title: Total extract of Korean red ginseng facilitates human bone marrow hematopoietic colony formation in vitro.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The number of CD34+ cells in a peripheral blood stem cell collection is the key factor in predicting successful treatment of hematologic malignancies. Korean Red Ginseng (KRG) (Panax ginseng C.A. Meyer) is the most popular medicinal herb in Korea. The objective of this study was to determine the effect of KRG on hematopoietic colony formation.
  
  
  METHODS
  Bone marrow (BM) samples were obtained from 8 human donors after acquiring informed consent. BM mononuclear cells (MNCs) were isolated, and CD34+ cells were sorted using magnetic beads. The sorted CD34+ cells were incubated with or without total extract of KRG (50 µg/mL, 100 µg/mL) or Ginsenoside Rg1 (100 µg/mL), and the hematopoietic colony assay was performed using methylcellulose semisolid medium. The CD34+ cell counts were measured by a single platform assay using flow cytometry.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The numbers of human BM-MNCs and CD34+ cells obtained after purification were variable among donors (5.6×10(7) and 1.3-48×10(7) and 8.9×10(4) and 1.8-80×10(4), respectively). The cells expanded 1,944 times after incubation for 12 d. Total extract of KRG added to the hematopoietic stem cell (HSC)-specific medium increased CD34+ cell counts 3.6 times compared to 2.6 times when using HSC medium alone. Total numbers of hematopoietic colonies in KRG medium were more than those observed in conventional medium, especially that of erythroid colonies such as burst forming unit-erythroid.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Total extract of KRG facilitated CD34+ cell expansion and hematopoietic colony formation, especially of the erythroid lineage.
authors.affiliation: Department of Laboratory Medicine, Catholic University of Daegu, School of Medicine, Daegu, Korea.
authors.forename: Sang-Gyung
authors.initials: SG
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Department of Laboratory Medicine, Catholic University of Daegu, School of Medicine, Daegu, Korea.
authors.forename: A-Jin
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Division of Hematology/Oncology, Department of Internal Medicine, Catholic University of Daegu, School of Medicine, Daegu, Korea.
authors.forename: Sung Hwa
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Bae
authors.affiliation: Department of Oriental Internal Medicine of Hepatology, College of Oriental Medicine and Daegu Hanny University, Daegu, Korea.
authors.forename: Seong-Mo
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Department of Laboratory Medicine, Catholic University of Daegu, School of Medicine, Daegu, Korea.
authors.forename: Ji-Hye
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Department of Laboratory Medicine, Catholic University of Daegu, School of Medicine, Daegu, Korea.
authors.forename: Min Ji
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Department of Laboratory Medicine, Catholic University of Daegu, School of Medicine, Daegu, Korea.
authors.forename: Hae-Bong
authors.initials: HB
authors.lastname: Jang
keywords: CD34 antigen; Ginseng; Hematopoietic colony-forming unit; Korea traditional medicine