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KMID : 0352719960200040540
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Journal of Ginseng Research
1996 Volume.20 No. 4 p.540 ~ p.545
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Ginseng Research in Japan During The Past 20 Years
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Shoyama, Yukihiro
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Abstract
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For the past 20 years in Japan, scientific investigations on ginseng have been widely advanced because ginseng is used not only as one of the most important Chinese medicine, but also as modern medicine. Although it seems to be difficult to review shortly, following four fields: cultivation, bioactive principle, pharmacological activity, iotechnological investigation and future on ginseng researches were discussed.
1. Cultivation of Panax ginseng started approximately 230 years ago in Shimane Prefecture in Japan, and the major cultivation area is now concentrated in three parts, Nagano, Fukushim and Shimane Prefectures. Continuous cultivation carried some problems regarded to the pathogen attack. Therefore, the breeding of this species has heen investigated by the selection and the crossing method to fix a new strain in Japan.
2. After the structure elucidation of genuine sapogenins. 20(S)-protopanaxadiol and 20(S)-protopanaxatriol by Prof. Shibata and his co-workers, many ginsenosides have oeen isolated from the crude ginseng, and various Panax organs: leaves. flower buds and fruits. Malonylated ginsenosides were found by Prof. Kitagawa´s group, and they make clear the processing mechanism of ginseng. Moreover, Japaness ginseng. P. japonicus has been studies, and isolated to elucidate their structures resulting in an addition of new ginsenosides.
3. Since ginsenosides posses an unique dammarane-type triterpene skeleton in a molecule, pharmacological effects of ginsenosides have been investigated widely regarding on central nervous system like spontaneous motor activity, learning and memory, cultured neuron cells and so on. However, many researchers still believe that ginseng may contain unknown bioactive principles because many pharmacological and immunological surveys for the crude ginseng extract have been done, and various kinds of effects have been reported. Recently clinical applications of Chinese medicine containing ginseng and crude ginseng for patients are increasing in Japan.
4. In this 20 years, many papers appeared in the biotechnological field of P. ginseng dividing into two different directions of study: the mass production of ginsenosides by culturing and the in vitro breeding. It became evident that cultured tissue of P. ginseng accumulated a higller amount of ginsenosides, and has been developed to use as a functional and health food, furthermore as a bath essence in Japan. It was reported that hairly root culture transformed by Agrobacterium rhizogenes promoted the production of ginsenosides. In order to apply the culturing of Panax species for breeding, micropropagation systems via somatic embryogenesis and/or multiple shooting system have been set up. However, since the transplantation of regenerated plantlets via somatic embryogenesis to soil is quite difficult, the problems on breeding still remain.
5. Recently many receptors have been found in animal bodies. But in the case of ginseng, no evidence regarding receptor has been presented. This area should be expanded in order to jump and create some new idea for ginseng studies in the coming centry. Crude ginseng preparation and Chinese medicine prescription containing ginseng may increase in the clinical application. Therefore, the most important point is the qualitycontrol which still depends upon the growth environment. Moreover, residual chemicals like pesticide and insecticide in ginseng preparation is also severe point because patients should take ginseng repeatedly. Therefore, the breeding of homogeneous population and anti-pathogen strain should be promoted using the biotechnological methodology. Since ginseng has a multifunctional activity, the bioactive compounds for instance ginsenosides, polyacetylene compounds and polysaccharides, should be roughly separated and used for individual clinical application. Such ginseng researches in future were suggested.
Introduction
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KEYWORD
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