A brief method for preparation of gintonin-enriched fraction from ginseng

Abstract

BackgroundGinseng has been used as a tonic for invigoration of the human body. In a previous report, we identified a novel candidate responsible for the tonic role of ginseng, designated gintonin. Gintonin induces [Ca2+]i transient in animal cells via lysophosphatidic acid receptor activation. Gintonin-mediated [Ca2+]i transient is linked to anti-Alzheimer's activity in transgenic Alzheimer's disease animal model. The previous method for gintonin preparation included multiple steps. The aim of this study is to develop a simple method of gintonin fraction with a high yield.MethodsWe developed a brief method to obtain gintonin using ethanol and water. We extracted ginseng with fermentation ethanol and fractionated the extract with water to obtain water-soluble and water-insoluble fractions. The water-insoluble precipitate, rather than the water-soluble supernatant, induced a large [Ca2+]i transient in primary astrocytes. We designated this fraction as gintonin-enriched fraction (GEF).ResultsThe yield of GEF was approximately 6-fold higher than that obtained in the previous gintonin preparation method. The apparent molecular weight of GEF, determined using sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, was equivalent to that obtained in the previous gintonin preparation method. GEF induced [Ca2+]i transient in cortical astrocytes. The effective dose (ED50) was 0.3 ± 0.09 μg/mL. GEF used the same signal transduction pathway as gintonin during [Ca2+]i transient induction in mouse cortical astrocytes.ConclusionBecause GEF can be prepared through water precipitation of ginseng ethanol extract and is easily reproducible with high yield, it could be commercially utilized for the development of gintonin-derived functional health food and natural medicine.

Gintonin Attenuates D-Galactose-Induced Hippocampal Senescence by Improving Long-Term Hippocampal Potentiation, Neurogenesis, and Cognitive Functions

“…Gintonin consists of carbohydrates, lipids, and ginseng proteins. The total content of carbohydrates, lipids, and proteins in gintonin were approximately 30, 20.2, and 30.3%, respectively, and included other minor components [16]. The lipid composition of gintonin, detected by LC-MS/MS, was as follows: fatty acids (7.53% linoleic acid, 2.82% palmitic acid, and 1.46% oleic acid), 0.60% lysophospholipids and phospholipids, and 1.75% phosphatidic acids.…”

“…Gintonin was prepared as previously described [16]. One kilogram of 4-year-old ginseng (Korea Ginseng Corporation, Daejeon, Republic of Korea) was cut into small pieces (> 3 mm) and refluxed with 70% fermented ethanol 8 times, for 8 h each, at 80 ° C. The extracts (340 g) were concentrated, dissolved in distilled cold water at a ratio of 1: 10, and stored at 4 ° C for 24-96 h. The supernatant and precipitate fractions obtained by water fractionation after ethanol extraction of ginseng were separated by centrifugation (3,000 rpm, 20 min).…”

Effects of Gintonin-Enriched Fraction on Methylmercury-Induced Neurotoxicity and Organ Methylmercury Elimination

“…Gintonin-enriched fraction (GEF) was prepared according to a previously described method [19]. Briefly, 1 kg of 4-year-old ginseng was ground into small pieces (>3 mm) and refluxed with 70% fermentation ethanol 8 times for 8 h at 80 • C each.…”

Gintonin-Enriched Fraction Suppresses Heat Stress-Induced Inflammation through LPA Receptor

“…The yield of GEF is 1.3%. The total proteins were approximately 30.3%, carbohydrates were 30% and lipid was 20.2% in GEF [30].…”