• Food Science and Preservation
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• v.30 no.6
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• pp.944-959
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• 2023

This study investigated the essential oil composition of fresh Panax ginseng root and identified novel compounds from ginseng oil. The oil was divided into five fractions (neutral, basic, phenolic, acidic, and aldehydic). In total, 149 constituents, including 29, 19, and 38 compounds in the basic, phenolic, and aldehydic fractions, respectively, were identified by gas chromatography (GC) and GC-mass spectrometry (MS). The primary constituents of the total ginseng volatile oil were α-humulene (13.91% as a peak area), bicyclogermacrene (13.59%), β-caryophyllene (8.24%), α-neoclovene (7.78%), and α- and β-panasinsenes (5.14% and 7.53%). The primary constituents of the basic fraction were 2-isopropyl-3-methoxypyrazine (35.51%), 3-sec-butyl-2-methoxy-5-methylpyrazine (31.54%), 2-isobutyl-3-methoxypyrazine (8.64%), and 2-methoxy-3-methylpyrazine (8.40%), whereas in the phenolic fraction, these were benzoic (25.40%), octanoic (11.57%), nonanoic (9.16%), propionic (6.35%), and decanoic acids (6.16%). The primary constituents of the aldehydic fraction were 4-(2-furyl)-3-buten-2-one (23.41%), benzaldehyde (10.18%), cis-2-heptanal (9.42%), 3-(α-furyl)-propenal (8.51%), and 2-phenyl-2-butenal (7.28%). Among these, the phenylalkenal compounds, including 2-phenyl-2-butenal, 2-methyl-3-phenyl-2-propenal, 5-methyl-2-phenyl-2-pentenal, 5-methyl-2-phenyl-2-hexenals, 2-phenyl-2-octenal, and 2-phenyl-2-nonenal, were newly identified in this study as ginseng volatile constituents. Furthermore, 2-phenyl-2-nonenal was identified as a plant-based volatile constituent for the first time in this study.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.46 no.4
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• pp.585-591
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• 2022

Background: Korean Red Ginseng (KRG) extract has been shown to have beneficial effects in patients with atherosclerosis, suggesting that KRG extract may be effective in preventing subsequent ischemic stroke in patients with severe atherosclerosis. Methods: This double-blind, placebo-controlled trial randomized patients with severe atherosclerosis in major intracranial arteries or extracranial carotid artery, to ginseng group and placebo group. They were given two 500-mg KRG tablets or identical placebo tablets twice daily for 12 months according to randomization. The primary endpoint was the composite of cerebral ischemic stroke and transient ischemic attack during 12 months after randomization. The secondary endpoints were change in volumetric blood flow of the intracranial vessels and the incidence of newly developed asymptomatic ischemic lesions. Any adverse events were monitored. Results: Fifty-eight patients were randomized from June 2016 to June 2017, 29 to ginseng and 29 to placebo, and 52 (28 and 24, respectively) completed the study. One patient in the placebo group, but none in the ginseng group, experienced ischemic symptoms (p = 0.46). Changes in volumetric blood flow and the presence of ischemic brain lesions did not differ significantly in the two groups, and none of these patients experienced adverse drug reactions. Conclusion: Ginseng was well tolerated by patients with severe atherosclerosis, with these patients showing good compliance with ginseng dosing. Ginseng did not show significant effects compared with placebo, although none of the ginseng-treated patients experienced ischemic events. Long-term studies in larger patient populations are required to test the effect of ginseng.