Prev. Article Next Article Table of Contents

Article

Study on the Nitric Oxide Scavenging Effects of Ginseng and Its Compounds

Ki Sung Kang,^† Takako Yokozawa,*^† Hyun Young Kim,^‡ and Jeong Hill Park^‡

Institute of Natural Medicine, Toyama Medical and Pharmaceutical University, 2630 Sugitani, Toyama 930-0194, Japan, and College of Pharmacy, Seoul National University, San 56-1, Shillim-Dong, Kwanak-gu, Seoul 151-742, Korea

J. Agric. Food Chem., 2006, 54 (7), pp 2558–2562

DOI: 10.1021/jf0529520

Publication Date (Web): March 7, 2006

†

Toyama Medical and Pharmaceutical University.

To whom correspondence should be addressed. Fax: +81-76-434-5068. E-mail: yokozawa@ms.toyama-mpu.ac.jp.

‡

Seoul National University.

Abstract

In this study, an in vitro nitric oxide (^•NO)-generating system was used to investigate the ^•NO-scavenging effects of methanolic extracts of white ginseng (Panax ginseng C.A. Meyer), red ginseng, and sun ginseng and several ginsenosides and phenolic compounds. Sun ginseng extract showed the strongest activity among the three ginseng extracts. None of the ginsenosides used in this experiment showed ^•NO-scavenging activity, but the phenolic compounds, such as p-coumaric and vanillic acids, and maltol inhibited ^•NO production in a concentration-dependent manner. Moreover, maltol levels markedly increased by heat processing. Therefore, the enhanced ^•NO-scavenging activity of ginseng by heat processing was closely related to phenolic acids and the increased content of maltol.

Keywords: White ginseng; red ginseng; sun ginseng; nitric oxide; ginsenoside; phenolic compound

View: Full Text HTML | Hi-Res PDF