Planta Med 2014; 80 - PD44
DOI: 10.1055/s-0034-1382465

Generation of two geometric isomers of ginsenosides RG9 and RG10 during the thermal process for red ginseng

JI Lee 1, SM Lee 2, HK Seon 2, J Oh 3, MK Na 1
  • 1College of Pharmacy, Chungnam National University, Daejeon 305 – 764, Republic of Korea
  • 2Korea Ginseng Corp. Central Research Institute, Daejeon 305 – 805, Republic of Korea
  • 3Department of Pharmacognosy and Research Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, School of Pharmacy, The University of Mississippi, University, MS 38677, USA

Steam-processed ginseng, commonly called ''red ginseng'' in Korea and China, is prevalent as a dietary supplement. Ginseng, the root of Panax ginseng, has been used as a folk medicine to improve immunity, provide nutrition and diminish fatigue. The different processing methods for the production of ginseng products could lead to quantitative and qualitative variations in biologically active compounds, such as the ginsenosides, present in the products. In this study, we verified that ginsenoside Rf was transformed into two geometric isomers of ginsenoside Rg9, e.g., (20E)- and (20Z)-ginsenosides Rg10, and another ginsenoside here designated Rg10. This study could be of practical use in the establishment of a comprehensive chemical profile of red ginseng for the quality control and standardization of commercial dietary supplements.

Fig. 1