Tapping Into the Pharmaceutical Potential of Red Ginseng Oil: An Overview by Researchers from Kyungpook National University
- Date
- 2023/03/28
- Writer
- 사이트매니저
- Hit
- 4581
PRESS RELEASE
Tapping Into the Pharmaceutical Potential of Red
Ginseng Oil: An Overview by Researchers from Kyungpook National University
An oft overlooked component of the
Korean ginseng may, in fact, offer a broad range of health benefits, suggest
researchers
Water extract from the Korean
ginseng root is a popular herbal medicine product in East Asia. However, the
extract typically leaves out a lipid-soluble component, called red ginseng oil
(RGO), which, as recent studies have shown, contains many health-promoting
compounds. Against this backdrop, researchers from Korea have reviewed and
summarized the latest studies on the chemical composition and health benefits
of RGO, highlighting the potential of this mixture in nutritional, cosmetic,
and pharmaceutical applications.
Caption: Red ginseng oil, which is usually considered a waste product
when preparing red ginseng water extracts, contains, in fact, a great variety
of phytochemicals with potential health benefits. In a recent review,
researchers from Korea showcase studies uncovering the promises held by this
compound.
The Korean red ginseng is among the most popular
herbal medicines in East Asia, with evidence for its medicinal use going back
almost 2000 years. To prepare the red ginseng, one repeatedly steams and dries
the root of the plant until it turns a characteristic reddish color. This
reduces the side effects of consuming fresh ginseng by modifying its chemical
composition and enhancing its biological effects on one hand and extends the
shelf life of the product on the other, making it easier to store, transport,
and sell.
Another commonly marketed red ginseng product involves
hot water extracts. These are prepared by retrieving all water-soluble
compounds from the root for subsequent bottling while leaving behind its solid
remains (known as “marc”). While this makes it convenient for consumption, it
leaves out a lot of bioactive lipid-soluble components that are discarded as
waste. Recent studies focusing on the composition and biological effects of
this lipid-soluble fraction, called “red ginseng oil” (RGO), have, in fact,
suggested that it is anything but.
Against this backdrop, Dr. Van-Long Truong and
Professor Woo-Sik Jeong from Kyungpook National University, Korea, recently took
stock of the various health benefits associated with RGO and the molecular mechanisms
underlying them. Their review was published in the Journal of
Ginseng Research.
The review begins by briefly comparing the extraction
technologies for RGO, highlighting that RGO production via the modern technology
based on supercritical fluid extraction is scalable, safe, and efficient. Next,
the researchers move on to detail our current understanding of the chemical
composition of RGO. “RGO contains a large quantity of fatty acids,
especially unsaturated fatty acids, and other lipophilic phytochemicals such as
phytosterols, polyphenolic compounds, tocopherols, and polyacetylenes. All of
these are beneficial to human health,” says Prof. Jeong.
The article then goes on to showcase the various
health benefits of RGO along with the current scientific evidence supporting
them. Specifically, RGO shows potential as a powerful antioxidant and as a
regulator of our body’s own antioxidant enzymes. Moreover, it also exhibits
anti-inflammatory properties, as demonstrated through in vitro studies
on cell cultures and in vivo studies on mice models. Additionally, RGO improves
skin health and appearance through various mechanisms and can even promote hair
growth.
However, a more remarkable health benefit of RGO comes
from its chemopreventive, anti-apoptotic, and anti-cancer properties. RGO can regulate
cellular chemical pathways that inhibit the formation or progression of certain
tumors, and experiments have shown it can inhibit cell growth in particularly
aggressive cancer cell lines. Moreover, by inhibiting the mechanisms underlying
programmed cell death and boosting cellular defense, RGO could even keep chronic
health conditions like diabetes at bay. “The development of metabolic and
chronic diseases, such as diabetes and cancers, requires at least several
years. The consumption of plant-derived bioactive compounds with cellular
defensive properties would be one of the best ways to achieve the goal of
long-term disease prevention,” remarks Prof. Jeong.
Overall, the potential benefits of RGO are varied and
warrant further research. The next step towards commercializing RGO is to
continue investigating its properties while pursuing the development of RGO
products. “RGO as a nutritional
supplement could help prevent illnesses in the long run. Moreover, it is
remarkably safe and nontoxic. Developing
RGO products, both as oral and topical medications, will provide the consumers
better access to its bioactive components and, in turn, its potential health
benefits,” concludes Prof. Jeong.
Reference
Authors: |
Van-Long Truong and Woo-Sik Jeong* |
Title of original paper: |
Red ginseng (Panax
ginseng Meyer) oil: A comprehensive review of extraction technologies,
chemical composition, health benefits, molecular mechanisms, and safety |
Journal: |
Journal of Ginseng Research |
DOI: |
10.1016/j.jgr.2021.12.006 |
Affiliation: |
Food and Bio-industry Research Institute, School
of Food Science & Biotechnology, College of Agriculture and Life
Sciences, Kyungpook National University |
*Corresponding author’s email: wsjeong@knu.ac.kr
About
Kyungpook National University
Kyungpook
National University (KNU) is a national university located in Daegu, South
Korea.
Founded
in 1946, it is committed to becoming a leading global university based on its
proud and lasting tradition of truth, pride, and service. As a comprehensive
national university representing the regions of Daegu and Gyeongbuk Province,
KNU has been striving to lead Korea’s national and international development by
fostering talented graduates who can serve as global community leaders.
Website:
https://en.knu.ac.kr/main/main.htm
About Professor Woo-Sik Jeong of Kyungpook
National University
Woo-Sik Jeong is a Professor of Food Science and
Biotechnology at Kyungpook National University in Korea. He received a PhD degree
in Food Science from Rutgers University, USA in 2002. Thereafter, he underwent Postdoctoral
training at the School of Pharmacy in Rutgers University from 2002 to 2004. Prior
to joining to Kyungpook National University, he served as a Professor of Food
and Life Sciences at Inje University, Korea, from 2004 to 2019. Prof. Jeong’s
research focuses on exploring the cellular defense mechanisms of
phytochemicals, specifically from food sources, and investigating their role in
disease prevention, as well as the relationship between cellular defense and their
microbiome.