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Planta Med 1990; 56(1): 27-30
DOI: 10.1055/s-2006-960877
Paper

© Georg Thieme Verlag Stuttgart · New York

Studies on Insulin-Like Substances in Korean Red Ginseng

Takeshi Takaku1 , Kenji Kameda1 , Yukinaga Matsuura2 , Keizo Sekiya2 , Hiromichi Okuda2
  • 1Central Research Laboratory, School of Medicine, Ehime University, Shigenobu-cho, Onsen-gun, Ehime 791-02, Japan
  • 22nd Department of Medical Biochemistry, School of Medicine, Ehime University, Shigenobu-cho, Onsen-gun, Ehime 791-02, Japan
Further Information

Publication History

1988

Publication Date:
05 January 2007 (online)

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Abstract

Korean red ginseng powder was found to contain adenosine and an acidic substance which inhibited epinephrine-induced lipolysis and stimulated insulin-mediated lipogenesis from glucose (3,4). In the present experiment, the chemical structure of this acidic substance is determined to be pyro-glutamic acid. Pyro-glutamic acid exhibits selective modulations toward the opposite metabolic pathways in rat adipocytes; it inhibits the lipolysis but rather stimulates the lipogenesis. Based on these results, we suggest to call these substances (adenosine and pyro-glutamic acid) “selective modulators”.

Key words

Panax ginseng - insulin-like substance - pyro-glutamic acid - selective modulators