A leaf cuticle has different structures and functions in barrier for water loss and in protection from various environmental stresses.

This study was conducted to evaluate the anti-cancer activity of Fine Black ginseng (Panax ginseng Meyer, FBG BF) and its main component, Rg5, in MCF-7 (HER2-/ER+) breast cancer cells. Cell viability was determined by MTT assay. Action mechanisms were performed by cell cycle assay, Annexin V apoptosis assay and western blot analysis. FBG BF showed cytotoxicity in breast cancer cells in a dose-dependent manner. MTT assay showed that MCF-7 and MDA-MB-453 cell proliferations were inhibited by Rg5 treatment for 24, 48 and 72 hr in a dose-dependent manner.

Abstract: Background: Alcoholic steatosis is the early and most common liver disease, and may precede the onset of more severe forms of liver injury.Methods: Here, we tested the effect of Korean Red Ginseng extract (RGE) in two murine models of ethanol (EtOH)-feeding and ethanol-treated hepatocytes.Results and Conclusion: Blood biochemistry analysis demonstrated that RGE treatment improved liver function. Histopathology and measurement of hepatic triglyceride content verified the ability of RGE to inhibit fat accumulation. Consistent with this, RGE administration down-regulated hepatic lipogenic gene induction and restored hepatic lipolytic gene repression by EtOH. The role of oxidative stress in the pathogenesis of alcoholic liver diseases (ALD) is well established. Treatment with RGE attenuated EtOH-induced CYP2E1, 4-hydroxynonenal and nitrotyrosine levels. Alcohol consumption also decreased phosphorylation of AMPK, which was restored by RGE. Moreover, RGE markedly inhibited fat accumulation in EtOH-treated hepatocytes, which correlated with a decrease in SREBP-1 and a commensurate increase in Sirt1 and PPARα expression. Interestingly, the ginsenosides Rb2 and Rd, but not Rb1, significantly inhibited fat accumulation in hepatocytes. These results demonstrate that RGE and its ginsenoside components inhibit alcoholic steatosis and liver injury by AMPK/Sirt1 activation in vivo and in vitro both, suggesting that RGE may have a potential to treat ALD.

Abstract: Background: In Changbai Mountains, Panax ginseng (ginseng) was cultivated in a mixture of the humus and albic horizons of albic luvisol in raised garden with plastic shade. This study aimed to evaluate the impact of ginseng planting on soil characteristics.Methods: The mixed-bed soils were seasonally collected at intervals of 0-5, 5-10 and 10-15 cm for different-aged ginsengs. Soil physico-chemical characteristics were studied using general methods. Aluminium (Al) was extracted from the soil solids with NH4Cl (exchangeable Al, Ex-Al3+) and Na-pyrophosphate (organic Al, Alp) and was measured with an atomic absorption spectrophotometer.Results: A remarkable decrease in the pH, concentrations of exchangeable calcium (Ex-Ca2+), NH4+, total organic carbon (TOC) and Alp, as well as a pronounced increase in the bulk density were observed in the different-aged ginseng soils from one spring to the next. The decrease in pH in the ginseng soils was positively correlated with the NH4+ (r=0.463, p

Abstract: Background: Sun ginseng (SG), a specific formulation of quality-controlled red ginseng contains approximately equal amounts of three major ginsenosides (RK1, Rg3, and Rg5), which reported has anti-tumor promoting activities in animal models.Method: MTT assay was employed to assess whether SG can potentiate the anticancer activity of epirubicin or paclitaxel in human cervical adenocarcinoma HeLa cells, human colon cancer SW111C cells, and SW480 cells; Apoptosis status was analyzed by Annexin V-FITC and PI and analyzed by flow cytometry; Apoptosis pathway was studied by analysis of caspas-3, -8, and -9 activation, mitochondrial accumulation of Bax and Bak, and cytochrome c release.Results: SG remarkably enhances cancer cell death induced by epirubicin or paclitaxel in human cervical adenocarcinoma HeLa cells, human colon cancer SW111C cells, and SW480 cells. Results of the mechanism study highlighted the cooperation between SG and epirubicin or paclitaxel in activating caspases-3 and -9 but not caspase-8. Moreover, SG significantly increased the mitochondrial accumulation of both Bax and Bak triggered by epirubicin or paclitaxel as well as the subsequent release of cytochrome c in the targeted cells.Conclusions: SG significantly potentiated the anticancer activities of epirubicin and paclitaxel in a synergistic manner. These effects were associated with the increased mitochondrial accumulation of both Bax and Bak that led to an enhanced cytochrome c release, caspase-9/-3 activation, and apoptosis. Treating cancer cells by combining epirubicin and paclitaxel with SG may prove to be a novel strategy for enhancing the efficacy of the two drug types.