Korean red ginseng powder was found to contain adenosine and an acidic substance which
inhibited epinephrine-induced lipolysis and stimulated insulin-mediated lipogenesis
from glucose (3,4). In the present experiment, the chemical structure of this acidic
substance is determined to be pyro-glutamic acid. Pyro-glutamic acid exhibits selective
modulations toward the opposite metabolic pathways in rat adipocytes; it inhibits
the lipolysis but rather stimulates the lipogenesis. Based on these results, we suggest
to call these substances (adenosine and pyro-glutamic acid) “selective modulators”.
Panax ginseng
- insulin-like substance - pyro-glutamic acid - selective modulators
