Study on the nitric oxide scavenging effects of ginseng and its compounds.
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.
Kang
Ki Sung
KS
Institute of Natural Medicine, Toyama Medical and Pharmaceutical University, 2630 Sugitani, Toyama 930-0194, Japan.
Yokozawa
Takako
T
Kim
Hyun Young
HY
Park
Jeong Hill
JH
D003373:Coumaric Acids / Q000494:pharmacology; D016166:Free Radical Scavengers / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008401:Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry; D036145:Ginsenosides / Q000494:pharmacology; D009569:Nitric Oxide; D005894:Panax / Q000737:chemistry*; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology*; D011422:Propionates; D011753:Pyrones / Q000494:pharmacology; D014641:Vanillic Acid / Q000494:pharmacology
D003373:Coumaric Acids; D016166:Free Radical Scavengers; D036145:Ginsenosides; D010936:Plant Extracts; D011422:Propionates; D011753:Pyrones; D009569:Nitric Oxide; C008316:maltol; D014641:Vanillic Acid; C495469:p-coumaric acid