In this study, fresh Panax ginseng (80.09% moisture content) was solid fermented with mycelium to increase lipid lowering ability. Fresh ginseng (FG) was cultured by inoculating 20% (w/v) liquid spawn of Phellinus linteus mycelium in the incubator (27...
In this study, fresh Panax ginseng (80.09% moisture content) was solid fermented with mycelium to increase lipid lowering ability. Fresh ginseng (FG) was cultured by inoculating 20% (w/v) liquid spawn of Phellinus linteus mycelium in the incubator (27±1℃, 80±5% humidity) for 30 days. Hot water extracts of Panax ginseng were prepared for in vivo and in vitro studies.
After fermentation, total phenolic and reducing sugar content of FG were increased by 62.2 and 24.7%, respectively (p<0.05). Radical scavenging activities of both FG and solid fermented fresh ginseng (SFFG) were negligible. Amounts of ginsenosides in FG by fermentation were changed significantly. Ginsenoside Rg1, Rb1 and Re contents were increased by 35.0, 94.5 and 42.1%, respectively, while Rh1, Rc, Rg3, and Rh2 contents were decreased by 96.1, 20.2, 97.5 and 100%, respectively, after fermentation. ICR mice fed high fat diet (40% lard, w/w, HFD) for 4 weeks were divided in to three groups (n=10 for each group) based on body weight and plasma triglyceride concentration. Each group was fed HFD continuously with oral administration of either hot water extracts of FG or SFFG (100 mg/Kg body weight/day). Control group fed distilled water as a vehicle. Compared with CON group, plasma TG concentrations of FG and SFFG were decreased by 19.9 (p<0.05) and 29.8% (p<0.01), respectively. TG concentration was further lowered by 12.6% (p<0.05) after fermentation. Total cholesterol concentrations of FG and SFFG were decreased by 11.4 (p<0.05), 30.8% (p<0.01), respectively. By fermentation, plasma TC concentration of FG was further decreased by 22.0% (p<0.01). Also LDL-C for these groups were reduced by 23.8 (p<0.01), 54.8% (p<0.001), respectively, compared with those of CON group. LDL concentration for SFFG were lower by 40.7% (p<0.001) than that of FC. AST levels of FG and SFFG groups elevated by high fat diet were returned to the normal range. Hepatic TG concentration for FG and SFFG groups were decreased by 14.5 and 25.3% (p<0.05), respectively. Hepatic TC concentrations for FG and SFFG groups were lowered by 23.5 (p<0.01) and 25.8% (p<0.001) than those of CON group. Protein concentration of FAS and SREBP-1 for FG and SFFG group were decreased by 25.0 (p=0.002) and 30.1% (p=0.001), and 15.8 and 16.5%, respectively, compared with those of CON group. Protein concentrations of HMGCR and SREBP-2 were reduced by 29.1 (p<0.001), 45.5% (p<0.001), and 26.7 (p=0.03), 35.3% (p=0.03), compared with those of CON group. After fermentation, protein concentrations of HMGCR and SREBP-2 of FG group were further decreased down by 23.1% (p=0.02) and 11.7% (p=0.05), respectively.
In conclusion, solid fermentation of fresh ginseng with Phellinus linteus mycelium was succeeded in terms of elevating lipid lowering ability via changing the ginsenosides contents during the fermentation. Certain ginsenosides such as Rg1, Rb1 and Re concentrations were increased while Rh1, Rc, Rg3, and Rh2 were decreased. Suppression of plasma and hepatic cholesterol concentration by solid fermented fresh ginseng were noticeable. One of possible explanation of these effects might be due to decreased HMG-Co A reductase activity via suppressing SREBP-2 expression by SFFG.