Genome-wide identification and integrated analysis of TCP genes controlling ginsenoside biosynthesis in Panax ginseng.

Panax ginseng is an important medicinal plant, and ginsenosides are the main bioactive molecules of ginseng. The TCP (TBI, CYC, PCF) family is a group of transcription factors (TFs) that play an important role in plant growth and development, hormone signalling and synthesis of secondary metabolites. In our study, 78 PgTCP transcripts were identified from the established ginseng transcriptome database. A phylogenetic tree analysis showed that the 67 PgTCP transcripts with complete open reading frames were classified into three subfamilies, including CIN, PCF, and CYC/TB1. Protein structure analysis showed that PgTCP genes had bHLH structures. Chromosomal localization analysis showed that 63 PgTCP genes were localized on 17 of the 24 chromosomes of the Chinese ginseng genome. Expression pattern analysis showed that PgTCP genes differed among different lineages and were spatiotemporally specific. Coexpression network analysis indicated that PgTCP genes were coexpressed and involved in plant activities or metabolic regulation in ginseng. The expression levels of PgTCP genes from class I (PCF) were significantly downregulated, while the expression levels of PgTCP genes from class II (CIN and CYC/TB1) were upregulated, suggesting that TCP genes may be involved in the regulation of secondary metabolism in ginseng. As the PgTCP26-02 gene was found to be related to ginsenoside synthesis, its predicted protein structure and expression pattern were further analysed. Our results provide new insights into the origin, differentiation, evolution and function of the PgTCP gene family in ginseng, as well as the regulation of plant secondary metabolism.

Genome-wide identification and integrated analysis of the FAR1/FHY3 gene family and genes expression analysis under methyl jasmonate treatment in Panax ginseng C. A. Mey.

Ginseng (Panax ginseng C. A. Mey.) is an important and valuable medicinal plant species used in traditional Chinese medicine, and its metabolite ginsenoside is the primary active ingredient. The FAR1/FHY3 gene family members play critical roles in plant growth and development as well as participate in a variety of physiological processes, including plant development and signaling of hormones. Studies have indicated that methyl jasmonate treatment of ginseng adventitious roots resulted in a significant increase in the content of protopanaxadiol ginsenosides. Therefore, it is highly significant to screen the FAR1/FHY3 gene family members in ginseng and preliminarily investigate their expression patterns in response to methyl jasmonic acid signaling. In this study, we screened and identified the FAR1/FHY3 family genes in the ginseng transcriptome databases. And then, we analyzed their gene structure and phylogeny, chromosomal localization and expression patterns, and promoter cis-acting elements, and made GO functional annotations on the members of this family. After that, we treated the ginseng adventitious roots with 200 mM methyl jasmonate and investigated the trend of the expression of four genes containing the largest number of methyl jasmonate cis-acting elements at different treatment times. All four genes were able to respond to methyl jasmonate, the most significant change was in the PgFAR40 gene. This study provides data support for subsequent studies of this family member in ginseng and provides experimental reference for subsequent validation of the function of this family member under methyl jasmonic acid signaling.

Facilitating Effects of Reductive Soil Disinfestation on Soil Health and Physiological Properties of Panax ginseng.

Chemical soil fumigation (CSF) and reductive soil disinfestation (RSD) have been proven to be effective agricultural strategies to improve soil quality, restructure microbial communities, and promote plant growth in soil degradation remediation. However, it is still unclear how RSD and CSF ensure soil and plant health by altering fungal communities. Field experiments were conducted to investigate the effects of CSF with chloropicrin, and RSD with animal feces on soil properties, fungal communities and functional composition, and plant physiological characteristics were evaluated. Results showed that RSD and CSF treatment improved soil properties, restructured fungal community composition and structure, enhanced fungal interactions and functions, and facilitated plant growth. There was a significant increase in OM, AN, and AP contents in the soil with both CSF and RSD treatments compared to CK. Meanwhile, compared with CK and CSF, RSD treatment significantly increased biocontrol Chaetomium relative abundance while reducing pathogenic Neonectria relative abundance, indicating that RSD has strong inhibition potential. Furthermore, the microbial network of RSD treatment was more complex and interconnected, and the functions of plant pathogens, and animal pathogen were decreased. Importantly, RSD treatment significantly increased plant SOD, CAT, POD activity, SP, Ca, Zn content, and decreased MDA, ABA, Mg, K, and Fe content. In summary, RSD treatment is more effective than CSF treatment, by stimulating the proliferation of probiotic communities to further enhance soil health and plant disease resistance.

Ginsenosides in Panax ginseng Extract Promote Anagen Transition by Suppressing BMP4 Expression and Promote Human Hair Growth by Stimulating Follicle-Cell Proliferation.

Studies showing that Panax ginseng promotes hair growth have largely been conducted using mice; there are few reports on how P. ginseng affects human hair growth. In particular, little is known about its effect on the telogen to anagen transition. To determine the effect of P. ginseng on human hair growth and the transition from the telogen to the anagen phase. The effects of P. ginseng extract (PGE) and the three major ginsenoside components, Rb1, Rg1, and Re, on the proliferation of human dermal papilla cells (DPCs) and human outer root sheath cells (ORSCs) were investigated. The effects of these compounds on the cell expression of bone morphogenetic protein 4 (BMP4), fibroblast growth factor 18 (FGF18) and Noggin were assessed by real-time PCR. The effect of PGE on hair-shaft elongation was determined in a human hair follicle organ-culture system. PGE and the three ginsenosides stimulated the proliferation of DPCs and ORSCs and suppressed BMP4 expression in DPCs but did not affect FGF18 expression in ORSCs and Noggin expression in DPCs. PGE stimulated hair-shaft growth. PGE and the ginsenosides Rb1, Rg1, and Re stimulate the transition from the telogen phase to anagen phase of the hair cycle by suppressing BMP4 expression in DPCs. These compounds might be useful for promoting the growth of human hair.

Mechanistic Insights into Bisphenol A-Mediated Male Infertility: Potential Role of Panax Ginseng Extract.

. The escalating prevalence of male infertility in the contemporary era across the globe can be largely attributed to environmental pollution, which is the common etiological factor due to the ubiquitous presence of the environmental contaminants. Bisphenol A is recognized as an endocrine-disrupting chemical that has adverse effects on both male and female reproductive systems. On the other hand, numerous studies have demonstrated that Panax ginseng possessed the potential to improve male infertility parameters; promote spermatogenesis, recover the quality and motility of sperm and enhance testicular functions as it acted as a natural androgen supplement. The objective of this review is to offer a summary of the findings obtained from the current research data on the insult of bisphenol A (BPA) on male infertility and its supposed mode of action, as well as shed light on the potent ameliorative role of Panax ginseng extract, with a special focus on the mechanism behind its action. This review delivers a clear understanding of BPA mechanism of action on male infertility and the presumed risks deriving from its exposure. Also, this review provides evidence for the functional role of Panax ginseng extract in restoring male fertility.

Resistance of the Ginseng Gray Mold Pathogen, Botrytis cinerea, to Boscalid and Pyraclostrobin Fungicides in China.

Gray mold caused by Botrytis cinerea severely threatens the yield of ginseng (Panax ginseng). Various categories of fungicides have been utilized to control gray mold on this crop. In this study, the resistance of 102 isolates of B. cinerea from 11 commercial ginseng-growing regions in China to fungicides was examined. A total of 32.4% were resistant to boscalid, with EC50 values that ranged from 12.26 to 235.87 µg/ml, and 94.1% were resistant to pyraclostrobin, with EC50 values that ranged from 5.88 to 487.72 µg/ml. Except for sdhA and sdhD, the amino acid substitutions of P225F, P225L, N230I, H272Y, and H272R in the sdhB subunit from 24 (4 sensitive [S] and 20 resistant [R]), 5 (1 S and 4 R), 1 (S), 1 (R), and 8 (4 S and 4 R) strains, respectively, and the concurrent amino acid substitutions of G85A + I93V + M158V + V168I in the sdhC subunit from 5 (4 S and 1 R) strains were identified. A G143A substitution in cytochrome b was identified in 96 isolates that were resistant to pyraclostrobin and three that were sensitive to it. The Bcbi-143/144 intron was identified in the other three isolates sensitive to pyraclostrobin, but it was absent in the isolates that harbored the G143A mutation. The results showed that the populations of B. cinerea on ginseng have developed strong resistance to pyraclostrobin. Therefore, it is not recommended to continue using this fungicide to control gray mold on P. ginseng. Boscalid is still effective against most isolates. However, to prevent fungicide resistance, it is recommended to use a mixture of boscalid with other categories of fungicides.

Research on the dentification of Panax ginseng and Panax quinquefolium using catalysed hairpin assembly technology.

INTRODUCTION: Panax ginseng and Panax quinquefolium are traditional Chinese herb medicines and similar in morphology and some chemical components but differ in drug properties, so they cannot be mixed. However, the processed products of them are often sold in the form of slices, powder, and capsules, which are difficult to identify by traditional morphological methods. Furthermore, an accurate evaluation of P. ginseng, P. quinquefolium and the processed products have not been conducted. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to establish a catalysed hairpin assembly (CHA) identification method for authenticating products made from P. ginseng and P. quinquefolium based on single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) differences. METHOD: By analysing the differences of SNP in internal transcribed spacer 2 (ITS2) in P. ginseng and P. quinquefolium to design CHA-specific hairpins. Establish a sensitive and efficient CHA method that can identify P. ginseng and P. quinquefolium, use the sequencing technology to verify the accuracy of this method in identifying Panax products, and compare this method with high-resolution melting (HRM). RESULTS: The reaction conditions of CHA were as follows: the ratio of forward and reverse primers, 20:1; hairpin concentration, 5 ng/µL. Compared with capillary electrophoresis, this method had good specificity and the limit of detection was 0.5 ng/µL. The result of Panax product identification with CHA method were coincidence with that of the sequencing method; the positive rate of CHA reaction was 100%. CONCLUSION: This research presents an effective identification method for authenticating P. ginseng and P. quinquefolium products, which is helpful to improve the quality of Panax products.

Screening of GLP-1r agonists from natural products using affinity ultrafiltration screening coupled with UPLC-ESI-Orbitrap-MS technology: a case study of Panax ginseng.

In our study, a method based on affinity ultrafiltration screening coupled with UPLC-ESI-Orbitrap-MS technology was established to select Glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor (GLP-1R) agonists from natural products, and as an example, the GLP-1R agonists from Panax ginseng was selected using our established method. As a result, total five GLP-1R agonists were selected from Panax ginseng for the first time. Our results indicated that activating GLP-1R to promote insulin secretion probably was another important hypoglycemia mechanism for ginsenosides in Panax ginseng, which had great influence on the study of the anti-diabetes effect of ginsenosides.

Genome-Wide Identification and Analysis of the Aux/IAA Gene Family in Panax ginseng: Evidence for the Role of PgIAA02 in Lateral Root Development.

Panax ginseng C. A. Meyer (Ginseng) is one of the most used traditional Chinese herbal medicines, with its roots being used as the main common medicinal parts; its therapeutic potential has garnered significant attention. AUXIN/INDOLE-3-ACETIC ACID (Aux/IAA) is a family of early auxin-responsive genes capable of regulating root development in plants through the auxin signaling pathway. In the present study, 84 Aux/IAA genes were identified from the ginseng genome and their complexity and diversity were determined through their protein domains, phylogenetic relationships, gene structures, and cis-acting element predictions. Phylogenetic analyses classified PgIAA into six subgroups, with members in the same group showing greater sequence similarity. Analyses of interspecific collinearity suggest that segmental duplications likely drove the evolution of PgIAA genes, followed by purifying selection. An analysis of cis-regulatory elements suggested that PgIAA family genes may be involved in the regulation of plant hormones. RNA-seq data show that the expression pattern of Aux/IAA genes in Ginseng is tissue-specific, and PgIAA02 and PgIAA36 are specifically highly expressed in lateral, fibrous, and arm roots, suggesting their potential function in root development. The PgIAA02 overexpression lines exhibited an inhibition of lateral root growth in Ginseng. In addition, yeast two-hybrid and subcellular localization experiments showed that PgIAA02 interacted with PgARF22/PgARF36 (ARF: auxin response factor) in the nucleus and participated in the biological process of root development. The above results lay the foundation for an in-depth study of Aux/IAA and provide preliminary information for further research on the role of the Aux/IAA gene family in the root development of Ginseng.

Using Pharmacokinetic-Pharmacodynamic Modeling to Study the Main Active Substances of the Anticancer Effect in Mice from Panax ginseng-Ophiopogon japonicus.

Ginseng Radix et Rhizoma Rubra (Panax ginseng C.A. Mey, Hongshen, in Chinese) and Ophiopogonis Radix (Ophiopogon japonicus (L.f) Ker-Gawl., Maidong, in Chinese) are traditional Chinese herbal pairs, which were clinically employed to enhance the immune system of cancer patients. This study employed the pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic (PK-PD) spectrum-effect association model to investigate the antitumor active substances of P. ginseng and O. japonicus (PG-OJ). The metabolic processes of 20 major bioactive components were analyzed using Ultra-Performance Liquid Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry/Mass Spectrometry (UPLC-MS/MS) in the lung tissue of tumor-bearing mice treated with PG-OJ. The ELISA method was employed to detect the levels of TGF-ß1, TNF-α, and IFN-γ in the lung tissue of mice at various time points, and to analyze their changes after drug administration. The results showed that all components presented a multiple peaks absorption pattern within 0.083 to 24 h post-drug administration. The tumor inhibition rate of tumor and repair rate of IFN-γ, TNF-α, and TGF-ß1 all increased, indicating a positive therapeutic effect of PG-OJ on A549 tumor-bearing mice. Finally, a PK-PD model based on the GBDT algorithm was developed for the first time to speculate that Methylophiopogonanone A, Methylophiopogonanone B, Ginsenoside Rb1, and Notoginsenoside R1 are the main active components in PG-OJ for lung cancer treatment.

[Identification of cardioprotective substances in Panax ginseng/P. notoginseng based on mitochondrial morphological characteristics and UPLC-Triple-TOF-MS].

Panax ginseng is reputed to be capable of replenishing healthy Qi and bolstering physical strength, and P. notoginseng can resolve blood stasis and alleviate pain. P. ginseng and P. notoginseng are frequently employed to treat ischemic heart diseases caused by blockages in the heart vessels. Mitochondrial dysfunction often coexists with abnormal mitochondrial morphology, and mitochondrial plasticity and dynamics play key roles in cardiovascular diseases. In this study, primary neonatal rat cardiomyocytes were exposed to 4 hours of hypoxia(H) followed by 2 hours of reoxygenation(R). MitoTracker Deep Red and Hoechst 33342 were used to label mitochondria and nuclei, respectively. Fluorescence images were then acquired using ImageXpress Micro Confocal. Automated image processing and parameter extraction/calculation were carried out using ImagePro Plus. Subsequently, representative parameters were selected as indicators to assess alterations in mitochondrial morphology and function. The active compounds of P. ginseng and P. notoginseng were screened out and identified based on the UPLC-Triple-TOF-MS results and mitochondrial morphometric parameters. The findings demonstrated that RS-2, RS-4, SQ-1, and SQ-4 significantly increased the values of three key morphometric parameters, including mitochondrial length, branching, and area, which might contribute to rescuing morphological features of myocardial cells damaged by H/R injury. Among the active components of the two medicinal herbs, 20(R)-ginsenoside Rg_3, ginsenoside Re, and gypenoside ⅩⅦ exhibited the strongest protective effects on mitochondria in cardiomyocytes. Specifically, 20(R)-ginsenoside Rg_3 might upregulate expression of optic atrophy 1(OPA1) and mitofusin 2(MFN2), and ginsenoside Re and gypenoside ⅩⅦ might selectively upregulate OPA1 expression. Collectively, they promoted mitochondrial membrane fusion and mitigated mitochondrial damage, thereby exerting protective effects on cardiomyocytes. This study provides experimental support for the discovery of novel therapeutic agents for myocardial ischemia-reperfusion injury from P. ginseng and P. notoginseng and offers a novel approach for large-scale screening of bioactive compounds with cardioprotective effects from traditional Chinese medicines.

[Research progress in preparations of Panax ginseng].

Panax ginseng, known as the "king of herbs", is a highly valued medicinal plant, and its medicinal parts include roots, stems, leaves, flowers, and fruits, among which the roots are the most commonly used. The main active components of this medicinal plant include triterpenoid saponins, polysaccharides, peptides, and volatile oils. The chemical components and active metabolites endow this herb with a variety of pharmacological effects, and thus this herb is used to treat various diseases and play healthcare roles. Currently, a wide range of preparations of P. ginseng have been officially registered and marketed, including tablets, oral liquids, and injections, which demonstrate good clinical efficacy in regulating immunity, adjuvant treatment of tumors, alleviating fatigue, delaying the aging process, improving glucose and lipid metabolism, treating cardiovascular diseases, and relieving inflammation and pain. The production process and quality standards of these drugs are of great significance to ensure their efficacy. According to the theory that Ginseng Radix et Rhizoma can greatly replenish original Qi, tonify the spleen and lung, promote fluid production to quench thirst, tranquilize mind and enrich the intelligence, this paper systematically summarized the clinical application progress of P. ginseng and rela-ted preparations on the market and prospected the further development of preparations from P. ginseng, providing a reference for further exploring the medicinal value and healthcare function of this herb. The above contents, as an important basis for the in-depth development of P. ginseng and related drugs, increase the possibilities for the application of P. ginseng.

[Isolation and identification of malonyl ginsenoside-Ra_1 and malonyl ginsenoside-Ra_2 from fresh roots of Panax ginseng].

The aim of this paper is to study the malonyl ginsenosides in the fresh roots of Panax ginseng. D101 macroporous adsorption resin, ODS, and preparative HPLC were employed to separate the chemical components from the 70% ethanol extract of the fresh roots of P. ginseng, and the structures of the separated compounds were identified based on the data of high-resolution mass spectrometry and nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy. Two malonyl ginsenosides were isolated from the fresh roots of P. ginseng and identified as 3-O-\[6-O-malonyl-ß-D-glucopyranosyl-(1→2)-ß-D-glucopyranosyl\]-20-O-\[ ß-D-xylopyranosyl-(1→4)-α-L-arabinopyranosyl-(1→6)-ß-D-glucopyranosyl\]-dammar-24-ene-3ß,12ß,20S-triol(1) and 3-O-\[6-O-malonyl-ß-D-glucopyranosyl-(1→2)-ß-D-glucopyranosyl\]-20-O-\[ ß-D-xylopyranosyl-(1→2)-α-L-arabinofuranosyl-(1→6)-ß-D-glucopyranosyl\]-dammar-24-ene-3ß,12ß,20S-triol(2), respectively. Compounds 1 and 2 are new compounds isolated from fresh roots of P. ginseng for the first time and named as malonyl ginsenoside-Ra_1 and malonyl ginsenoside-Ra_2, respectively.

Whole-genome identification and expression profiling of growth-regulating factor (GRF) and GRF-interacting factor (GIF) gene families in Panax ginseng.

BACKGROUND: Panax ginseng is a perennial herb and one of the most widely used traditional medicines in China. During its long growth period, it is affected by various environmental factors. Past studies have shown that growth-regulating factors (GRFs) and GRF-interacting factors (GIFs) are involved in regulating plant growth and development, responding to environmental stress, and responding to the induction of exogenous hormones. However, GRF and GIF transcription factors in ginseng have not been reported. RESULTS: In this study, 20 GRF gene members of ginseng were systematically identified and found to be distributed on 13 chromosomes. The ginseng GIF gene family has only ten members, which are distributed on ten chromosomes. Phylogenetic analysis divided these PgGRFs into six clades and PgGIFs into two clades. In total, 18 of the 20 PgGRFs and eight of the ten PgGIFs are segmental duplications. Most PgGRF and PgGIF gene promoters contain some hormone- and stress- related cis-regulatory elements. Based on the available public RNA-Seq data, the expression patterns of PgGRF and PgGIF genes were analysed from 14 different tissues. The responses of the PgGRF gene to different hormones (6-BA, ABA, GA3, IAA) and abiotic stresses (cold, heat, drought, and salt) were studied. The expression of the PgGRF gene was significantly upregulated under GA3 induction and three weeks of heat treatment. The expression level of the PgGIF gene changed only slightly after one week of heat treatment. CONCLUSIONS: The results of this study may be helpful for further study of the function of PgGRF and PgGIF genes and lay a foundation for further study of their role in the growth and development of Panax ginseng.

The Quest for Neurodegenerative Disease Treatment-Focusing on Alzheimer's Disease Personalised Diets.

Dementia represents a clinical syndrome characterised by progressive decline in memory, language, visuospatial and executive function, personality, and behaviour, causing loss of abilities to perform instrumental or essential activities of daily living. The most common cause of dementia is Alzheimer's disease (AD), which accounts for up to 80% of all dementia cases. Despite that extensive studies regarding the etiology and risk factors have been performed in recent decades, and how the current knowledge about AD pathophysiology significantly improved with the recent advances in science and technology, little is still known about its treatment options. In this controverted context, a nutritional approach could be a promising way to formulate improved AD management strategies and to further analyse possible treatment strategy options based on personalised diets, as Nutritional Psychiatry is currently gaining relevance in neuropsychiatric disease treatment. Based on the current knowledge of AD pathophysiology, as well as based on the repeatedly documented anti-inflammatory and antioxidant potential of different functional foods, we aimed to find, describe, and correlate several dietary compounds that could be useful in formulating a nutritional approach in AD management. We performed a screening for relevant studies on the main scientific databases using keywords such as "Alzheimer's disease", "dementia", "treatment", "medication", "treatment alternatives", "vitamin E", "nutrition", "selenium", "Ginkgo biloba", "antioxidants", "medicinal plants", and "traditional medicine" in combinations. Results: nutrients could be a key component in the physiologic and anatomic development of the brain. Several nutrients have been studied in the pursuit of the mechanism triggered by the pathology of AD: vitamin D, fatty acids, selenium, as well as neuroprotective plant extracts (i.e., Ginkgo biloba, Panax ginseng, Curcuma longa), suggesting that the nutritional patterns could modulate the cognitive status and provide neuroprotection. The multifactorial origin of AD development and progression could suggest that nutrition could greatly contribute to the complex pathological picture. The identification of adequate nutritional interventions and the not yet fully understood nutrient activity in AD could be the next steps in finding several innovative treatment options for neurodegenerative disorders.

Genome-wide characterization, evolutionary analysis, and expression pattern analysis of the trihelix transcription factor family and gene expression analysis under MeJA treatment in Panax ginseng.

Panax ginseng is a well-known medicinal plant with several pharmacological uses in China. The trihelix family transcription factors, also known as GT factors, can be involved in the regulation of growth and developmental processes in plants. There have been no in-depth reports or systematic studies about the trihelix transcription factor in ginseng. In this study, the structure, chromosomal localization, gene duplication, phylogeny, functional differentiation, expression patterns and coexpression interactions of trihelix transcripts were analysed using bioinformatics methods based on the ginseng transcriptome database. Thirty-two trihelix transcription factor genes were identified in ginseng, and these genes were alternatively spliced to obtain 218 transcripts. These transcripts were unevenly distributed on different chromosomes of ginseng, and phylogenetic analysis classified the PgGT transcripts into five subgroups. Gene Ontology (GO) analysis classified PgGT transcripts into eight functional subclasses, indicating that they are functionally diverse. The expression pattern analysis of 218 PgGT transcripts revealed that their expression was tissue-specific and spatiotemporally-specific in 14 different tissues of 4-year-old ginseng, 4 different ages of ginseng roots, and 42 farmers' cultivars of 4-year-old ginseng roots. Despite the differences in the expression patterns of these transcripts, coexpression network analysis revealed that these transcripts could be expressed synergistically in ginseng. In addition, two randomly selected PgGT transcripts in each of the five different subfamilies were subjected to methyl jasmonate treatment at different times, and PgGT was able to respond to the regulation of methy1 jasmonate. These results provide a theoretical basis and gene resources for an in-depth study of the function of trihelix genes in other plants.

Development and application of a visualization method for identification of Panax species with LAMP and a DNAzyme.

Panax ginseng and Panax quinquefolium are two valuable Chinese herbal medicines that should not be mixed because they differ in drug properties and efficacy. The traditional identification method is easily affected by subjective factors and cannot effectively distinguish between ginseng products. This study aimed to develop a new chemical analysis method to visually identify P. ginseng and P. quinquefolium. In this method, a large number of sequences containing G-quadruplex were generated by loop-mediated isothermal amplification, and the combination of G-quadruplex and hemin was used to form deoxyribozyme, which catalyzed the color change of H2O2. Artificial simulation of adulteration experiments revealed that this method could detect more than 20% adulterated P. quinquefolium. Compared with the traditional identification methods, this technology was simpler and more efficient, providing a reference for developing rapid visual identification methods and reagents for P. ginseng and P. quinquefolium.

An endophytic fungus Schizophyllum commune isolated from Panax ginseng enhances hairy roots growth and ginsenoside biosynthesis.

Using endophytic fungal elicitors to increase the accumulation of valuable secondary metabolites in plant tissue culture is an effective biotechnology strategy. In this study, a collection of 56 strains of endophytic fungi were isolated from different organs of cultivated Panax ginseng, of which seven strains can be symbiotically co-cultured with the hairy roots of P. ginseng. Further experiments observed that strain 3R-2, identified as endophytic fungus Schizophyllum commune, can not only infect hairy roots but also promote the accumulation of specific ginsenosides. This was further verified because S. commune colonization significantly affected the overall metabolic profile of ginseng hairy roots. By comparing the effects of S. commune mycelia and its mycelia extract (EM) on ginsenoside production in P. ginseng hairy roots, the EM was confirmed to be a relatively better stimulus elicitor. Additionally, the introduction of EM elicitor can significantly enhance the expressions of key enzyme genes of pgHMGR, pgSS, pgSE, and pgSD involved in the biosynthetic pathway of ginsenosides, which was deemed the most relevant factor for promoting ginsenosides production during the elicitation period. In conclusion, this study is the first to show that the EM of endophytic fungus S. commune can be considered as an effective endophytic fungal elicitor for increasing the biosynthesis of ginsenosides in hairy root cultures of P. ginseng.

Protective effects of Panax ginseng against doxorubicin-induced cardiac toxicity in patients with non-metastatic breast cancer: A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial.

INTRODUCTION: Anthracycline-based chemotherapy increases the risk of cancer therapeutics-related cardiac dysfunction. Recently, evidences from in vitro experiments and animal studies have shown that ginsenosides may exert cardiovascular protection against cancer therapeutics-related cardiac dysfunction. Here, we aimed to evaluate this effect in a clinical situation. METHODS: In this randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial, women with non-metastatic breast cancer whose left ventricular ejection fraction was ≥ 50% were randomly assigned in 1:1 ratio to receive ginseng (1 g/day) or placebo besides standard chemotherapy. Echocardiographic measurements were performed at baseline, after the fourth, and eighth chemotherapy cycles. High-sensitive cardiac troponin I was assessed at baseline and after the 4th cycle. The primary endpoint of the study was change in left ventricular ejection fraction. Cancer therapeutics-related cardiac dysfunction was defined as a drop in left ventricular ejection fraction of ≥ 10% from baseline. RESULTS: Results from 30 patients were included in the final analysis (15 patients in each group). In the intervention and control groups, left ventricular ejection fraction was dropped from 62.0 ± 0.9% to 60.7 ± 1.0% (difference = -1.3 ± 1.1%) and from 63.27 ± 1.1% to 58.0 ± 1.3% (difference = -5.27 ± 0.8%), respectively (difference = 3.97%, p = 0.006) at the end of the fourth cycle of chemotherapy. After the eighth cycle of chemotherapy, the mean left ventricular ejection fraction was increased by 0.8 ± 1.3% from baseline in the intervention group, whereas the placebo group experienced a reduction of -7.3 ± 1.4% (difference = 8.1%, p-value < 0.001). None of the patients in the ginseng group in comparison to 1(6.7%, p-value = 0.5) and 5 (33.3%, p-value = 0.02) patients in the placebo group developed cancer therapeutics-related cardiac dysfunction after the fourth and eighth cycles, respectively. High-sensitive cardiac troponin I levels were not significantly different between groups. CONCLUSIONS: Prophylactic ginseng supplementation may protect against doxorubicin-induced early cancer therapeutics-related cardiac dysfunction and early decline in left ventricular ejection fraction in breast cancer patients.

Research progress on metabolomics in the quality evaluation and clinical study of Panax ginseng.

Panax ginseng, an essential component of traditional medicine and often referred to as the king of herbs, has played a pivotal role in medicine globally for several millennia. Previously, traditional phytochemical methods were mainly used for quality evaluation and pharmacological mechanism studies of ginseng, resulting in the lack of systematicness and innovation and hindering the development and utilization of ginseng resources. Since the beginning of the new century, systems biology technology represented by metabolomics has shown unique advantages in the modernization and internationalization of herbal medicine, establishing a bridge for communication between traditional medicine and modern medicine. P. ginseng, a special herb used in medicine and food, is one of the main research objects for qualitative and quantitative analysis of metabolomics and has gradually become the focus of researchers globally. Here, we conducted a comprehensive summary and analysis of numerous studies published in ginseng metabolomics. This review aims to provide more novel ideas for the quality evaluation, development, and clinical application of ginseng in the future and offer more useful technical references for the modernization and internationalization of herbal medicine based on metabolomics.