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ARS Home » Northeast Area » Boston, Massachusetts » Jean Mayer Human Nutrition Research Center On Aging » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #242809
Title: Differential antioxidant and quinone reductase inducing activity of American, Asian, and Siberian ginseng

Author
item CHEN, C-Y OLIVER - Jean Mayer Human Nutrition Research Center On Aging At Tufts University
item RIBAYA-MERCADO, JUDY - Jean Mayer Human Nutrition Research Center On Aging At Tufts University
item MCKAY, DIANE - Jean Mayer Human Nutrition Research Center On Aging At Tufts University
item CROOM, EDWARD - Croomia
item BLUMBERG, JEFFREY - Jean Mayer Human Nutrition Research Center On Aging At Tufts University

Submitted to: Food Chemistry
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 6/16/2009
Publication Date: 3/15/2010
Citation: Chen, C., Ribaya-Mercado, J.D., Mckay, D.L., Croom, E., Blumberg, J.B. 2010. Differential antioxidant and quinone reductase inducing activity of American, Asian, and Siberian ginseng. Food Chemistry. 119:445-451.

Interpretive Summary: Ginsengs have long been one of the most common components of general tonics employed in traditional herbal medicines throughout Asia due to their putative benefits in general health promotion, vitality, stamina, restoration of homeostasis, chemoprevention, wound healing, longevity, and other indications. In the U.S., "ginseng" can refer to either Asian ginseng, American ginseng (Panax quinquefolius L.), or Siberian ginseng [Eleutherococcus senticosus (Rupr. and Maxim.) Maxim; botanical syn. Acanthopanax senticosus (Rupr. & Maxim.) Harms]. While each ginseng species exhibits several different mechanisms of action potentially related to health promotion and disease prevention, there is a need to better characterize their relative antioxidant capacity as free radicals contribute to the pathogenesis of age-related chronic diseases. Thus, the objective of this study was to characterize the bioactivity of Asian, American, and Siberian ginseng species using different test tube assays. Bioactive components in ginsengs were obtained following three extraction procedures, namely, methanol (MeOH), hexane (Hex), and gastrointestinal mimic (GI) extraction. The gastrointestinal mimic extraction employed solvents containing digestive enzymes, including pepsin and pancreatic enzymes. We found that Siberian ginseng had the highest total phenolic content. The GI liberated more phenolics than MeOH and hexane Hex extraction from American and Asian ginseng. Siberian ginseng-Hex extract was most effective at inducing detoxification mechanism. GI and MeOH extracts of American and Asian ginseng exhibited comparable hypochlorite scavenging activity, but were more potent than Siberian ginseng. Siberian ginseng was the most effective scavenger of peroxynitrite. Siberian-MeOH had the highest ferric reducing antioxidant power, and American ginseng-GI had the highest oxygen radical absorbance capacity. Thus, the components in ginseng have antioxidant and quinine reductase-inducing activity which are dependent upon the dose, method of extraction, radical species, and plant species.

Technical Abstract: The antioxidant and quinone reductase (QR) inducing activities of American, Asian, and Siberian ginseng have been reported using various plant materials, solvents, and assays. To directly establish their comparative bioactivity, the effects of extracts obtained from acidified methanol (MeOH), a gastrointestinal mimic (GI), and hexane (Hex) on free radical scavenging and QR induction were tested. Siberian ginseng-MeOH had the highest total phenolic content at 52.6 umol gallic acid equivalents/g. GI liberated >/= 50% more phenolics than MeOH and Hex from American and Asian ginseng. Siberian ginseng-Hex was most effective at inducing QR activity in Hepa1c1c7 cells. GI and MeOH extracts of American and Asian ginseng exhibited comparable HOCl scavenging activity, but were >/= 4.6-fold more potent than Siberian ginseng. Siberian ginseng was the most effective scavenger of ONOO-. Siberian-MeOH had the highest ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP), and American ginseng-GI had the highest oxygen radical absorbance capacity (ORAC). Thus, the components in ginseng have antioxidant and QR-inducing activity which are dependent upon the dose, method of extraction, radical species, and plant species.