Triterpenes ginseng

As described above, the cyclization of squalene oxide is a biosynthetic branching point not only for phytosterols and triterpenes but also for dammarane- and oleanane-type ginsenosides. In ginseng, the enzyme... 

Dou, D.-Q., Chen, Y.-J., Liang, L.-H., Pang, F.-G., Shimizu, N., and Takeda, T. (2001). Six new dammarane-type triterpene saponins from the leaves of Panax ginseng. Chem. Pharm. Bull. 49, 442-446. 

Nakamura, S., Sugimoto, S., Matsuda, H., and Yoshikawa, M. (2007a). Structures of dammarane-type triterpene triglycosides from the flower buds of Panax ginseng. Heterocycles 71, 577-588. 

Tran, Q. L., Adnyana, I. K., Tezuka, Y., Nagaoka, T., Tran, Q. K., and Kadota, S. (2001). Triterpene saponins from Vietnamese ginseng (Panax vietnamensis) and their hepatocy-toprotective activity. /. Nat. Prod. 64, 456 61. 

Yoshikawa, M., Murakami, T., Yashiro, K., Yamahara, J., Matsuda, H., Saijoh, R., and Tanaka, O. (1998). Bioactive saponins and glycosides. XI. Structures of new dammarane-type triterpene oligoglycosides, Quinquenosides 1, II, III, IV, and V, from American ginseng, the roots of Panax quinquefolium L. Chem. Pharm. Bull. 46, 647-654. 

Lee MH et al (2004) Enhanced triterpene and phytosterol biosynthesis in Panax ginseng overexpressing squalene synthase gene. Plant CeU Physiol 45 976... 

Chimeric enzymes constructed fi"om two different angiosperms (Panax ginseng, Araliaceae, and Arabidopsis thaliana, Brassicaceae) yielded mixtures of triterpenoids, p-amirin and lupeol, at a composition depending on the particular chimera methyl scrambling was observed for lupeol only (Kushiro 1999). A few differences in the amino acids at the active site are responsible for these effects. This implies that the high variety of plant triterpenoids owes more to chimeric enzymes than product-specific triterpene synthases. It was proposed that these chimeric enzymes act as multifunctional triterpene synthases (Kushiro 1999). 

The dried roots of Asian ginseng are used for medicinal purposes and its main constituents are triterpene saponins known as ginsenosides or panaxosides. The pharmacologic actions of ginseng include immunomodulatory, anti-inflammatory, antitumor, smooth muscle relaxation, stimulant, and hypoglycemic effects (36). 

Ginsenoside Rf (triterpene saponin) Panax ginseng (Araliaceae) [root] GABAA-R ligand (Muscimol displacement) high affinity site) CBZ-R APL [antitumour]... 

Ginsenosides (triterpene saponins) Other Panax ginseng (Araliaceae) Increase GC cGMP via increased NO 7.2Co... 

Ginsenoside Rh-2 (triterpene glycoside, Panaxginseng (ginseng) (Araliaceae) Apoptotic (per ROS, Bcl-xL independent)... 

Active constituents in white Ginseng root are mainly the ginsenosides (in DAB and Ph. Helv. VII min. 1.5%), which are saponin glycosides based on two tetracyclic dammarane triterpenes 20 (S)... 

Among Oriental medicinal remedies there are many herbal drugs, such as ginseng or saiko, which contain triterpene saponins as their principal constituents and the ones that seem to be responsible for their efficacy [20]. 

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