Date: 2025.08.02
Aim: To quantify the concentrations of three representative ginsenos ides in the ginseng extracts
Protocols: HPLC (high performance liquid chromatography)
Results: Among the compounds analyzed, ginsenoside Rg1 was the most abundant (6.61 ± 0.99 mg/g), followed by ginsenoside Rb1 (3.52 ± 0.49 mg/g). In contrast, 20(S)-ginsenoside Rg3 was not detected in the extract.
Date: 2025.08.02
Aim: To measure bioaccessibility of MPs by ginseng extracts and analyze the supernatant and the pellet through an in vitro digestion system
Protocols: In vitro digestion biomimick system
Results: The digest obtained through the in vitro digestion using human simulation system at different ginseng concentrations (low, med, high) was the supernatant and pellet portions were well separated and properly used in all experiments.
Date: 2025.08.02
Aim: To measure cytotoxicity assessment of microplastics with ginseng extracts in liver
Protocols: Analysis of cell viability in Hepg2 cell
Results: Co-treatment with low concentration ginseng extracts did not significantly improve viability compared to MPs alone. However, medium and high ginseng extracts concentrations significantly enhanced cell viability, reaching ~120–125% of control values (p < 0.05). The results demonstrate that ginseng extract exerts a protective effect against MP-induced cytotoxicity in HepG2 cells.
Date: 2025.08.02
Aim: To measure oxidative stress assessment of digesta supernatant. In liver
Protocols: Assay of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in Hepg2 cell
Results: The MPs + GS (Med) and MPs + GS (High) groups exhibited significantly higher scavenging activity (~60–65%) compared to the Low group (~30%, p < 0.05), indicating the antioxidant potential of GS at sufficient concentrations. The results suggest that ginseng extract (GS) effectively attenuates microplastic-induced oxidative stress in HepG2 cells.
Date: 2025.08.02
Aim: To measure fluorescence MPs remaining in the digesta supernatant and the bioaccessibility of MPs after in vitro gastrointestinal digestion in the presence of varying concentrations of ginseng extract.
Protocols: Microplate reader
Results: The MPs+GS (low) and MPs+GS (med) groups showed moderate decreases, though not statistically different from each other (p > 0.05). Notably, the MPs+GS (high) group demonstrated a significant reduction in MP bioaccessibility (p < 0.05), decreasing to approximately 60% of the control level, suggesting that high-dose GE co-treatment reduces the solubilized, absorbable fraction of microplastics.
Date: 2025.08.09
Aim: To measure hyperspectral imaging that spectroscopic method of evaluating amine group at 1050-1100 nm in digesta pellet and supernatant
Protocols: Hyperspectral imaging (HSI)
Results: The pellet showed higher reflectance at all concentrations than supernatant. These results mean that the amount of MPs excreted from the body is more than absorbed. Comparison by concentration, the reflectance was highest in the order of MPs+GS (med), MPs+GS (high), and MPs+GS (low), showing that MPs excretion was best at the medium concentration.
Date: 2025.08.09
Aim: To measure particle size of digesta pellet and compare the MPs size of the aggregated particles by ginseng concentration.
Protocols: Dynamic Light Scattering (DLS)
Results: The particle size of only MPs, MPs+GS (low), MPs+GS (med), and MPs+GS (high) were 2430.45 nm, 5262.6 nm, 8203.45 nm, and 3459.05 nm, respectively. The results mean MPs+GS (med) showed the most aggregation of MPs, followed by low concentration and then high concentration.
Date: 2025.08.09
Aim: To measure dispersion of MPs and ginseng aggregates using zeta potential
Protocols: Zeta-potential
Results: Only MPs have a zeta potential of 46.920 mV, indicating stable dispersion with moderate repulsion between particles. MPs + GS (Low) show a decreased zeta potential of 40.965 mV, suggesting reduced repulsive force and shorter distance between particles, which may lead to mild aggregation. MPs + GS (Med) slightly increase to 44.675 mV, meaning repulsion is partially restored, allowing particles to remain more evenly dispersed. MPs + GS (High) show a significantly higher zeta potential of 58.205 mV.
Date: 2025.08.08
Aim: To visualize fluorescence MPs and identify particles of MPs and ginseng aggregates.
Protocols: Fluorescence microscope
Results: Only MPs showed the most fluorescence and MPs+GS (med) showed the greatest aggregation visually. MPs+GS (low) showed high aggregation and dispersion, and MPs+GS (high) showed the least aggregation. This is consistent with the results of DLS and zeta-potential.