Controls of the Hydrolysis of Ginseng Saponins by Neutralization of Organic Acids in Red Ginseng Extract Preparations

홍삼의 가열추출 과정중 유기산 중화에 의한 사포닌의 가수분해 억제

Glucosidic bonds at the C20 position of the sapogenins were hydrolyzed easily in the lower pH, higher temperatures and longer times to give prosapogenins and sugars. The glucosidic bond of saponin at the C3 of ginsenoside-Rb1, which is secondary carbon, was relatively stable due to the low electron density of -0.2. But the bond of saponin at the C20 position, which is tertiary carbon with the relatively high electron density of -0.3, was liable to be hydrolyzed even in weakly acidic solution by the increase of heating time. On the other hand, red ginseng contained 13.34 mg/g of citric acid, 8.78 mg/g of malonic acid, 3.70 mg/g of oxalic acid, 2.13 mg/g of malic acid and 0.44 mg/g of succinct acid. Ginseng saponins were very stable in ginseng extract neutralized with sodium carbonate or sodium bicarbonate corresponding to the equivalent amount of the total organic acid in the red ginseng.