title: Red ginseng powder fermented with probiotics exerts antidiabetic effects in the streptozotocin-induced mouse diabetes model.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Red ginseng (heat-processed Panax ginseng) is a well-known alternative medicine with pharmacological antidiabetic activity. It exerts pharmacological effects through the transformation of saponin into metabolites by the intestinal microbiota. Given that intestinal conditions and intestinal microflora vary among individuals, the pharmacological effects of orally administered red ginseng likely may vary among individuals.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To overcome this variation and produce homogeneously effective red ginseng, we evaluated the antidiabetic effects of probiotic-fermented red ginseng in a mouse model.
  
  
  METHODS
  The antidiabetic efficacy of orally administered probiotic-fermented red ginseng was assessed in ICR mice after induction of diabetes using streptozotocin (170 mg/kg body weight). Samples were given orally for 8 weeks, and indicators involved in diabetic disorders such as body weight change, water intake, blood glucose, glucose tolerance and various biochemical parameters were determined.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Oral administration of probiotic-fermented red ginseng significantly decreased the level of blood glucose of about 62.5% in the fasting state and induced a significant increase in glucose tolerance of about 10.2% compared to the control diabetic mice. Additionally, various indicators of diabetes and biochemical data (e.g., blood glycosylated haemoglobin level, serum concentrations of insulin, and α-amylase activity) showed a significant improvement in the diabetic conditions of the mice treated with probiotic-fermented red ginseng in comparison with those of control diabetic mice.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our results demonstrate the antidiabetic effects of probiotic-fermented red ginseng in the streptozotocin-induced mouse diabetes model and suggest that probiotic-fermented red ginseng may be a uniformly effective red ginseng product.
authors.affiliation: a Department of Molecular Biology and the Institute for Molecular Biology and Genetics , Chonbuk National University , Jeonju , Korea.
authors.forename: Sun-Hee
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Jang
authors.affiliation: b Department of Bioactive Material Sciences and Research Center of Bioactive Materials , Chonbuk National University , Jeonju , Korea.
authors.forename: Jisang
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Park
authors.affiliation: a Department of Molecular Biology and the Institute for Molecular Biology and Genetics , Chonbuk National University , Jeonju , Korea.|b Department of Bioactive Material Sciences and Research Center of Bioactive Materials , Chonbuk National University , Jeonju , Korea.
authors.forename: Sae-Hae
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: c Department of Efficacy Research , Institute of Jinan Red Ginseng , Jinan , Korea.
authors.forename: Kyung-Min
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: Choi
authors.affiliation: c Department of Efficacy Research , Institute of Jinan Red Ginseng , Jinan , Korea.
authors.forename: Eun-Sil
authors.initials: ES
authors.lastname: Ko
authors.affiliation: c Department of Efficacy Research , Institute of Jinan Red Ginseng , Jinan , Korea.
authors.forename: Jeong-Dan
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Cha
authors.affiliation: d Department of Mathematics , Sogang University , Seoul , Korea.
authors.forename: Young-Ran
authors.initials: YR
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: e Department of Oral Maxillofacial Surgery , Korea University Ansan Hospital , Ansan , Korea.
authors.forename: Hyonseok
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Jang
authors.affiliation: a Department of Molecular Biology and the Institute for Molecular Biology and Genetics , Chonbuk National University , Jeonju , Korea.|c Department of Efficacy Research , Institute of Jinan Red Ginseng , Jinan , Korea.
authors.forename: Yong-Suk
authors.initials: YS
authors.lastname: Jang
mesh_terms: D000284:Administration, Oral; D000818:Animals; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D003921:Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental / Q000097:blood / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000188:drug therapy*; D005285:Fermentation; D006442:Glycated Hemoglobin / Q000378:metabolism; D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology*; D007328:Insulin / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D008813:Mice, Inbred ICR; D005894:Panax / Q000378:metabolism*; D008517:Phytotherapy; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000494:pharmacology*; D010946:Plants, Medicinal; D011208:Powders; D019936:Probiotics; D013311:Streptozocin; D013997:Time Factors; D000516:alpha-Amylases / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D001786:Blood Glucose; D006442:Glycated Hemoglobin; D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents; D007328:Insulin; D010936:Plant Extracts; D011208:Powders; D013311:Streptozocin; D000516:alpha-Amylases; C558406:HbA(1c) protein, mouse
keywords: Diabetes; fermentation; glucose tolerance; insulin