Diversity of Ginsenoside Profiles Produced by Various Processing Technologies

Abstract

Ginseng is a traditional medicinal herb commonly consumed world-wide owing to its unique family of saponins called ginsenosides. The absorption and bioavailability of ginsenosides mainly depend on an individual’s gastrointestinal bioconversion abilities. There is a need to improve ginseng processing to predictably increase the pharmacologically active of ginsenosides. Various types of ginseng, such as fresh, white, steamed, acid-processed, and fermented ginsengs, are available. The various ginseng processing methods produce a range ginsenoside compositions with diverse pharmacological properties. This review is intended to summarize the properties of the ginsenosides found in different Panax species as well as the different processing methods. The sugar moiety attached to the C–3, C–6, or C–20 deglycosylated to produce minor ginsenosides, such as Rb1, Rb2, Rc, Rd→Rg3, F2, Rh2; Re, Rf→Rg1, Rg2, F1, Rh1. The malonyl-Rb1, Rb2, Rc, and Rd were demalonylated into ginsenoside Rb1, Rb2, Rc, and Rd by dehydration. Dehydration also produces minor ginsenosides such as Rg3→Rk1, Rg5, Rz1; Rh2→Rk2, Rh3; Rh1→Rh4, Rk3; Rg2→Rg6, F4; Rs3→Rs4, Rs5; Rf→Rg9, Rg10. Acetylation of several ginsenosides may generate acetylated ginsenosides Rg5, Rk1, Rh4, Rk3, Rs4, Rs5, Rs6, and Rs7. Acid processing methods produces Rh1→Rk3, Rh4; Rh2→Rk1, Rg5; Rg3→Rk2, Rh3; Re, Rf, Rg2→F1, Rh1, Rf2, Rf3, Rg6, F4, Rg9. Alkaline produces Rh16, Rh3, Rh1, F4, Rk1, ginsenoslaloside-I, 20(S)-ginsenoside-Rh1-60-acetate, 20(R)-ginsenoside Rh19, zingibroside-R1 through hydrolysis, hydration addition reactions, and dehydration. Moreover, biological processing of ginseng generates the minor ginsenosides of Rg3, F2, Rh2, CK, Rh1, Mc, compound O, compound Y through hydrolysis reactions, and synthetic ginsenosides Rd12 and Ia are produced through glycosylation. This review with respect to the properties of particular ginsenosides could serve to increase the utilization of ginseng in agricultural products, food, dietary supplements, health supplements, and medicines, and may also spur future development of novel highly functional ginseng products through a combination of various processing methods.

Ginsenosides in Panax genus and their biosynthesis

“…Our group have revealed that notoginsenoside Ft1, a rare 20( R )-epimer of PPD-type saponin, has potential hemostatic, pro-apoptotic, angiogenesis and other activities 80 , 81 , 82 . Minor PPT-type ginsenoside Rh1, which content is increased in red ginseng 83 , has antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and immunomodulatory effects 84 .…”

Cumulative Production of Bioactive Rg3, Rg5, Rk1, and CK from Fermented Black Ginseng Using Novel Aspergillus niger KHNT-1 Strain Isolated from Korean Traditional Food

“…The individual contents are listed in the table below (Table 3). Recent research and reports and three repetitions of the steaming process convert white ginseng to red ginseng, which eventually converts Rg3, Rg5, and Rg1; and during the continuation of the process, Rg1 converts to Rg3, which further transforms to Rg5 and Rk1 [5,18,19]. The degree of bioactivity of Rg3 has increased efficiency during the steaming process.…”

Integrative Management of Pancreatic Cancer (PDAC): Emerging Complementary Agents and Modalities

“…It is a traditional medicinal herb with a unique family of active saponin ingredients called "ginsenosides". It is available in various forms (e.g., fresh, white, steamed, acid-processed and fermented) leading to a range ginsenoside compositions with diverse pharmacological properties (160). Yun & Choi found in an early case-control study concluded ginseng consumption would reduce the risk of PDAC and liver cancer (161,162).…”