Seoul, Nov. 13th, 2001 – Korean researchers have discovered for the first time a substance in Korean ginseng that blocks the accumulation of fat and cholesterol in human body.
The team led by KRIBB¡¯s(Korea Research Institute of Bioscience and Biotechnology) Dr. Young Kuk Kim of Anti-cardiovascular Disease Agent Research Laboratory discovered from Korean ginseng chemical structure and formula of a novel substance that inhibits two key enzymes existing in liver and small intestine, ACAT (Acyl-CoA: Cholesterol acyl transferase) and DGAT (Acyl-CoA: Diacyl glycerol acyl transferase). These are known to play a major role in fat metabolism in human body.
The substance called ¡®Panaxynone-A¡¯, is a polyacetylene combination containing peroxide and ketone, and has a molecular weight of 260. While searching for a cholesterol-reducing compound from plants and herbs grown in Korea, Dr. Kim¡¯s team discovered a powerful anti-obesity substance that blocks the absorption and accumulation of fat in the body.
The animal test using rats has shown that Panaxynone-A inhibits the activity of ACAT and DGAT enzymes. By suppressing the activities of these enzymes in the small intestine and liver, it has been confirmed that the body fat and weight of test subjects have been reduced. The animal test has further revealed that the newly discovered substance also blocks the circulation and accumulation of cholesterol. The cholesterol must be broken down to ¡°ester¡± form by ACAT enzyme before the body can absorb it. The cholesterol in the ester form circulates and accumulates in the blood vessels, resulting in many cardiovascular-related diseases and formation of fat layers.
Experts credit Panaxynone-A as being a candidate for a new drug against cardiovascular-related diseases. It is expected that the new compound will have higher safety and efficacy compared to existing obesity and cholesterol treatments. And Panaxynone-A is expected to be especially effective against abdominal and intestinal fat accumulation.
"The safety and efficacy of ginseng has been proven for thousands of years, but extensive research on its pharmacokinetic properties has not been done for a long time¡±, said Dr. Hyun J. Son of Korea Ginseng and Tobacco Research Center. ¡°Many substances exist in ginseng for which their functions have not been fully ascertained. This discovery of body fat- and cholesterol-reducing substance in ginseng can be seen as a ¡®scientification¡¯ of ginseng research¡±, Dr. Son further added.
KRIBB and CEO Hee Sul Lee of Scigenic Co., Ltd. have signed an agreement for the joint development and commercialization of Panaxynone-A as a new drug. Scigenic has already started the toxicity and safety studies, and preparation is being made for clinical study. Substance patent, both domestic and PCT, has been filed and Scigenic is planning the commercialization of the substance to be used in fighting obesity, cholesterol, and many cardiovascular-related diseases.
'Panaxynone-A' – discovered while searching for a cholesterol-lowering agent
KRIBB Anti-cardiovascular Disease Agent Research Laboratory¡¯s Dr. Young K. Kim and his team of researchers have focused on the search for cholesterol-reducing agent since 1996. They have screened many plants growing in Korea for a substance lowering the cholesterol level in blood.
Because only a small amount Panaxynone-A exists in ginseng, Panaxynone-A and other substances have only been classified as ¡°miscellaneous ingredients¡±. Even using Korean ginseng, Panaxynone-A is extracted using special medium and extraction method instead of boiling in water.
Effectively blocking body¡¯s fat absorption and accumulation- Confirmed through 8-week animal study
Through animal study, Dr. Kim¡¯s team confirmed that Panaxynone-A has a powerful obesity-fighting property by blocking the fat absorption and build-up in the body.
The team, using 4 week-old lab rats (average weight 123h2g) divided into two groups, fed feed containing cholesterol to control group and administered Panaxynone-A (10mg per 1kg BW) together with the feed. The fat accumulation of both groups was studied for eight weeks.
As a result of weekly weight comparison between the control group and Panaxynone-A-administered group, subjects administered with Panaxynone-A showed an average of 9.01% (1 week: 6.5%, 2 weeks: 8.6%, 3 weeks: 8.4%, 4 weeks: 8.5%, 5 weeks: 8.7%, 6 weeks: 10.5%, 7 weeks: 13%, 8 weeks: 7.9%) weight reduction compared to control group after the first week. The dissection of the test subjects after the study and examination of the fat accumulation in the body have also shown rats administered with Panaxynone-A had considerably less fat in the abdomen and intestines.
The research team claims that Panaxynone-A reduces fat accumulation by suppressing the activity of ACAT, thereby blocking the cholesterol absorption in the body. The research result that Korean ginseng lowers the cholesterol level in body has been reported on a number of occasions. The discovery of the actual chemical known to lower cholesterol is a major accomplishment¡±, said Bundang Cha Oriental Medicine Hospital¡¯s vice director, Sang W. Kim, O.M.D.
Scigenic¡¯s CEO Hee Sul Lee said, ¡°Panaxynone-A¡¯s blockage of fat and cholesterol which are major causes of cardiovascular-related diseases makes it a candidate of new drug development¡±. ¡°Unlike synthetic chemicals, this is a natural substance extracted from ginseng and therefore the safety is almost guaranteed. We plan to conduct more systematic analysis and clinical research to develop this compound into a new drug¡±, he further added.
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Scigenic Co., Ltd.
Scigenic Co., Ltd. is a biotechnology incubation company that specializes in new drug discovery and development. While the company is in the process of registering as a new drug, INM176, a compound proven effective in the prevention and treatment of Alzheimer¡¯s disease, other successful projects such as painkiller, anticancer, and arthritis treatment are also in the pipeline.
Scigenic has an affiliate company, Scigen Harvest Co., Ltd., that specializes in the development of plant genetic engineering technologies. Last October, using gene transformation technology the company, together with a team led by Prof. Ja O. Guh of Chonnam National University, successfully developed a transgenic rice plant with an average of 20%, up to a maximum of 26% yield increase. While Scigen Harvest also developed a new gene transformation method using bundled acupuncture needles last March, it was once again in the spotlight in April when the company announced that it has deciphered a gene related to plant¡¯s self-defense. Scigen Harvest is also handling other genetic engineering projects including the development of herbicide-, pest-, as well as stress-resistant crops.
Contact:
Dr. Young-Kook Kim / KRIBB, Office: (82) (42) 860-4556
Jong-Bin Yoon / Scigenic, Office: (82) (2) 3442-6744
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Discovery of Powerful Obesity-suppressing Substance from Ginseng 
