Ginseng (Panax spp., Araliaceae family) is of the medicinal and edible tonic with a medicinal history of over four thousand years for the prevention and treatment of cardiovascular diseases, neurodegenerative diseases, cancer, fatigue, aging, and metabolic diseases. This genus is composed of 12 species and varieties, among which Panax ginseng C. A. Meyer, Panax notoginseng, and Panax quinquefolius L. are the most representative and valuable herbs worldwide, with a long history of cultivation.
The plants of genus Panax are rich in triterpene saponins with various biological activities. In recent years, with the emergence and application of various new separation materials and equipment, novel trace saponins from Panax species have been constantly discovered and biologically evaluated. These new minor saponins with unique chemical structures and biological functions are an important source of drug discovery. New LC-MS and LC-NMR technologies are powerful tools to identify trace saponins in plant extracts. In addition to the saponins in Panax plants themselves, minor derived saponins from natural ones during processing or by biotransformation and chemical conversion also show extremely high values.
Although major saponins in Panax plants are very important, trace saponins also play an indispensable role in the integration of pharmacodynamics. Compared to the investigations of major saponins, studies on minor saponins are very inadequate. It is necessary to establish fast and efficient methods for targeted separation of minor saponins and evaluate their biological activities.
Minor components, such as ginsenosides Rh3, Rh4, and Rg5 exhibit excellent activities and have attracted lots of attention from scientists. However, they were isolated from red ginseng firstly and thought of as the production from some major ones during processing. Therefore, studying the chemical and biological transformation of saponins is effective for the discovery of new lead compounds.
We welcome Original papers, Reviews articles, and Mini Reviews, but not limited to:
• Isolation and structure elucidation of minor saponins;
• New minor saponins by chemical conversion or biotransformation of major saponins;
• Evaluation of the pharmacological effects of minor saponins (in silico, in vitro, in vivo, and clinical trial);
• Pharmacokinetics of minor saponins;
• Toxicology/ toxicokinetics of minor saponins.
Studies carried out with crude extracts/multiherbal preparations will not be considered for review. In contrast, studies which utilize highly purified, chemically characterized compounds meet the minimum criteria for investigation of pharmacological effect.
Where extracts are claimed to meet such minimum criteria, chemical structure and purity must be precisely described by appropriate analytical methods (e.g. chromatography and/or mass spectrometry).
Ginseng (Panax spp., Araliaceae family) is of the medicinal and edible tonic with a medicinal history of over four thousand years for the prevention and treatment of cardiovascular diseases, neurodegenerative diseases, cancer, fatigue, aging, and metabolic diseases. This genus is composed of 12 species and varieties, among which Panax ginseng C. A. Meyer, Panax notoginseng, and Panax quinquefolius L. are the most representative and valuable herbs worldwide, with a long history of cultivation.
The plants of genus Panax are rich in triterpene saponins with various biological activities. In recent years, with the emergence and application of various new separation materials and equipment, novel trace saponins from Panax species have been constantly discovered and biologically evaluated. These new minor saponins with unique chemical structures and biological functions are an important source of drug discovery. New LC-MS and LC-NMR technologies are powerful tools to identify trace saponins in plant extracts. In addition to the saponins in Panax plants themselves, minor derived saponins from natural ones during processing or by biotransformation and chemical conversion also show extremely high values.
Although major saponins in Panax plants are very important, trace saponins also play an indispensable role in the integration of pharmacodynamics. Compared to the investigations of major saponins, studies on minor saponins are very inadequate. It is necessary to establish fast and efficient methods for targeted separation of minor saponins and evaluate their biological activities.
Minor components, such as ginsenosides Rh3, Rh4, and Rg5 exhibit excellent activities and have attracted lots of attention from scientists. However, they were isolated from red ginseng firstly and thought of as the production from some major ones during processing. Therefore, studying the chemical and biological transformation of saponins is effective for the discovery of new lead compounds.
We welcome Original papers, Reviews articles, and Mini Reviews, but not limited to:
• Isolation and structure elucidation of minor saponins;
• New minor saponins by chemical conversion or biotransformation of major saponins;
• Evaluation of the pharmacological effects of minor saponins (in silico, in vitro, in vivo, and clinical trial);
• Pharmacokinetics of minor saponins;
• Toxicology/ toxicokinetics of minor saponins.
Studies carried out with crude extracts/multiherbal preparations will not be considered for review. In contrast, studies which utilize highly purified, chemically characterized compounds meet the minimum criteria for investigation of pharmacological effect.
Where extracts are claimed to meet such minimum criteria, chemical structure and purity must be precisely described by appropriate analytical methods (e.g. chromatography and/or mass spectrometry).
