Ginsenosides

Use of biochemical and biological information for bioprocesses is also significant to the advancement of BRE. Here, the information on the signal transduction from external Ca was utilized for regulation of ginsenoside biosynthetic pathway of cultured cells of P. notoginseng. A quantitative study on the effects of external calcium and calcium sensors was conducted to... 

Fig. 3. A proposed signal transduction pathway regarding the external Ca effect on ginsenoside Rb synthesis by P. notoginseng cells. Ca signal changes are triggered by external Ca concentrations. The calcium signatures are decoded by calcium sensors, CaM and CDPK. UGRdGT is possibly modulated by the sensors in a direct or indirect (dashed lines) way. Changes of CDPK activity may result from increased synthesis or posttranslational modification of the enzyme (shown as CDPK ).

Radad K, Gille G, Moldzio R, Saito H, Ishige K, Rausch WD. Ginsenosides Rbl and Rgl effects on survival and neurite growth of MPP +-affected mesencephalic dopaminergic cells. J Neural Transm 2004 111 37-45. 

Furthermore, in a recent study by Takei and colleagues, the ginsenoside metabolites Ml (Compound K) and M4 (20(S)-Protopanaxatriol) were demonstrated to promote the maturation of human monocyte-derived DCs [48], M4, and to a lesser extent Ml, increased the DC expression of key costimulatory molecules, decreased their endocytic activity, and induced their production of IL-12. Moreover, these effects had the end result of generating mature DCs that could induce potent Thl polarization. Unfortunately, it was not clearly defined in this study if the ginsenoside metabolites were used at physiologically relevant concentrations, a variable that would be expected to have significant implications on the interpretation of these results. 

Liu, P. et al., Developmental toxicity research of ginsenoside Rbl using a whole mouse embryo culture model, Birth Defects Res B Dev Reprod Toxicol, 74, 207, 2005. 

Park, E.K. et al., Ginsenoside Rhl possesses antiallergic and anti-inflammatory activities, Int Arch Allergy Immunol, 133, 113, 2004. 

Luo, Y.M., Cheng, X.J., and Yuan, W.X., Effects of ginseng root saponins and ginsenoside Rbl on immunity in cold water swim stress mice and rats, Zhongguo Yao Li Xue Bao, 14, 401, 1993. 

Kenarova, B. et al., Immunomodulating activity of ginsenoside Rgl from Panax ginseng,... 

H. Hasegawa, K. S. Lee, T. Nagaoka, Y. Tezuka, M. Uchiyama, S. Kadota, I. Saiki, Pharmacokinetics of Ginsenoside Deglycosylated by Intestinal Bacteria and Its Transformation to Biologically Active Fatty Acid Esters , Biol. Pharm. Bull. 2000, 23, 298 -304. 

Ginsenosides are triterpenoid saponins found nearly exclusively in ginseng and they have been the target of a lot of research as they are believed to be the main active principles behind the claims of ginsengs efficacy. Ginseng refers to species within the genus Panax (Araliaceae... 

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