Korean Red Ginseng (KRG) is an ethnopharmacological plant that is traditionally used to improve the body’s immune functions and ameliorate the symptoms of various diseases. However, the anti-tumorigenic effects of KRG and its underlying molecular and cellular mechanisms are not fully understood in terms of its individual components. In this study, in vitro and in vivo anti-tumorigenic activities of KRG were explored in water extract (WE), saponin fraction (SF), and non-saponin fraction (NSF).

Chronic liver disease (CLD), one of the most common diseases, typically arises from non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), alcoholic liver disease, chronic viral hepatitis, or hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Therefore, there is a pressing need for improved treatment strategies. Korean red ginseng (KRG) has been known to have positive effects on liver disease and liver function. In this paper, we summarize the current knowledge on the beneficial effects of KRG on CLD, a condition encompassing NAFLD, alcoholic liver disease, chronic viral hepatitis, and HCC, as supported by experimental evaluation and clinical investigation.

AD-2 (20(R)-dammarane-3b, 12b, 20, 25-tetrol; 25-OH-PPD) is a ginsenoside and isolated from P. ginseng, showing anticancer activity against extensive human cancer cell lines. In this study, effects and mechanisms of 1C ((20R)-3b-O-(L-alanyl)-dammarane-12b, 20, 25-triol), a modified version of AD-2, were evaluated for its development as a novel anticancer drug.

Saponins from Panax japonicus (SPJ) are the most abundant and main active components of Panax japonicus, which replaces Ginseng roots in treatment for many kinds of diseases in minority ethnic group in China. Our previous studies have demonstrated that SPJ has the effects of anti-inflammation through MAPK and NF-κB signaling pathway. The present study was designed to investigate whether SPJ can modulate intestine TJ barrier in aging rats and further to explore the potential mechanism.

Ginsenosides have been reported with many health benefits, including anti-inflammatory effects and the resolution of inflammation is now considered to be an active process driven by M2 type macrophages. In order to determine whether ginsenosides modulate macrophage phenotypes to reduce inflammation, 11 ginsenosides were studied with respect to macrophage polarization and the resolution of inflammation.

Ginsenoside F1 has been described to possess skin whitening effects on human. 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.

Ginseng contains many small metabolites such as amino acids, fatty acids, and carbohydrates as well as ginsenosides. However, little is known about the relationships between microorganisms and metabolites during the entire ginseng fermentation process. We investigate metabolic changes during ginseng fermentation according to the inoculation of food-compatible microorganisms.

Recently, we identified a novel ginseng-derived lysophosphatidic acid (LPA) receptor ligand, called gintonin. We showed that gintonin induces [Ca2+]i transient-mediated morphological changes, proliferation, and migration in cells expressing LPA receptors and that oral administration of gintonin exhibits anti-Alzheimer’s disease effects in model mice. However, little is known about the intestinal absorption of gintonin. The aim of this study was to investigate gintonin absorption using two model systems.

A number of reports have described the protective effects of ginsenoside Rg1 (Rg1) in Alzheimer’s disease (AD). However, the protective mechanisms of Rg1 in AD remain elusive.

Panax ginseng Meyer has been cultivated because of its medicinal effects on immune system, blood pressure, and cancer. Major ginsenosides in fresh ginseng are converted to minor ginsenosides by structural changes such as hydrolysis and dehydration. The transformed ginsenosides are generally more bioavailable and bioactive than the primary ginsenosides. In this study, therefore, hydrothermal processing was applied to ginseng preparation to increase the yields of the transformed ginsenosides, such as 20(S)-Rg3, Rk1, and Rg5, and enhance antioxidant activities in an effective way.