Red-Colored Phenomena and Morphochemical Characteristics of Red-Colored Substances in Ginseng Roots (Panax ginseng C.A. Meyer)

인삼 적변현상과 적변물질의 형태-화학적 특성

One of the physiologically important ginseng diseases is red-colored phenomena (RCP) that is caused by accumulation of red-colored substances on the epidermis of ginseng roots. Although RCP severely deteriorates the quality of ginseng products, there has been little information on what red-colored substance is and how RCP occurs. Therefore, the heavy losses of cultivators and ginseng industry are suffering by RCP, For this reason, we have investigated with the morphochernical characteristics of RCP to find out main cause of it. The red-colored substances (RS) on the epidermis of red-colored ginseng (RCG) were examined using inverted light microscope, confocal laser scanning microscope (CLSM)and furier transform infrared (FT/IR) spectrometer. Red brown substances were accumulated in the cell wall of the epidermis from early stage to late stage of RCC. Especially, cell wall of the late stage of RCG was covered with the sub-stances with 80~ 130 fm thick. Therefore, the cell wall of RCG cannot protect the ginseng root cells from the mechanical damages, bacteria and fungi. To analyse red substances of roots, RS were isolated from epidermis of RCG and extracted using various solvents. RS is strongly insoluble but it was bleached by oxidizing agents including 12% (v/v) NaOCl. Therefore, RS was Presumed to make up of high chelation power. The proriles of FT/IR spectra or both healthy ginseng (HEG) and RCG showed a significant difference at two wavelength,2857 cm$\^$-1/(C-H) and 1032 cm$\^$-1/(S=O), respectively. Furthermore, absorption peak of 2857cm$\^$-l/ appears on the only epidermis of RCG. The other peak is shown lower absorption rate on the epidermis of RCG than that of healthy ginseng. Also, FT/IR spectra of the mixture of carboxym-ethylcellulose (CMC) and iron (Fe$\^$3+/) were very similar to RCG spectrum profiles. One of a interesting fact is that the contents of phenolic compounds at the epidermis of healthy ginseng were highest. The results of these experiments sup-port the RCP was closely related with the chemical interaction between inorganic elements (Fe) of rhizosphere and organic matters (cellulose, cellobiose, cell sap, etc.) of ginseng roots.

적변삼 표피조직의 적갈색의 침적물은 강력한 산화제에 의해서만 산화(탈색)되는 chelation power가 매우 큰 화학결합을 형성하고 있었다. CLSM으로 관찰한 결과, 적변삼 조직의바깥쪽으로 두껍게 침적물이 형성되어 있음이 확인되었으며, 조직의 형광강도를 이용하여 두께를 측정한 결과 약 120rm의 침적물이 축적되어 있음이 확인되었다. 또한 Spectrum분석 결과 적변삼 표피의 물질은 건강삼의 표피조직과는 다른 functional group을 포함하는 것으로 확인되었다. 건강삼과 적변삼의 표피조직을 강산과 강염으로 가수분해 하여도 조직에 침적되어 있는 적색의 물질은 용출되지 않았다. 적변삼과 건강삼의 표피조직과 뿌리의 각 부위별 총 페놀성화합물의 함량을 측정한 결과, 건강삼의 표피조직에서 가장 높게 나타났다. 이러한 결과는 페놀성 물질이 적변물질의 원인이 된다는 보고와 차이가 있는 것으로 페놀성 물질은 적변현상 유발의 직접적인 원인물질이 아님이 확인되었다. 따라서 인삼의 적변물질은 인삼뿌리의 유기성분(세포벽 분해산물, 세포내용물, azodicarbonamide 등)과 철이온 복합체로 추론되며, 이물질에 대한 계속적인 추적을 진행하고 있다.