Ginsenoside Re Enriched Fraction (GS-F3K1) from Ginseng Berries Ameliorates Ethanol-Induced Erectile Dysfunction via Nitric Oxide-cGMP Pathway

Erectile dysfunction (ED) is a highly prevalent disorder that affects millions of men and considered to be an early symptom of atherosclerosis and a precursor of various systemic vascular disorders. The aim of the present study was to prepare ginsenoside Re enriched fraction (GS-F3K1, ginsenoside Re 10%, w/w) from ginseng berries flesh and to investigate the enhanced activities of GS-F3K1 on alcohol-induced ED. GS-F3K1 was prepared by the continuous liquid and solid separating centrifugation and circulatory ultrafiltration from ginseng berries flesh. GS-F3K1 was administered for 5 weeks in ethanol-induced ED rat by oral administration of 20% ethanol. To investigate the effects of GS-F3K1 on ED model, the levels of nitrite expression, cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cGMP) and erectile response of the penile corpus cavernosum of rat were measured. The erectile response of the corpus cavernosum was restored after GS-F3K1 administration, to a level similar to the normal group. The level of nitrite and cGMP expression in the corpus cavernosum of GS-F3K1-administered male rats was increased significantly compared to positive control group. GS-F3K1 from ginseng berries should effectively restore ethanol-induced ED in male rats and could be developed as a new functional food for the elderly men.

First Report of Dieback Caused by Lasiodiplodia theobromae in Strawberry Plants in Korea

Dieback in strawberry (Seolhyang cultivar) was first observed during the nursery season (June to September) in the Nonsan area of Korea in the years 2012 and 2013. Initial disease symptoms included dieback on runners, as well as black rot on roots, followed by wilting and eventually blackened, necrotic discoloration in the crowns of daughter plants. A fungus isolated from the diseased roots, runners, and crowns is close to Lasiodiplodia theobromae based on morphological characteristics. Analysis of a combined dataset assembled from sequences of the internal transcribed spacer and translation elongation factor 1-alpha genes grouped nine fungal isolates with the type strain of L. theobromae. The isolates showed strong pathogenicity on strawberry cultivars Kumhyang, Seolhyang, and Akihimae, fulfilling Koch's postulates. Based on these results, the pathogen responsible for dieback on strawberry plants in Korea was identified as L. theobromae.

Effect of the Mixture of Pueraria lobata and Sorbus commixta Extract on the Alcohol-induced Hangover in Rats

Pueraiae Radix (PR), Pueratia Folium (PF) and Sorbus commixta (SC) mixture, namely GS-SP (PR (1)/PF (2)/SC (0.5): v/v/v) was developed as hangover-relieving elixir and its effects on alcoholic metabolism have been investigated. The enzymatic activity of alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH) and acetaldehyde dehydrogenase (ALDH) of GS-SP was shown higher than those of single treatment with PR, PL, SC, and the positive control group (YM-808). The survival rate of mouse liver cell line NCTC clone 1469 in the presence of acetaldehyde was 30.6, 22.2, and 8.7% at the GS-SP dosage level of 50, 100, and 200 microg/mL respectively. Different concentrations of 50, 100 and 200 mg/kg of GS-SP showed efficient activity for ADH and ALDH than YM-808 in rat fed with 25% ethanol. The levels of blood alcohol and acetaldehyde after oral administration of 200 mg/kg of GS-SP showed efficient activity of 11.7% and 37% than those of YM-808. These results have been supported to the potential for GS-SP to serve as an excellent potential in providing hangover relief and liver protection.

Anti-oxidant and Hepatoprotective Effect of White Ginsengs in H2O2-Treated HepG2 Cells

The antioxidant activity of white ginseng was not recorded in Korea Functional Food Code, while its activity of red ginsengs was recorded. The aim of this study was to evaluate the antioxidant and hepato protective effect of different ginsengs in H2O2-treated HepG2 cells. White and red ginseng were prepared from longitudinal section of the same fresh ginseng (4-year old). The whole parts of white and red ginsengs were separately extracted with 70% ethanol and distilled water respectively, at 70 degrees C to obtain therapeutic ginseng extracts namely, WDH (distilled water extract of white ginseng), WEH (70% ethanol extract of white ginseng), RDH (distilled water extract of red ginseng) and REH (70% ethanol extract of red ginseng). In this work, we have investigated the DPPH, hydroxyl radical, Fe2+-chelating activity, intracellular ROS scavenging capacity and lipid peroxidation of different ginsengs. All these extracts showed a dose dependent free-radical scavenging capacity and a ROS generation as well as lipid peroxidation was significantly reduced by treatment with bioactive extracts of white ginsengs (WDH) than red ginsengs. Additionally, white ginseng extracts (WDH) has dramatically increased intracellular antioxidant enzyme activities like superoxide dismutase and catalase in H2O2-treated HepG2 cells. All these results explain that administration of white ginseng is useful as herbal medicine than red ginseng for chemoprevention of liver damage.

Effects of pectin lyase-modified red ginseng extracts in high-fat diet-fed obese mice / 한국실험동물학회지

Red ginseng and its extracts have been used as traditional medicines and functional foods in countries worldwide. The aim of this study was to examine the bioavailability of pectin lyase-modified red ginseng extracts (GS-E3D), and the effects of GS-E3D on adipogenesis of 3T3-L1 adipocytes, as well as on metabolic disorders such as hyperglycemia, dyslipidemia, and fatty liver in high-fat diet fed obese C57BL/6 mice. Mice were divided into 5 groups: normal diet group, high fat diet-vehicle group, high fat diet + 0.1 g/kg GS-E3D (0.1-GS-E3D), high fat diet + 0.3 g/kg (0.3-GS-E3D), high fat diet + 1.0 g/kg (1.0-GS-E3D). Treatment of GS-E3D reduced differentiation of 3T3-L1 adipocytes with low cytotoxicity. In the animal model, compared to the high fat diet control, serum glucose, total cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol, HDL-cholesterol, TG, and leptin level were reduced in treatment animals in a dose-dependent manner. In addition, we found that GS-E3D could decrease total hepatic lipid droplets. These results suggest that GS-E3D, as a dietary supplement, has beneficial effects on obesity and may have useful effects in health-care products.

Preventive Effect of Korean Red Ginseng for Acute Respiratory Illness: A Randomized and Double-Blind Clinical Trial

Korean Red Ginseng (KRG) is a functional food and has been well known for keeping good health due to its anti-fatigue and immunomodulating activities. However, there is no data on Korean red ginseng for its preventive activity against acute respiratory illness (ARI). The study was conducted in a randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled trial in healthy volunteers (Clinical Trial Number: NCT01478009). Our primary efficacy end point was the number of ARI reported and secondary efficacy end point was severity of symptoms, number of symptoms, and duration of ARI. A total of 100 volunteers were enrolled in the study. Fewer subjects in the KRG group reported contracting at least 1 ARI than in the placebo group (12 [24.5%] vs 22 [44.9%], P = 0.034), the difference was statistically significant between the two groups. The symptom duration of the subjects who experienced the ARI, was similar between the two groups (KRG vs placebo; 5.2 +/- 2.3 vs 6.3 +/- 5.0, P = 0.475). The symptom scores were low tendency in KRG group (KRG vs placebo; 9.5 +/- 4.5 vs 17.6 +/- 23.1, P = 0.241). The study suggests that KRG may be effective in protecting subjects from contracting ARI, and may have the tendency to decrease the duration and scores of ARI symptoms.

Frequency of Adverse Events and Appropriate Observational Duration after Successful Air Reduction of Childhood Intussusception

PURPOSE: The aim of the study was to investigate the frequency of adverse events and the appropriate observational duration after successful air reduction of childhood intussusception. METHODS: This was a retrospective, observational study of children, aged 0 to 14 years, who underwent successful air reduction after diagnosis of intussusception in two tertiary referral hospitals. The demographic data, onset time and type of intussusception, observational duration and frequency of adverse events after air reduction were collected. We categorized the adverse events as grade 1 to 5. Grade 1 is severe abdominal pain which requires analgesia; grade 2 is nausea and vomiting which require intravenous (IV) hydration; grade 3 is symptoms and signs requiring re-evaluation of ultrasonography (US), confirmed as no recurrence; grade 4 is symptoms and signs requiring re-evaluation of US, confirmed as recurrence; and grade 5 is failed second air reduction and consequent operation. RESULTS: A total of 547 patients (369 boys and 178 girls) were enrolled. Mean age of the subjects was 24.1 months (SD: +/-19.3, range 1-144). The mean time duration from symptom onset to emergency department (ED) visit was 18.4 hours (SD: +/-18.5), and the average observational duration after the successful air reduction was 32.8 hours (SD: +/-29.1, range: 1-216). The number of children who suffered from the grade 1 to 5 of adverse events were 13 (2.4%), 2 (0.4%), 38 (6.9%), 33 (6%), and 2 (0.4%), respectively. A total of 17 (3.1%) children recurred after 24 hours of air reduction, 7 (1.3%) in the hospital and 10 (1.8%) after discharge. Among these patients, only one (0.2%) child under in-hospital observation underwent an operation. CONCLUSION: A 24-hour long observation at ED after the successful air reduction allows the safe and feasible management of childhood intussusception.

The Clinical Significance of Carcinoembryonic Antigen and CA72-4 Assays of Peritoneal Fluid in Colorectal Carcinomas

PURPOSE: CEA and CA72-4 assays in peritoneal fluid offers the greatest advantage in increasing the sensitivity of cytologic diagnosis of carcinomas of the G-I tract. Actually, little investigations have been taken for the relations between CEA and CA72-4 levels in peritoneal fluid and the clinicopathologic characteristics of colorectal carcinomas. The intent of this study was to verify the usefulness of CEA and CA72-4 levels in peritoneal fluid for the treatment of colorectal carcinoma. METHODS: Seventy-three colorectal cancer patients who were hospitalized in our colorectal division were prospectively investigated. Thirty-five out of 73 patients had ascites. Preoperatively, the levels of serum CEA and CA72-4 were measured. At the time of laparotomy, ascites or peritoneal washings were collected from all patients and the levels of carcinoembryonic antigen and CA72-4 were measured and submitted for the analysis to the cytology laboratory. We analyzed the results with the levels of serum CEA and CA72-4, histologic differentiation, location, stage of the tumor, and obstruction due to tumor. RESULTS: The levels of serum CEA and CA72-4 were significantly correlated with those of peritoneal fluid. The elevated levels of CEA and CA72-4 of peritoneal fluid were also significantly correlated with advanced stages of colorectal carcinomas, respectively. But according to histologic differentiation, only CA72-4 levels of peritoneal fluid were elevated in poorly differentiated or mucinous carcinoma. No difference between the levels of CEA and CA72-4 of peritoneal fluid was present in accordance with the location of tumors. CONCLUSIONS: The measurement of CEA and CA72-4 of peritoneal fluid may be valuable method in discriminating between the early-stage versus the late-stage colorectal carcinoma.

Chylous Fistula after Surgery for Papillary Thyroid Carcinoma / 대한내분비외과학회지

PURPOSE: Most of postoperative chylous fistula in the neck occur after lateral neck lymph node dissection. However we experienced chylous fistulas in the central neck as well as lateral neck after surgery for papillary thyroid carcinoma. Herein we reviewed our experience of chylous fistula and tried to make guideline for the decision of optimal treatment in the early period of chylous fistula. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed our thyroidectomy cases for the papillary thyroid carcinoma with central neck node dissection (n: 1220) and left neck node dissection (n: 149) over a period of 6years. In 17 patients, a chylous fistula was occurred, 8 in the lateral neck, 9 in the central neck. The treatment method, daily output, and the hospital course of the chylous fistula were analysed. RESULTS: The incidence of chylous fistula after lymph node dissection in the central neck and lateral neck was 0.7% and 5.4% respectively. All 9 central neck fistulas were successfully treated with conservative treatment . 6 lateral neck fistulas were also treated successfully with conservative treatment including medium chain triglyceride treatment and compression dressing. In 2 lateral neck fistulas, operative management was required, one due to poor response to conservative management and metabolic derrangement, another one due to large amount of daily output in the early post operative days. The maximal daily output of conservative management group and operative management group were below 250 cc/day and over 1,800 cc/day respectively. CONCLUSION: The chylous fistula in the neck could be occurred not only after lateral neck dissection but also after central neck dissection, although the clinical course of central neck fistula was relatively benign. Most of chylous fistulas could be treated conservatively. However, in the early high output fistula (over 1,800 cc/day) cases, prompt operative management should be considered for the prevention of metabolic derrangement and shortening the hospital course.

Inhibitory effects of ginseng saponins on c-fos mRNA expression and the proliferation of rat aortic vascular smooth muscle cells stimulated by angiotensin II

To evaluate the possibility that the ginseng saponins could be developed as an anti-arteriosclerotic agent, we examined the inhibitory effects of ginseng saponins (total saponin(TS), panaxatriol(PT), panaxadiol(PD)) on the expression of c-fos mRNA and the proliferation of cultured rat aortic vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) stimulated by angiotensin II (Ang II). TS and PT (1.0 mg/ml) suppressed c-fos mRNA induction in VSMCs stimulated by 10-5 M Ang II. The order of inhibitory potency was PT>TS. Ginseng saponins (0.01~1.0 mg/ml) inhibited the proliferation of VSMCs stimulated by Ang II in a concentration dependent manner, the inhibitory potency was TS> PT> PD at 0.1~1.0 mg/ml. These results suggest that ginseng saponins may suppress Ang II-stimulated proliferation of aortic VSMCs which can be seen in atherosclerosis, hypertension and restenosis.