The study aimed to use response surface methodology (RSM) to monitor changes in the composition and contents of ginsenosides as a result of soaking fresh ginseng in an acetic acid solution during the manufacturing process of taegeuk ginseng, resulting...
The study aimed to use response surface methodology (RSM) to monitor changes in the composition and contents of ginsenosides as a result of soaking fresh ginseng in an acetic acid solution during the manufacturing process of taegeuk ginseng, resulting in investigating the dynamic changes in protopanaxadiol and protopanaxatriol ginsenosides. The R2 of ginsenoside Rb1, Rb2, Re, Rf, Rg1, and total model formulas were 0.8420 (p<0.1), 0.8422 (p<0.1), 0.9183 (p<0.05), 0.9237 (p<0.05), 0.9007 (p<0.05), and 0.9236 (p<0.05), respectively. Prolonged soaking of protopanaxadiol ginsenoside Rb1, Rb2, Rb3, and Rc in high acetic acid concentrations released all sugars from the OH at position 20 of aglycone, resulting in relatively large amount of Rg3 being formed. Under similar conditions, protopanaxatriol ginsenoside Re and Rf were also converted to Rg1, Rg2, and Rh1 due to sugars released from OH at positions 6 and 20 of aglycone. Rg2 increased on conversion from Re; however, at high acetic acid concentrations, it was immediately converted to Rh1, resulting in a relative decrease. The total ginsenoside contents decreased with increase in the acetic acid solution soaking time. Thus, RSM confirmed that specific ginsenosides were reduced and other ginsenosides formed during the manufacturing process of taegeuk ginseng.