Importance

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Abstract

The present invention relates to glycolipoprotein gintonin, isolated and identified from ginseng, as a natural medicinal-plant-derived ligand acting on LPA1 (lysophosphatidic acid; 1- or 2-acyl-sn-glycerol-3-phosphate), LPA2, LPA3, LPA4 and LPA5 receptors whose efficacy is exhibited physiologically/pharmaceutically via an interaction with subset receptors [LPA1(edg-2), LPA2(edg-4), LPA3(edg-7), LPA4, PLA5] in the EDG (endothelial differentiation gene) family in G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) present in the cell membranes of animals including humans. The gintonin of the present invention can be used to advantage in the prevention and treatment of various diseases arising from reduced calcium concentration and various physiological activities and pharmaceutical activities dependent on calcium, since the gintonin of the present invention interacts with LPA receptors so as to activate a series of signal transmission processes and temporarily induce an increase in free Ca²⁺ in the cytoplasm, and a temporary increase in the intracellular calcium concentration gives rise to a temporary increase in the intracellular calcium concentration in various organs including, inter alia, those of the nervous system, cardiovascular system, endocrine system, reproductive system, digestive system and immune system when the LPA receptors are expressed, with physiological activity being exhibited.

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First Claim