Abstract
Panax ginseng C. A. Meyer (ginseng) has been widely used as a herb and functional food in the world. Polysaccharides are the main active components of ginseng. In this paper, the polysaccharides were sequentially extracted by 50 mM Na2CO3, 1 M KOH and 4 M KOH from ginseng roots treated sequentially with hot water, α-amylase and ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid extraction. Na2CO3-soluble ginseng polysaccharide (NGP) was fractionated into one neutral and three acidic fractions by anion exchange and gel permeation chromatography. Fourier transform infrared, NMR and methylation analysis indicated acidic fractions in NGP were highly branched rhamnogalacturonan-I domains, with → 4)-α-GalpA-(1 → 2)-α-Rhap-(1 → disaccharide repeating units as backbone and β-1,4-galactan, α-1,5/1,3,5-arabinan and type II arabinogalactan as side chains. 1-KGP (1 M KOH-soluble ginseng polysaccharide) and 4-KGP (4 M KOH-soluble ginseng polysaccharide) were mainly composed of hemicellulose besides starch-like polysaccharides and minor pectin. Antibody detection, enzymic hydrolysis, high performance anion exchange chromatography and methylation analysis demonstrated xylan was the major component in 1-KGP, while xyloglucan was predominant in 4-KGP. Comparing the polysaccharides obtained by different solvent extractions, we have a comprehensive understanding about total ginseng polysaccharides.
Highlights
IntroductionA. Meyer (ginseng) is a well-known herb and has been widely used as functional food in the world
Ginseng roots were sequentially extracted by using hot water, α-amylase and EDTA solution, yielding polysaccharide fractions named WGP, WGPE and EGP, respectively [7,12,13]
Ginseng roots which had been extracted by the above-mentioned three solvents were further extracted in succession by using 50 mM Na2CO3 solution, 1 M KOH and 4 M KOH solution, respectively, producing polysaccharide fractions named Na2CO3-soluble ginseng polysaccharide (NGP), 1 M KOH-soluble ginseng polysaccharide (1-KGP) and 4 M KOH-soluble ginseng polysaccharide (4-KGP)
Summary
A. Meyer (ginseng) is a well-known herb and has been widely used as functional food in the world. Polysaccharides are the major active components of ginseng [1]. Many studies have been conducted on ginseng polysaccharides.
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
