A method of extracting ginsenosides from Panax ginseng by pulsed electric field.

The objective of this study was to develop and optimize a pulsed electric field (PEF) extraction method. Various experimental conditions, including electric field intensity and frequency, were evaluated against extraction methods. The content of six major ginsenosides (Rg(1), Re, Rb(1), Rc, Rb(2), and Rd) were quantified by HPLC. The results indicated that the highest yield of the ginsenoside is 12.69 mg/g by PEF using the conditions of 20 kV/cm electric field intensity, 6000 Hz frequency, 70% ethanol-water solution, and 150 L/h velocity. The yield of the ginsenoside of PEF extraction method is higher than the other five methods, such as microwave-assisted extraction, heat reflux extraction, ultrasonic-assisted extraction, accelerated solvent extraction, and ultrahigh pressure extraction, The whole extraction process of PEF takes less than 1 s, which is much less than the heat reflux extraction method for 6 h and even newly used technique ultrahigh pressure extraction method of 2 min. The high efficiency, shorter extraction times, and lower energy cost of PEF extraction method can be applied in the industrial production of saponins from Panax ginseng. The PEF extraction method is a promising and constructive method to extract ginsenosides.

Saponins (Ginsenosides) from stems and leaves of Panax quinquefolium prevented high-fat diet-induced obesity in mice.

The present study was performed to clarify whether the crude saponins from stems and leaves of Panax quinquefolium inhibited lipase activity in vitro, and prevented obesity induced in mice by feeding a high-fat diet for 8 weeks. For in vitro experiments, assay for the inhibitory effects of saponins from stems and leaves of Panax quinquefolium on pancreatic lipase activity was performed by measuring the rate of release of oleic acid from triolein. For in vivo experiments, female ICR mice were fed a high-fat diet with or without saponins from stems and leaves of Panax quinquefolium for 8 weeks. The crude saponins inhibited pancreatic lipase activity in vitro. Furthermore, crude saponins (lg/kg body weight) inhibited the elevations of plasma triacylglycerol in rats administered the oral lipid emulsion tolerance test. In addition, long-term administration of crude saponins, the parametrial adipose tissue weight was decreased by feeding a high-fat diet containing l% or 3% crude saponins compared to those of high-fat diet group. It is demonstrated that the anti-obesity effects of the crude saponins from stems and leaves of Panax quinquefolium in high-fat diet-treated mice may be due to the inhibition of intestinal absorption of dietary fat by ginsenosides Rc, Rb(1) and Rb(2).