Panax japonicus

Han, L. K., Zheng, Y. N., Yoshikawa, M., Okuda, H., and Kimura, Y. (2005). Anti-obesity effects of chikusetsusaponins isolated from Panax japonicus rhizomes. BMC Complement Altern. Med. 5, 9. 

Morita, T., Kasai, R., Tanaka, O., Zhou, J., Tsungren, Y., and Dhoji, J. (1982). Saponins of Zu-Tziseng, rhizomes of Panax japonicus C. A. Meyer var. major (Burk.) C.Y. Wu et K.M. Feng collected in Yurman, China. Chem. Pharm. Bull. 30, 4341-4345. 

Yahara, S., R. Kami, and O. Tanaka. 1977. New dammarane type saponins of leaves of Panax japonicus C. A. Meyer. (1) Chikusetsusaponins-L5, L9, and L10. Chem. Pharm. Bull. (Tokyo) 23 2041-2047. 

Panax japonicus japanese ginseng (plus four sub species) Chu-chieh-jen-shen Japan... 

Among these, saponins isolated from the rhizome of Panax japonicus and the fruit of Kochia scoparia (that contain approximately 20% of saponins) have been demonstrated to possess gastroprotective properties. Some oleanolic acid oligoglycosides, extracted from P. japonicus and K. scoparia, showed protective effects on ethanol- and indomethacin-induced gastric damage. Moreover, a methanol extract of P. japonicus rhizome was demonstrated to possess protective activity also on stress- or HCl-induced ulcers. The protective activities of all these active saponins are not due to inhibition of gastric acid secretion but probably due to activation of mucous membrane protective factors. 

HAIRY ROOT CULTURE OF PANAX JAPONICUS VAR. MAJOR AND ITS SAPONIN FORMATION... 

Key words Panax japonicus var. major, hairy roots, saponin, oligosaccharins ... 

Panax japonicus var. major is a wild dicotyledonous herb of Araliaceae which is maiidy distributed in southwest China and Himalayas areas . Its root has been used as an expectorant, antitussive and hemostatic in Chinese herbal medicine for a long time. And the main active constituents were thought as a wide range of saponins and sapogenins . Biotechnological alternative, i.e. cullus cultures, cell suspension cultures and hairy root cultures, has been adopted for in vitro saponin production. But, no study has been made for the tissue culture and secondary metabolism of this plant. This paper describes the hairy root culture and its saponin formation. 

Pharmacological activities of the callus 198) and leaves 199) of Panax ginseng and pharmacological properties of saponins of Panax japonicus (Chikusetsu-ninjin) have also been described 200, 201). 

Nikaido T, Ohmoto T, Sankawa U, Tanaka O et al. 1984 Inhibitors of cyclic AMP phosphodiesterase in Panax ginseng C.A. Meyer and Panax japonicus C.A.Meyer. Chem Pharm Bull 32 1477-1483... 

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