Effects of growth years on ginsenoside biosynthesis of wild ginseng and cultivated ginseng

Integrated Analysis of Ginsenoside Content and Biomarker Changes in Processed Ginseng: Implications for Anti-Cancer Mechanisms

Black ginseng is the processed product of ginseng, and it has been found that the content and types of rare ginsenosides increased after processing. However, there is limited research on the ginsenoside differences between cultivated and forest ginseng before and after processing and among various plant parts. This study investigated the effects of processing on ginsenosides in different parts of cultivated and forest ginseng. After processing, the contents of Re, Rg1, S-Rg3, Rg5, R-Rh1, Rk1, Rk3, and F4 were significantly increased or decreased, the growth age of forest ginseng was not proportional to the content of ginsenosides, and the differences in ginsenoside content in ginseng from different cultivation methods were relatively small. Chemometric analysis identified processing biomarkers showing varying percentage changes in different parts. Network pharmacology predicted the EGFR/PI3K/Akt/mTOR pathway as a potential key pathway for the anti-cancer effect of black ginseng.

Systematic identification and functional analysis of root meristem growth factors (RGFs) reveals role of PgRGF1 in modulation of root development and ginsenoside production in Panax ginseng

Panax ginseng C.A. Mey., known for its medicinal and dietary supplement properties, primarily contains pharmacologically active ginsenosides. However, the regulatory mechanisms linking ginseng root development with ginsenoside biosynthesis are still unclear. Root meristem growth factors (RGFs) are crucial for regulating plant root growth. In our study, we identified five ginseng RGF peptide sequences from the ginseng genome and transcriptome libraries. We treated Arabidopsis and ginseng adventitious roots with exogenous Panax ginseng RGFs (PgRGFs) to assess their activities. Our results demonstrate that PgRGF1 influences gravitropic responses and reduces lateral root formation in Arabidopsis. PgRGF1 has been found to restrict the number and length of ginseng adventitious root branches in ginseng. Given the medicinal properties of ginseng, We determined the ginsenoside content and performed transcriptomic analysis of PgRGF1-treated ginseng adventitious roots. Specifically, the total ginsenoside content in ginseng adventitious roots decreased by 19.98 % and 63.71 % following treatments with 1 μM and 10 μM PgRGF1, respectively, compared to the control. The results revealed that PgRGF1 affects the accumulation of ginsenosides by regulating the expression of genes associated with auxin transportation and ginsenoside biosynthesis. These findings suggest that PgRGF1, as a peptide hormone regulator in ginseng, can modulate adventitious root growth and ginsenoside accumulation.

Recent trends in ginseng research

Ginseng, the dried root of Panax ginseng, contains ginsenosides and has long been used in Korea, China, and Japan to treat various symptoms. Many studies on the utility of ginseng have been conducted and in this paper we investigate recent trends in ginseng research. P. ginseng studies were collected from scientific databases (PubMed, Web of Science, and SciFindern) using the keywords "Panax ginseng C.A. Meyer", "ginsenosides", "genetic diversity", "biosynthesis", "cultivation", and "pharmacology". We identified 1208 studies up to and including September 2023: 549 studies on pharmacology, 262 studies on chemical components, 131 studies on molecular biology, 58 studies on cultivation, 71 studies on tissue culture, 28 studies on clinical trials, 123 reviews, and 49 studies in other fields. Many researchers focused on the characteristic ginseng component ginsenoside to elucidate the mechanism of ginseng's pharmacological action, the relationship between component patterns and cultivation areas and conditions, and gene expression.

Comparative Metabolome and Transcriptome Analyses Reveal Differential Enrichment of Metabolites with Age in Panax notoginseng Roots

Panax notoginseng is a perennial plant well known for its versatile medicinal properties, including hepatoprotective, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-tumor, estrogen-like, and antidepressant characteristics. It has been reported that plant age affects the quality of P. notoginseng. This study aimed to explore the differential metabolome and transcriptome of 2-year (PN2) and 3-year-old (PN3) P. notoginseng plant root samples. Principal component analysis of metabolome and transcriptome data revealed major differences between the two groups (PN2 vs. PN3). A total of 1813 metabolites and 28,587 genes were detected in this study, of which 255 metabolites and 3141 genes were found to be differential (p < 0.05) between PN2 vs. PN3, respectively. Among differential metabolites and genes, 155 metabolites and 1217 genes were up-regulated, while 100 metabolites and 1924 genes were down-regulated. The KEGG pathway analysis revealed differentially enriched metabolites belonging to class lipids ("13S-hydroperoxy-9Z, 11E-octadecadionic acid", "9S-hydroxy-10E, 12Z-octadecadionic acid", "9S-oxo-10E, 12Z-octadecadionic acid", and "9,10,13-trihydroxy-11-octadecadionic acid"), nucleotides and derivatives (guanine and cytidine), and phenolic acids (chlorogenic acid) were found to be enriched (p < 0.05) in PN3 compared to PN2. Further, these differentially enriched metabolites were found to be significantly (p < 0.05) regulated via linoleic acid metabolism, nucleotide metabolism, plant hormone signal transduction, and arachidonic acid metabolism pathways. Furthermore, the transcriptome analysis showed the up-regulation of key genes MAT, DMAS, SDH, gallate 1-beta-glucosyltransferase, and beta-D-glucosidase in various plants' secondary metabolic pathways and SAUR, GID1, PP2C, ETR, CTR1, EBF1/2, and ERF1/2 genes observed in phytohormone signal transduction pathway that is involved in plant growth and development, and protection against the various stressors. This study concluded that the roots of a 3-year-old P. notoginseng plant have better metabolome and transcriptome profiles compared to a 2-year-old plant with importantly enriched metabolites and genes in pathways related to metabolism, plant hormone signal transduction, and various biological processes. These findings provide insights into the plant's dynamic biochemical and molecular changes during its growth that have several implications regarding its therapeutic use.

Integrated transcriptome and metabolome analysis provide insights into the mechanism of saponin biosynthesis and its role in alleviating cadmium-induced oxidative damage in Ophiopogon japonicum

Zhe-Maidong, a cultivar of Ophiopogon japonicus is a prominent traditional herbal medicine rich in saponins. This study explored the mechanism of saponin biosynthesis and its role in alleviating Cd-induced oxidative damage in the Zhe-Maidong cultivar using three experimental groups undergoing Cd stress. In the Cd-contaminated soil treatment, total saponins were 1.68 times higher than those in the control. The saponin content in the Cd-2 and Cd-3 treatments was approximately twice as high as that in the Cd-CK treatment. These findings revealed that Cd stress leads to total saponin accumulation. Metabolomic analysis identified the accumulated saponins, primarily several monoterpenoids, diterpenoids, and triterpenoids. The increased saponins exhibited an antioxidant ability to prevent the accumulation of Cd-induced reactive oxygen species (ROS). Subsequent saponin application experiments provided strong evidence that saponin played a crucial role in promoting superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity and reducing ROS accumulation. Transcriptome analysis revealed vital genes for saponin synthesis under Cd stress, including SE, two SSs, and six CYP450s, positively correlated with differentially expressed metabolite (DEM) levels in the saponin metabolic pathway. Additionally, the TF-gene regulatory network demonstrated that bHLH1, bHLH3, mTERF, and AUX/IAA transcript factors are crucial regulators of hub genes involved in saponin synthesis. These findings significantly contribute to our understanding of the regulatory network of saponin synthesis and its role in reducing oxidative damage in O. japonicum when exposed to Cd stress.

Endophytic fungi of Panax sokpayensis produce bioactive ginsenoside Compound K in flask fermentation

Endophytes of Panax have the potential to produce their host plant secondary metabolites, ginsenosides. Panax sokpayensis, an endemic traditional medicinal plant of the Sikkim Himalayas was explored for the isolation of endophytic fungi. In the present study, we have isolated 35 endophytic fungal cultures from the rhizome of P. sokpayensis and screened for ginsenosides production by HPLC by comparing the peak retention time with that of standard ginsenosides. The HPLC analysis revealed that out of 35 isolates, the mycelial extracts of four fungal endophytes (PSRF52, PSRF53, PSRF49 and PSRF58) exhibited peaks with a similar retention time of the standard ginsenoside, Compound K (CK). LC-ESI-MS/MS analysis led to the confirmation of ginsenoside CK production by the four fungal endophytes which showed a compound with m/z 639.6278, similar to that of standard ginsenoside CK with yield in potato dextrose broth flask fermentation ranging from 0.0019 to 0.0386 mg/g of mycelial mass in dry weight basis. The four prospective fungal endophyte isolates were identified as Thermothielavioides terrestris PSRF52, Aspergillus sp. PSRF49, Rutstroemiaceae sp. strain PSRF53, and Phaeosphaeriaceae sp. strain PSRF58 based on ITS sequencing. The present finding highlights the need for further study on growth optimization and other culture parameters to exploit the endophytes as an alternative source for ginsenoside CK production.

Beyond genome: Advanced omics progress of Panax ginseng

Ginseng is a perennial herb of the genus Panax in the family Araliaceae as one of the most important traditional medicine. Genomic studies of ginseng assist in the systematic discovery of genes related to bioactive ginsenosides biosynthesis and resistance to stress, which are of great significance in the conservation of genetic resources and variety improvement. The transcriptome reflects the difference and consistency of gene expression, and transcriptomics studies of ginseng assist in screening ginseng differentially expressed genes to further explore the powerful gene source of ginseng. Protein is the ultimate bearer of ginseng life activities, and proteomic studies of ginseng assist in exploring the biosynthesis and regulation of secondary metabolites like ginsenosides and the molecular mechanism of ginseng adversity adaptation at the overall level. In this review, we summarize the current status of ginseng research in genomics, transcriptomics and proteomics, respectively. We also discuss and look forward to the development of ginseng genome allele mapping, ginseng spatiotemporal, single-cell transcriptome, as well as ginseng post-translational modification proteome. We hope that this review will contribute to the in-depth study of ginseng and provide a reference for future analysis of ginseng from a systems biology perspective.

Increasing the Amounts of Bioactive Components in American Ginseng (Panax quinquefolium L.) Leaves Using Far-Infrared Irradiation

Both the roots and leaves of American ginseng contain ginsenosides and polyphenols. The impact of thermal processing on enhancing the biological activities of the root by altering its component composition has been widely reported. However, the effects of far-infrared irradiation (FIR), an efficient heat treatment method, on the bioactive components of the leaves remain to be elucidated. In the present study, we investigated the effects of FIR heat treatment between 160 and 200 °C on the deglycosylation and dehydration rates of the bioactive components in American ginseng leaves. As the temperature was increased, the amounts of common ginsenosides decreased while those of rare ginsenosides increased. After FIR heat treatment of American ginseng leaves at an optimal 190 °C, the highest total polyphenolic content and kaempferol content were detected, the antioxidant activity was significantly enhanced, and the amounts of the rare ginsenosides F4, Rg6, Rh4, Rk3, Rk1, Rg3, and Rg5 were 41, 5, 37, 64, 222, 17, and 266 times higher than those in untreated leaves, respectively. Moreover, the radical scavenging rates for 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl and 2,2'-azino-bis (3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) and the reducing power of the treated leaf extracts were 2.17, 1.86, and 1.77 times higher, respectively. Hence, FIR heat treatment at 190 °C is an efficient method for producing beneficial bioactive components from American ginseng leaves.

Transcriptome and Metabolome Analysis of Isoquinoline Alkaloid Biosynthesis of Coptis chinensis in Different Years

Coptis chinensis is a perennial herb of the Ranunculaceae family. The isoquinoline alkaloid is the main active component of C. chinensis, mainly exists in its rhizomes and has high clinical application potential. The in vitro synthesis of isoquinoline alkaloids is difficult because their structures are complex; hence, plants are still the main source of them. In this study, two-year and four-year rhizomes of C. chinensis were selected to investigate the effect of growth years on the accumulation of isoquinoline alkaloids. Two-year and four-year C. chinensis were selected for metabolomics detection and transcriptomic analysis. A total of 413 alkaloids were detected by metabolomics analysis, of which 92 were isoquinoline alkaloids. (S)-reticuline was a significantly different accumulated metabolite of the isoquinoline alkaloids biosynthetic pathway in C. chinensis between the two groups. The results of transcriptome analysis showed that a total of 464 differential genes were identified, 36 of which were associated with the isoquinoline alkaloid biosynthesis pathway of C. chinensis. Among them, 18 genes were correlated with the content of important isoquinoline alkaloids. Overall, this study provided a comprehensive metabolomic and transcriptomic analysis of the rapid growth stage of C. chinensis rhizome from the perspective of growth years. It brought new insights into the biosynthetic pathway of isoquinoline alkaloids and provided information for utilizing biotechnology to improve their contents in C. chinensis.

Combined Metabolome and Transcriptome Analysis of Creamy Yellow and Purple Colored Panax notoginseng Roots

Panax notoginseng (Burk.) F.H. Chen is a species of the Araliaceae family that inhabits southwestern China, Burma, and Nepal. It is cultivated on a commercial scale in Yunnan province, China, owing to its significance in traditional Chinese medicine. Panax notoginseng roots are usually yellow-white (HS); however, purple roots (ZS) have also been reported. The majority of P. notoginseng research has concentrated on the identification and production of natural chemicals in HS; however, there is little to no information about the composition of ZS. Using UPLC-MS/MS, we investigated the global metabolome profile of both ZS- and HS-type roots and discovered 834 metabolites from 11 chemical groups. There were 123 differentially accumulated metabolites (DAM) in the HS and ZS roots, which were classified as lipids and lipid-like molecules, polyketides, organoheterocyclic chemicals, and organooxygen compounds. We investigated the associated compounds in the DAMs because of the importance of anthocyanins in color and saponins and ginsenosides in health benefits. In general, we discovered that pigment compounds such as petunidin 3-glucoside, delphinidin 3-glucoside, and peonidin-3-O-beta-galactoside were more abundant in ZS. The saponin (eight compounds) and ginsenoside (26 compounds) content of the two varieties of roots differed as well. Transcriptome sequencing revealed that flavonoid and anthocyanin production genes were more abundant in ZS than in HS. Similarly, we found differences in gene expression in genes involved in terpenoid production and related pathways. Overall, these findings suggest that the purple roots of P. notoginseng contain varying amounts of ginsenosides and anthocyanins compared to roots with a creamy yellow color.

Small RNA-Seq to Unveil the miRNA Expression Patterns and Identify the Target Genes in Panax ginseng

Panax ginseng, renowned for its medicinal properties, relies on adventitious roots and hairy roots as crucial sources for the production of ginsenosides. Despite the widespread utilization of ginseng, investigations into its miRNAs have remained scarce. To address this gap, two samples of ginseng adventitious roots and ginseng hairy roots were collected, and subsequent construction and sequencing of small RNA libraries of ginseng adventitious roots and hairy roots were performed using the Illumina HiSeq X Ten platform. The analysis of the sequencing data unveiled total miRNAs 2432. The miR166 and miR396 were the most highly expressed miRNA families in ginseng. The miRNA expression analysis results were used to validate the qRT-PCR. Target genes of miRNA were predicted and GO function annotation and KEGG pathway analysis were performed on target genes. It was found that miRNAs are mainly involved in synthetic pathways and biological processes in plants, which include metabolic and bioregulatory processes. The plant miRNAs enriched KEGG pathways are associated with some metabolism, especially amino acid metabolism and carbohydrate metabolism. These results provide valuable insights miRNAs and their roles in metabolic processes in ginseng.

Comparative transcriptome analysis on wild-simulated ginseng of different age revealed possible mechanism of ginsenoside accumulation

Panax ginseng is one of the most famous pharmaceutical plants in Asia. Ginseng plants grown in mountain have longer longevity which ensures higher accumulation of ginsenoside components than those grown in farms. However, wild-simulated ginseng over certain age cannot be easily distinguished in morphology. To identify transcriptomic mechanism of ginsenoside accumulation in older wild-simulated ginseng without large phenotype change, we performed comparative transcriptome analysis for leaf, shoot, and root tissues of 7-yr-old and 13yr-old wild-simulated ginseng. Of 559 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in comparison between 7-yr-old and 13yr-old wild-simulated ginseng, 280 leaf-, 103 shoot-, and 164 root-mainly expressing genes were found to be changed in transcript level according to age. Functional analysis revealed that pentose-phosphate shunt and abscisic acid responsive genes were up-regulated in leaf tissues of 7-yr-old ginseng while defense responsive genes were up-regulated in root tissues of 13-yr-old ginseng. Quantitative real-time PCR revealed that jasmonic acid responsive genes, ERDL6, and some UGTs were up-regulated in 13-yr-old ginseng in higher order lateral root tissues. These data suggest that bacterial stimulation in mountain region can enhance the expression of several genes which might support minor ginsenoside biosynthesis.

Genome-wide characterization, evolutionary analysis, and expression pattern analysis of the trihelix transcription factor family and gene expression analysis under MeJA treatment in Panax ginseng

Panax ginseng is a well-known medicinal plant with several pharmacological uses in China. The trihelix family transcription factors, also known as GT factors, can be involved in the regulation of growth and developmental processes in plants. There have been no in-depth reports or systematic studies about the trihelix transcription factor in ginseng. In this study, the structure, chromosomal localization, gene duplication, phylogeny, functional differentiation, expression patterns and coexpression interactions of trihelix transcripts were analysed using bioinformatics methods based on the ginseng transcriptome database. Thirty-two trihelix transcription factor genes were identified in ginseng, and these genes were alternatively spliced to obtain 218 transcripts. These transcripts were unevenly distributed on different chromosomes of ginseng, and phylogenetic analysis classified the PgGT transcripts into five subgroups. Gene Ontology (GO) analysis classified PgGT transcripts into eight functional subclasses, indicating that they are functionally diverse. The expression pattern analysis of 218 PgGT transcripts revealed that their expression was tissue-specific and spatiotemporally-specific in 14 different tissues of 4-year-old ginseng, 4 different ages of ginseng roots, and 42 farmers' cultivars of 4-year-old ginseng roots. Despite the differences in the expression patterns of these transcripts, coexpression network analysis revealed that these transcripts could be expressed synergistically in ginseng. In addition, two randomly selected PgGT transcripts in each of the five different subfamilies were subjected to methyl jasmonate treatment at different times, and PgGT was able to respond to the regulation of methy1 jasmonate. These results provide a theoretical basis and gene resources for an in-depth study of the function of trihelix genes in other plants.

Genetic and molecular dissection of ginseng (Panax ginseng Mey.) germplasm using high-density genic SNP markers, secondary metabolites, and gene expressions

Genetic and molecular knowledge of a species is crucial to its gene discovery and enhanced breeding. Here, we report the genetic and molecular dissection of ginseng, an important herb for healthy food and medicine. A mini-core collection consisting of 344 cultivars and landraces was developed for ginseng that represents the genetic variation of ginseng existing in its origin and diversity center. We sequenced the transcriptomes of all 344 cultivars and landraces; identified over 1.5 million genic SNPs, thereby revealing the genic diversity of ginseng; and analyzed them with 26,600 high-quality genic SNPs or a selection of them. Ginseng had a wide molecular diversity and was clustered into three subpopulations. Analysis of 16 ginsenosides, the major bioactive components for healthy food and medicine, showed that ginseng had a wide variation in the contents of all 16 ginsenosides and an extensive correlation of their contents, suggesting that they are synthesized through a single or multiple correlated pathways. Furthermore, we pair-wisely examined the relationships between the cultivars and landraces, revealing their relationships in gene expression, gene variation, and ginsenoside biosynthesis. These results provide new knowledge and new genetic and genic resources for advanced research and breeding of ginseng and related species.

Transcription Factors ZjMYB39 and ZjMYB4 Regulate Farnesyl Diphosphate Synthase- and Squalene Synthase-Mediated Triterpenoid Biosynthesis in Jujube

Jujube (Ziziphus jujuba Mill.) is rich in valuable bioactive triterpenoids. However, the regulatory mechanism underlying triterpenoid biosynthesis in jujube remains poorly studied. Here, we characterized the triterpenoid content in wild jujube and cultivated jujube. The triterpenoid content was higher in wild jujube than in cultivated jujube, triterpenoids were most abundant in young leaves, buds, and later stages of development. The transcriptome analysis and correlation analysis showed that differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were enriched in the terpenoid synthesis pathways, and triterpenoids content was strongly correlated with farnesyl diphosphate synthase (ZjFPS), squalene synthase (ZjSQS), and transcription factors ZjMYB39 and ZjMYB4 expression. Gene overexpression and silencing analysis indicated that ZjFPS and ZjSQS were key genes in triterpenoid biosynthesis and transcription factors ZjMYB39 and ZjMYB4 regulated triterpenoid biosynthesis. Subcellular localization experiments showed that ZjFPS and ZjSQS were localized to the nucleus and endoplasmic reticulum and ZjMYB39 and ZjMYB4 were localized to the nucleus. Yeast one-hybrid, glucuronidase activity, and dual-luciferase activity assays suggested that ZjMYB39 and ZjMYB4 regulate triterpenoid biosynthesis by directly binding and activating the promoters of ZjFPS and ZjSQS. These findings provide insights into the underlying regulatory network of triterpenoids metabolism in jujube and lay theoretical and practical foundation for molecular breeding.

Ginsenoside Rb1 for overcoming cisplatin-insensitivity of A549/DDP cells in vitro and vivo through the dual-inhibition on two efflux pumps of ABCB1 and PTCH1

BACKGROUND

The multi-drug resistance is an inherent weakness in the chemotherapeutics of non-small cell lung cancer occurring frequently all over the world. Clinically, ginseng and Chinese medicinal prescriptions including ginseng usually used as anti-tumor adjuncts due to its characteristic of qi-invigorating, which could improve the curative effect of chemotherapy drugs and reduce their toxic side effects. Triterpenoid saponins are the crucial active ingredients in Panax ginseng, and Ginsenoside Rb₁ is of the highest quantities. However, the research on the tumor drug-resistance reversal effect and mechanism of ginsenoside Rb₁ is still not clear.

PURPOSE

This study aimed to systematically estimate the reversal activity of Ginsenoside Rb₁ on cisplatin-insensitivity of A549/DDP cells and to reveal its prospective molecular mechanism.

METHODS

MTT assay were conducted to evaluate the reversal activity on cisplatin-insensitivity of A549/DDP cells of Ginsenoside Rb₁in vitro, and the behavior was also studied by establishing a subcutaneous transplanted tumor model of A549/DDP in BALB/c-nu mice. In addition, P-gp ATPase activity assay, cisplatin accumulation assay, Annexin V-FITC apoptosis assay, real-time qPCR analysis and western blotting analysis were used to clarify the potential mechanism.

RESULTS

Ginsenoside Rb₁ could effectively reverse the cisplatin-resistance of A549/DDP in vitro and vivo. And after the co-treatment of Ginsenoside Rb₁ plus cisplatin, the accumulation of cisplatin increased in A549/DDP cells, which was accompanied with the down-regulation of the mRNA and protein expression levels of ABCB1, SHH, PTCH1 and GLI2. Besides, the apoptosis-inducing ability of cisplatin improved by the relative regulation on the protein expression level of Bax and Bcl-2. Far more importantly, the changes of CYP3A4 mRNA and protein levels were not significant.

CONCLUSION

Ginsenoside Rb₁ could increase the concentration of intracellular cisplatin and improve the insensitivity for cisplatin on A549/DDP cells. Even better, there was perhaps no unpredictable CYP3A4-mediated pharmacokinetic interactions after the combination of Ginsenoside Rb₁ plus cisplatin. Ginsenoside Rb₁ was a probable reversal agent for the cisplatin-insensitivity of A549/DDP cells, with a bifunction of inhibiting the efflux of two drug pumps (P-gp and PTCH1) by targeting ABCB1 and Hedgehog (Hh) pathway. In general, this research laid the groundwork for the development of a new reversal agent for the cisplatin-insensitivity of NSCLC.

Enhanced profiling and quantification of ginsenosides from mountain-cultivated ginseng and comparison with garden-cultivated ginseng

Panax ginseng can be generally divided into mountain-cultivated ginseng (MCG) and garden-cultivated ginseng (GCG). The market price of MCG is significantly higher than that of GCG. However, the chemical compositions of MCG and the differences from GCG remained unclear. In this study, an integrated strategy combing an offline two-dimensional liquid chromatography separation, LTQ-orbitrap dual mode acquisition, and Q-trap full quantification/quasi-quantification was proposed to explore and compare the chemical compositions of MCG. Consequently, 559 ginsenosides were characterized, among which 437 ginsenosides were in-depth characterized with α-chain and β-chain annotated. Subsequently, enhanced quantification of 213 ginsenosides was conducted in 57 batches of MCG and GCG. Ginsenosides were found more abundant in MCG than GCG. In addition, 25-year-old MCG could be distinctly differentiated from 15/20-year-old MCG. This strategy facilitated the enhanced profiling and comparison of ginsenosides, improved the quality control tactics of MCG and provided a reference approach for other ginseng related products.

Integrated transcriptome and proteome analyses reveal candidate genes for ginsenoside biosynthesis in Panax japonicus C. A. Meyer

Panax japonicus C. A. Meyer is a plant of the Araliaceae family, and its rhizomes can be used as dietary supplements. It is extremely rich in bioactive components ginsenosides with benefits to human health. However, the underlying mechanisms of ginsenosides biosynthesis in Panax japonicus remains poorly understood. Therefore, a comprehensive analysis of the metabolites, transcriptome, and proteome was conducted to investigate ginsenoside metabolism of Panax japonicus. Here, three types of ginsenosides were found to exhibited tissue-specific distribution using the liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry method. Next, differentially expressed gene analysis revealed that transcript levels of ginsenosides biosynthetic genes have significant differences between differential samples. In addition, correlation analysis showed that the ginsenosides content was closely related to the expression level of 29 cytochrome P450s and 92 Uridine diphosphate-glycosyltransferases. Finally, phylogenetic analysis was performed for the target proteins to conduct preliminary studies on their functions and classification. This study provides insight into the dynamic changes and biosynthetic pathway of ginsenosides and offers valuable information on the metabolic regulation of Panax japonicus.