Ginsenoside Content in The Leaves and Roots of Panax ginseng at Different Ages

Panax ginseng is one of the most important medicinal plants in Asia, particularly Korea. Triterpene saponins (ginsenosides) are the main bioactive compounds in P. ginseng. The present study investigates the growth characteristics and variation of ginsenoside content in the leaves and roots of Korean ginseng (Panax ginseng) at different growth stages (from 1 to 6 years). Variation in ginsenoside content of both the leaves and roots was higher at the beginning of growth (1-3 years) and then increased with decreasing rates. Root fresh weight increased by 3.3, 5.0, 2.2, 3.0, and 1.7 times for successive year intervals. In comparison, leaf fresh weight increased by 4.6, 2.6, 3.7, 2.4, and 1.2 times for successive year intervals. Analysis of Korean ginseng leaves and roots indicated the presence of 10 ginsenosides (Rb1, Rb2, Rb3, Rc, Rd, Re, Rf, Rg1, Rg2, and Rh1) with the leaves containing higher levels of ginsenoside than the roots. All ginsenosides were maximally accumulated in the leaves during the early growth stages(1 and 2 years), whereas maximum accumulation was recorded in the roots during the later growth stages (~5 years) Levels of ginsenoside Re, Rd, Rg1 and Rc were higher in the leaves than other ginsenosides at all growth stages. Rb1, Rc, and Rb2 ginsenosides levels exhibited wide variation in the leaves across each year interval compared to the other 7 ginsenosides. Rb1 accumulated more in the roots than in the leaves of Korean ginseng. Of the 10 ginsenosides examined, Rf ginsenoside content in the roots exhibited wide annual variation, with a difference of 3.3 times between the highest and lowest content. Overall, ginsenosides levels were much higher in the leaves compared to the roots, with plant age also contributing to variation in the levels of ginsenoside compounds. [Li X, Yan YZ, Kim YK, Uddin MR, Bae H, Kim HH, Park SU. Ginsenoside Content in The Leaves and Roots of Panax ginseng at Different Ages. Life Sci J 2012;9(4):679-683] (ISSN:1097-8135). http://www.lifesciencesite.com. 105