Remarkable Impact of Acidic Ginsenosides and Organic Acids on Ginsenoside Transformation from Fresh Ginseng to Red Ginseng.
Panax ginseng contains many chemical components, including acidic ginsenosides and organic acids. However, whether these acidic substances play a role in ginsenoside transformation during steaming treatment has not yet been explored. In this paper, the content of neutral ginsenosides, acidic ginsenosides, and their degradation products in unsteamed and steamed P. ginseng were simultaneously quantified by high-performance liquid chromatography. We observed that neutral ginsenosides were converted to rare ginsenosides during the root steaming but not during the individual ginsenoside steaming. In contrast, acidic malonyl ginsenosides released malonic acid and acetic acid through demalonylation, decarboxylation, deacetylation reactions during the steaming at 120 °C. These malonyl ginsenosides not only were converted to rare ginsenosides but also promoted the degradation of neutral ginsenosides. Further studies indicated that a low concentration of organic acid was the determining factor for the ginsenoside conversion. The related mechanisms were deduced to be mainly acidic hydrolysis and dehydration. In summary, acidic ginsenosides and organic acids remarkably affected ginsenoside transformation during the steaming process. Our results provide useful information for precisely understanding the ginsenoside conversion pathways and mechanisms underlying the steaming process.
Institute of Agricultural Modernization, Jilin Agricultural University , Changchun, 130118, China.|Tang Center for Herbal Medicine Research and The Pritzker School of Medicine, University of Chicago , Chicago, Illinois 60637, United States.
Zhi
Z
Liu
Institute of Agricultural Modernization, Jilin Agricultural University , Changchun, 130118, China.|College of Chinese Medicinal Materials, Jilin Agricultural University , Changchun 130118, China.
Juan
J
Xia
Tang Center for Herbal Medicine Research and The Pritzker School of Medicine, University of Chicago , Chicago, Illinois 60637, United States.
Chong-Zhi
CZ
Wang
Institute of Agricultural Modernization, Jilin Agricultural University , Changchun, 130118, China.|College of Chinese Medicinal Materials, Jilin Agricultural University , Changchun 130118, China.
Jin-Qiu
JQ
Zhang
Institute of Agricultural Modernization, Jilin Agricultural University , Changchun, 130118, China.
Chang-Chun
CC
Ruan
Institute of Agricultural Modernization, Jilin Agricultural University , Changchun, 130118, China.
Guang-Zhi
GZ
Sun
Tang Center for Herbal Medicine Research and The Pritzker School of Medicine, University of Chicago , Chicago, Illinois 60637, United States.
Chun-Su
CS
Yuan
D004339:Drug Compounding; D036145:Ginsenosides / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D006358:Hot Temperature; D015394:Molecular Structure; D009930:Organic Chemicals / Q000737:chemistry; D005894:Panax / Q000737:chemistry*; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000302:isolation & purification
D036145:Ginsenosides; D009930:Organic Chemicals; D010936:Plant Extracts
acidic ginsenosides; ginsenoside transformation; organic acids; red ginseng; steaming treatment