Ginsengoside - Saponin in Ginseng

Research Summary by Ze-Yu Shi , Jin-Zhang Zeng and Alice Sze Tsai Wong

Ginseng is an international group of plants with more than a dozen species of the genus Panax in the family Araliaceae with a long history of use in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM). Among the bioactive components extracted from ginseng, ginseng saponins are a group of natural steroid glycosides, and triterpene saponins are found only in the whole plant. Studies have shown that these ginseng saponins play an important role in promoting a variety of therapeutic effects. Among the diverse components of ginseng, its pharmacological activities can be mainly attributed to the triterpene saponins, commonly known as ginsenosides.

To date, more than 100 ginseng saponins have been identified from 11 different Panax species since first described in the 1960s by Shibata's group. Ginseng saponins were first isolated by thin layer chromatography (TLC) and named alphabetically according to the distance they travel on the plate in a given system, e.g. Rb1, Rb2, Re,
Rc , etc

Ginseng saponins can be classified into 3 groups:

- the panaxadiol group (PPD), containing a hydrogen atom at C6 (ie, Rb1, Rb2, Rb3, Rc, Rd, Rg3, Rh2, Rs);

- The panaxatriol group: (PPT), contains a C6 sugar side chain (ie, Re, Rf, Rg1, Rg2, Rh);

- Oleanane group: ceramics of the oleanolic acid group (i.e. Ro) and the ocotillol group (i.e. F11), based on their chemical structures.

Among more than 100 different ginseng saponins, Rb1, Rb2, Rc, Rd, Re, Rf, and Rg1 are the most common.

The classic beneficial effects of ginseng are vital energy replenishment and longevity. Ginseng saponins have been reported to enhance memory and learning, and recent studies have shown that they play a role in the treatment of neurological diseases. Therefore, since ancient times, ginseng has been considered a panacea that can bring about eternal youth, revitalize the body and mind, and enhance physical strength and vitality. Contemporary pharmacological studies have revealed the adaptogenic activities of ginseng and its bioactive molecules against stress and fatigue, as well as resistance to various pathological factors in rejuvenating the body.

https://www.mdpi.com/1420-3049/24/13/2443