roots.     

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.     

American ginseng (Panax quinquefolius) prevents glucose-induced oxidative stress and associated endothelial abnormalities

Purpose

Ginseng (Araliaceae), demonstrates widespread biological effects because of its purported antioxidant and other properties. The present study was undertaken to investigate the effects of American ginseng root extract on glucose-induced oxidative stress and associated oxidative damage to human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs).

Methods

Following pretreatment with various concentrations of ginseng (alcoholic extract), HUVECs were incubated with various concentrations of d-glucose ranging from 5 to 25 mmol/l for 24 h. l-Glucose was used at a concentration of 25 mmol/l as a control.

Results

Glucose-induced oxidative stress detected by intracellular reactive oxygen species accumulation, superoxide anion generation and DNA damage in HUVECs were significantly prevented by ginseng. Treatment of HUVECs with ginseng further led to significant prevention of glucose-induced NF-κB activation. Glucose-induced increase in fibronectin (FN), EDB⁺FN (a splice variant of FN), endothelin-1 (ET-1) and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) mRNAs and protein levels were also prevented by ginseng treatment.

Conclusion

These data indicate that American ginseng prevented glucose-induced damage in the HUVECs through its antioxidant properties.     

小型生物反应器内人参不定根的人参皂苷累积

对小型生物反应器(3~10 L)培养人参不定根的生长和人参皂苷(Rg1、Re、Rb1)的累积规律,以及蔗糖浓度、初始接种量对其生长和人参皂苷累积的影响进行研究。结果表明:小型生物反应器内人参不定根的最佳收获周期为7周。初始接种量和蔗糖浓度影响生物反应器内人参不定根的生长和人参皂苷的累积,20或40 g/L蔗糖对人参不定根的生长和人参皂苷的累积优于60 g/L蔗糖;5和10 L生物反应器内最佳初始接种量分别为15和30g,其不定根的生长量分别为9.29和19.17 g,人参皂苷含量分别为5.16和4.58 mg/g。生物反应器内培养7周的人参与栽培4年的人参相比,人参皂苷Rg1和Re含量相差不大,但栽培人参中Rb1的含量远高于生物反应器中所培养的人参不定根。     

Adventitious root growth and ginsenoside accumulation in Panax ginseng cultures as affected by methyl jasmonate

Adventitious roots of ginseng were treated with methyl jasmonate (MJ) up to 150m and cultured for 40days. Up to 100m MJ inhibited the root growth but increase ginsenoside accumulation. In a two-stage bioreactor culture, total ginsenosides, after elicitation with 100 m MJ peaked after 10days at 48mgg^–1 dry wt and then dropped sharply. Of the two groups of ginsenosides (Rb and Rg), higher amounts of Rb accumulated in the adventitious roots.Revisions requested; 2 July 2004; Revisions received 30 June 2004; 3 September 2004     

Asian ginseng extract inhibits in vitro and in vivo growth of mouse lewis lung carcinoma via modulation of ERK‐p53 and NF‐κB signaling

Asian ginseng (AG) is the most commonly used medicinal herb in Asian countries. It is often prescribed for cancer patients as a complementary remedy. However, whether AG in fact benefits cancer patients remains unknown because some studies reported that AG facilitates tumor growth, which contradicts its usage as a dietary remedy to cancer patients. In addition, most of research works on ginseng for anti‐cancer were using single ginsenoside rather than whole root extracts used in clinics. Thus, intensive studies using the type of ginseng as its clinical form are necessary to validate its benefits to cancer patients. In this study, anti‐tumor potency and underlying molecular mechanisms of the ethanol extract of AG (EAG) were examined in mice with Lewis lung carcinoma (LLC‐1). We showed that EAG significantly suppressed tumor growth in LLC‐1‐bearing mice with concomitant down‐regulation of PCNA proliferative marker, and it exhibited specific cytotoxicity to cancer cells. EAG also induced MAPK and p53 signaling in LLC‐1 cells, which suppressed cyclin B–cdc2 complex and in turn induced G2–M arrest and apoptosis. Although EAG could activate NF‐κB signaling, the proteasome inhibitor of MG‐132 could effectively prevent NF‐κB targeted gene expression induced by EAG and then sensitize LLC‐1 cells to induce EAG‐mediated apoptosis. Collectively, EAG in a relatively high dose significantly suppressed tumor growth in LLC‐1‐bearing mice, indicating that AG may benefit lung cancer patients as a dietary supplement. This is the first report demonstrating possible combination of EAG with proteasome inhibitors could be a novel strategy in anti‐cancer treatment. J. Cell. Biochem. 111: 899–910, 2010. © 2010 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.     

Protection of Staphylococcus aureus-infected septic mice by suppression of early acute inflammation and enhanced antimicrobial activity by ginsan

Ginsan, an acidic polysaccharide prepared from Panax ginseng, demonstrated multiple immunomodulatory effects in previous studies. This study was conducted to elucidate the antiseptic mechanism induced by ginsan in mice infected with Staphylococcus aureus. When mice were treated with ginsan before the bacterial challenge with S. aureus, they were highly protected from sepsis-induced death. The numbers of S. aureus recovered from ginsan-treated mice were considerably lower than those recovered from nontreated mice. The in vivo depletion of monocytes/macrophages caused more S. aureus to be recovered from the bacteria-infected mice. Nevertheless, mice treated with both etoposide and ginsan were able to maintain an antibacterial activity. In addition, the phagocytic activity of ginsan-treated macrophage against S. aureus was considerably enhanced. The synthesis of inflammatory cytokines, such as tumor necrosis factor-alpha interleukin (IL)-1beta, IL-6, IFN-gamma, IL-12, IL-18 and interferon gamma, was significantly downregulated at the early phase of sepsis in mice that were treated with ginsan before the bacterial challenge. Expression of Toll-like receptors (TLRs), including TLR2, TLR4, and TLR9, as well as the adaptor molecule MyD88, was considerably reduced in peritoneal macrophages that were treated with ginsan before a subsequent contact with S. aureus. These data indicated that ginsan protected mice from S. aureus-induced sepsis through the suppression of acute inflammatory responses at an early phase and the enhancement of antimicrobial activities at subsequent phases of infection.     

The Effect of Growth Regulators on Quality Parameters and Ginsenosides Accumulation in Panax quinquefolium L. Roots

American ginseng (Panax quinquefolium L.) is a perennial medicinal herb originally grown in Canada and USA, and recently also in China, Australia, Holland and Poland. Several commercial preparations are produced from ginseng roots, that are known for their antifatigue, antitumor, antistress and immune system stimulating functions. The medicinal properties are due mainly to the active components – ginsenosides. In this work, the results of field cultivation experiments are presented that examine the effects of foliar application of several growth regulators on quality parameters and ginsenoside content of P. quinuefolium roots. The growth regulators tested, i.e., kinetin, daminozide, mixture of gibberellic acid (GA₃) with potassium salt of α-naphthalene acetic acid (kNAA) and new preparation – IPO-1 – benzimidazole derivative (obtained from the Institute of Organic Industry in Warsaw – at present during the process of patent), were applied at a concentration of 100 or 200 mg l⁻¹ in the middle of June in the 2nd year of vegetation. After 4 years of cultivation, the roots were dug up and dried, and subsequently the quantitative analysis of individual saponins (R_b1, R_b2, R_c, R_d, R_e, R_g1) by HPLC was performed. Growth regulators significantly affected quality parameters, morphological features and accumulation of individual and total ginsenosides in ginseng roots. Regardless of doses, the plant roots treated with growth regulators had a higher content of total ginsenosides in comparison to the control. The growth regulators also affected individual ginsenosides level and narrowed the ratio of R_b:R_g group. The application of kinetin, daminozide and benzimidazole derivative for foliar spray during 2nd year of American ginseng vegetation caused a significant increase in air dry weight of roots and aboveground parts whereas the mixture of GA₃ and kNAA showed a decreasing effect. An increase of roots size was observed using higher doses (200 mg l⁻¹) of kinetin and daminozide while a decreasing tendency appeared with the application of the other preparations.