The studies on the saponins of Korean ginseng, Panax ginseng C.A. Meyer, were performed according to the cultivating locations, sampling seasons, plant parts, and growing stages. The changes in saponin content in the course of manufacturing Red ginseng and Ginseng extract were observed.
In this paper, a new method for the determination of the total and the individual saponin glucosides was proposed and applied to the samples under study.
The method employing Digital Densitorol DMU-33C (Toyo electric Co., Japan) followed the separation of the saponins by means of a preparative thin layer chromatography.
The saponin contents and their fractional distribution were summarized as follows:
1. The average concentrations(ib plant dry weight) of semi purified saponins in the roots of Korean ginseng planted in the various locations were 5.0%(Keumsan), 6.0% (Kimpo), nd 5.4% (Pocheon), respectively.
2. There were 3.3%saponins in White ginseng(Rhizome) and 12.7% saponins in Ginseng tail (Fibrous root).
3. Regarding the year of growth, the contents of saponins were 90.3㎎ (2-year-old ginseng), 254.4㎎ (3-year-old ginseng), 404.2㎎ (4-year-old ginseng), 999.6㎎ (5-year-old ginseng), and 1377.1㎎ (6-year-old ginseng) respectively, and the saponin factions containing panaxatriol as an aglycone increased.
4. Thin layer chromatography revealed that Red ginseng yielded many saponins which Shibata et al. designated as ginsenoside-Rb₁ (22.1%), -Rb₂(15.4%), -Rc(12.6%), -Re (15.7%), and -Rg₁ (9.3%).
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