Increase in the free radical scavenging activities of American ginseng by heat processing and its safety evaluation.
We previously reported the increase in free radical scavenging activities of Korean ginseng (KG, Panax ginseng C.A. Meyer) by heat processing. In the United States, American ginseng (AG, Panax quinquefolium L.) is a more commonly used herbal medicine than KG, but heat processing-induced chemical and activity changes of AG are not well known. Therefore, we compared the changes in ginsenosides, total phenolic contents, Maillard reaction product (MRP) levels, and several free radical scavenging activities of AG by heat processing. In addition, a short-term toxicity assessment in rats was also conducted for the identification of certain toxic effects of AG after heat processing. As a result, the ginsenosides were deglycosylated at carbon-20 and their total contents were lowered, but the total phenolic contents and MRP levels of AG were about 2.5 and 9.3 times increased, respectively, by heat processing. In addition, all free radical scavenging activities of AG were significantly increased by heat processing. Moreover, there were no toxic signs or decreases in renal and hepatic function parameters of rats administered heat-processed AG. Therefore, heat processing, as in KG, is a useful method to enhance the free radical scavenging activities of AG by the increases in total phenolic contents and MRP levels.
Kang
Ki Sung
KS
Institute of Natural Medicine, University of Toyama, 2630 Sugitani, Toyama 930-0194, Japan.
Yamabe
Noriko
N
Kim
Hyun Young
HY
Okamoto
Takuya
T
Sei
Yasuo
Y
Yokozawa
Takako
T
D000284:Administration, Oral; D000818:Animals; D001713:Biphenyl Compounds / Q000032:analysis / Q000737:chemistry; D002839:Chromans / Q000032:analysis / Q000737:chemistry; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D016166:Free Radical Scavengers / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D036145:Ginsenosides / Q000032:analysis / Q000737:chemistry; D006031:Glycosylation; D006358:Hot Temperature; D006834:Hydrazines / Q000032:analysis / Q000737:chemistry; D017665:Hydroxyl Radical / Q000032:analysis / Q000737:chemistry; D007668:Kidney / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000187:drug effects; D008099:Liver / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000187:drug effects; D015416:Maillard Reaction; D008297:Male; D009569:Nitric Oxide / Q000032:analysis / Q000737:chemistry; D009929:Organ Size / Q000187:drug effects; D005894:Panax / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000145:classification; D030421:Peroxynitrous Acid / Q000032:analysis / Q000737:chemistry; D010636:Phenols / Q000032:analysis / Q000737:chemistry; D010798:Phycocyanin / Q000032:analysis / Q000737:chemistry; D010851:Picrates; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D013481:Superoxides / Q000032:analysis / Q000737:chemistry; D015430:Weight Gain / Q000187:drug effects
D001713:Biphenyl Compounds; D002839:Chromans; D016166:Free Radical Scavengers; D036145:Ginsenosides; D006834:Hydrazines; D010636:Phenols; D010851:Picrates; D010936:Plant Extracts; C002497:allophycocyanin; D010798:Phycocyanin; D013481:Superoxides; D030421:Peroxynitrous Acid; D009569:Nitric Oxide; D017665:Hydroxyl Radical; C004931:1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl; C010643:6-hydroxy-2,5,7,8-tetramethylchroman-2-carboxylic acid