Comparative Effects of Gamma Irradiation and Ethylene Oxide Fumigation on Antioxidant Activity of White Ginseng Powder

백삼분말의 항산화 활성에 대한 감마선과 에틸렌옥사이드 처리의 영향

The antioxidant activity and the pharmacologically active constituents such as nucleosides and phenolic substancs of Panax ginseng C.A. Meyer (white ginseng powder) treated with gamma irradiation (Rl group) and ethylene oxide fumigation (EO group) were compared with those of non-treated ginseng (control group). High performance liquid chromatograms of nucleosides in three groups were similar with each other. The bathochromic effect of phenolic substances at W absorption region tends to be higher for EO group than Rl group. This tendency was also observed in heat treatment of each group. However, the antioxidant activity may have some effects on the labile property of phenolic substances. In summary the gamma-irradiated ginseng was more stable than the ethylene oxide-treated ginseng, but both ginseng samples gave the similar antioxidant activity.