Chemical Insights into Ginseng as a Resource for Natural Antioxidants

The chemistry, biosynthesis, analysis, and tonic effects of ginsenosides were reviewed to gather information about ginseng as a resource for natural antioxidants. Investigations revealed that anticarcinogenic, immunomodulatory, anti-inflammatory, antiallergic, antiatherosclerotic, antihypertensive, antidiabetic, antistress, and anticancer activities of ginseng were due to the action of ginsenosides. The pharmacological action of ginseng was related to the abilities of ginsenosides to regulate enzyme expression, and more individual ginsenosides were needed for comparing pharmacological activity and for exploring the structure-activity relationships. Some chemicals, such as CO 2 and jasmonic acid were found to increase the contents of ginsenosides and other antioxidants. It was also observed that the treatment of Panax notoginseng with 2-hydroxyethyl jasmonate in a bioreactor increased the activities of protopanaxdiol 6-hydroxylase and Rd glucosyltransferase and changed the ratios of Rb/Rg and Rb1/Rd.