Rg3-RGE was obtained from Korea Ginseng Corporation (Daejeon, Korea). In brief, red ginseng (stem/root = 75:25) was extracted with water followed by extraction with 55% ethanol. A concentrated extract was prepared by multiple extractions. Consequently, the extract was subjected to GC-MS and the resulting extract constituent profile is shown in Table 1 , which confirms that the extract is Rg3-enriched red ginseng extract. Collagen was obtained from Chrono-Log Co. (Havertown, PA, USA). Fura-2/AM and dimethyl sulfoxide were purchased from Sigma Chemical Co. (St. Louis, MO, USA). ATP (adenosine triphosphate) assay kits were obtained from Biomedical Research Service Center (Buffalo, NY, USA). Fibrinogen Alexa Fluor 488 conjugate was purchased from Molecular Probes (Eugene, OR, USA). Antibodies directed against total-ERK1/2 (p44/42), phospho-ERK1/2 (p44/42), total-JNK, phospho-JNK, total-p38, phosphor-p38, total-PI3K (phosphatidylinositol 3 kinase) p85/p55, phospho-PI3K p85/p55, total-Akt (Ser473), phospho-Akt (Ser473), total-MKK4 (mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase 4), and phospho-MKK4 were purchased from Cell Signaling (Beverly, MA, USA). All chemicals used were of reagent grade.Table 1
Rg3-enriched red ginseng extract constituent profile
| Ginsenosides | Contents (mg/g) |
|---|---|
| Rb1 | 3.86 |
| 20(S)-Rg3 | 44.91 |
| Rc | 1.20 |
| Rb2 | 1.53 |
| Rd | 1.60 |
| Rf | 1.28 |
| Rh1 | 3.71 |
| 20(S)-Rg2 | 3.55 |
| 20(R)-Rg3 | 6.78 |
| Total | 67.41 |