Characterization of Starches from Roots of Panax ginseng C.A. Meyer and Panax notoginseng (Burk.) F.H. Chen

Abstract

The traditional Chinese drug Ginseng, the root of Panax ginseng C.A. Meyer (PG) and Sanchi Ginseng, the root of Panax notoginseng (Burk.) F.H. Chen (PN), have been used as a peptic digestive, a drug for controlling intestinal function, a tonic and a hemostatic. The granular size distribution, amylose content and blue value of Korean ginseng starch has been reported. 1) Adsorption of water 2) and dyes 3) by crude drug starches of PG and PN have also been investigated.Crude drug (C) has been utilized as a raw material for extracts and powdered crude drugs. The purpose of this study was to make profitable the use of starch from the extract of the active ingredients of the crude drugs PG and PN. This paper reveals physicochemical properties such as particle size distribution, crystalline structure, gelatinization property, mineral content and digestibility by amylase or glucoamylase, which are essential for any application. The physicochemical characteristics of PG and PN starches were examined. HN 200, harvested in 1999). Enzymes, amylase from Porcine pancreas (EC 3.2.1.1; type I A: DFP treated; 790 U mg protein, 30 mg protein mL; assay, colorimetric method. One unit will liberate 1.0 mg of maltose from starch in 3 min at pH 6.9 at 20 C) and glucoamylase from Aspergillus niger (EC 3.2.1.3; 53 U mg protein, 13 mg protein mL; assay, spectrophotometric stop rate determination method. One unit will liberate 1.0 mg of glucose from starch in 3 min at pH 4.5 at 55 C) were purchased from Sigma Chemical Corporation St. Louis, MO, USA. The enzymes were used without further purification and enzyme assay. All other reagents, solvents and oligosaccharide samples were of the highest grade commercially available. MATERIALS AND METHODS Materials