Antioxidant, Anti-Inflammatory and Antithrombotic Effects of Ginsenoside Compound K Enriched Extract Derived from Ginseng Sprouts

In-Hee Baik,Kyung-Hee Kim,Kyung-Ae Lee

doi:10.3390/molecules26134102

In-Hee Baik, Kyung-Hee Kim + Show 1 more

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https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules26134102

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Abstract

Partially purified ginsenoside extract (PGE) and compound K enriched extract (CKE) were prepared from ginseng sprouts, and their antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and antithrombotic effects were investigated. Compared to the 6-year-old ginseng roots, ginseng sprouts were found to have a higher content of phenolic compounds, saponin and protopanaxadiol-type ginsenoside by about 56%, 36% and 43%, respectively. PGE was prepared using a macroporous adsorption resin, and compound K(CK) was converted and enriched from the PGE by enzymatic hydrolysis with a conversion rate of 75%. PGE showed higher effects than CKE on radical scavenging activity in antioxidant assays. On the other hand, CKE reduced nitric oxide levels more effectively than PGE in RAW 264.7 cells. CKE also reduced pro-inflammatory cytokines, such as tumor necrosis factor-α, interleukin (IL)-1β and IL-6 than PGE. Tail bleeding time and volume were investigated after administration of CKE at 70–150 mg/kg/day to mice. CKE administered group showed a significant increase or increased tendency in bleeding time than the control group. Bleeding volume in the CKE group increased than the control group, but not as much as in the aspirin group. In conclusion, ginseng sprouts could be an efficient source of ginsenoside, and CKE converted from the ginsenosides showed antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and antithrombotic effects. However, it was estimated that the CKE might play an essential role in anti-inflammatory effects rather than antioxidant effects.

Highlights

Ginseng (Panax ginseng Meyer) is a perennial herbaceous plant that has been used for a long time in Asian countries such as Korea and China for its various medicinal properties
We investigated whether ginseng sprouts could be an efficient clean source of ginsenosides such as compound K (CK) and whether the processed, rare ginsenoside derived from the ginsenosides could have beneficial health effects
It was estimated that ginseng sprouts could be an efficient and clean source of ginsenosides, in that they contained higher content of PPD type ginsenoside than that of 6-year-old ginseng roots and CK was converted effectively from the ginsenosides by enzymatic hydrolysis

Summary

Introduction

Ginseng (Panax ginseng Meyer) is a perennial herbaceous plant that has been used for a long time in Asian countries such as Korea and China for its various medicinal properties. It has been developed as processed foods and pharmaceuticals in Eastern countries and Western countries [1,2]. There is a growing interest in pesticide-free ginseng resources. For this purpose, ginseng cultivated in an organic agriculture system has been produced, but it is not widely used because of its much higher price than generally available ginseng products. Various hydroponic or greenhouse cultivation systems have been applied to ginseng cultivation to provide clean and inexpensive raw materials

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