Steaming of Ginseng at High Temperature Enhances Biological Activity

Abstract

The present study was performed to evaluate the effect of steaming ginseng at a temperature over 100 degrees C on its chemical constituents and biological activities. Raw ginseng was steamed at 100, 110, and 120 degrees C for 2 h using an autoclave. The ginseng steamed at 120 degrees C was more potent in its ability to induce endothelium-dependent relaxation. Steaming the raw ginseng at 120 degrees C also remarkably increased the radical-scavenging activity. Ginsenosides F(4), Rg(3), and Rg(5), which were not present in raw ginseng, were produced after steaming. Ginsenosides Rg(3) and Rg(5) were the most abundant ginsenosides in the ginseng steamed at 120 degrees C, accounting for 39% and 19% of all ginsenosides, respectively.

A Fermented Ginseng Extract, BST204, Inhibits Proliferation and Motility of Human Colon Cancer Cells

“…Instead, many efforts have been made to get ginseng with higher concentrations of effector ginsenosides toward therapeutic use. Studies with steamed ginseng showed that it has higher concentration of Rh1, Rg2, Rg3, and Rh2, and, in parallel, augments the anti-proliferative effects on various cancer cell lines (Kim et al, 2000;Wang et al, 2006). Contents of ginsenosides from the fermented ginseng extract prepared by incubation of ginsenoside-β-glucosidase are also quite different from those of crude ginseng extract.…”

Fermenting Red Ginseng Enhances Its Safety and Efficacy as a Novel Skin Care Anti-Aging Ingredient: In Vitro and Animal Study

“…It is typically harvested after 3-6 years of growth, and then undergoes extensive cleaning and air drying (white ginseng [WG]) or steaming at 98°C-100°C for 2-3 h (red ginseng [RG]). 2 Interestingly, after these two treatment methods, the roots differ in their saponin contents. 3 Differences in the biological activities of these ginsengs may be the result of changes in chemical constituents that occur during steam treatment.…”

“…4 It has been reported that RG has more potent pharmacological activities than WG. 2,5 Ginseng saponins, referred to as ginsenosides, are believed to play important roles in the pharmacological action. 4 The pharmacological actions of ginsenosides have suggested to be dependent upon biotransformation by human intestinal bacteria.…”

“…These compounds are the ginsenosides Rg3, Rg5, Rg6, Rh2, Rh3, Rh4, Rs3, and F4. 2,8,9 These compounds are more concentrated in RG than in WG, 2,10 and Kim et al 2 reported that ginsenosides F4, Rg3, and Rg5 were not present in WG, and are produced after steaming. Ginsenosides can induce antioxidant enzymes, such as superoxide dismutase and catalase, which are important for maintaining cell viability.…”

20(S)-Ginsenoside Rg3-induced apoptosis in HT-29 colon cancer cells is associated with AMPK signaling pathway

“…it has been reported to have anti-proliferative properties in several types of cancer, including ovarian, breast and lung cancer, and melanoma (9,10). Steamed Panax ginseng (red ginseng) is the preferred choice over unsteamed white ginseng (11), as studies have shown that red ginseng has a greater anti-proliferative benefit than white ginseng, most likely due to the differences in their ginsenoside profiles (12). 20(S)-ginsenoside Rg3 (Fig.…”