Background : The fruit of Lycii fructus (Gugija) has beeen used as a tonic medicine and a long-term healthy food without side effect in Asia. An increase in the demand for natural healthy food, Gugija has been thought as a source of healthy foods, and then the extracts of dried Gugija have been frequently used as food ingredients. But, its extracts with Gugija alone has a slightly bad taste. Physiological characteristics of Gugija extracts were investigated by adding white ginseng (WG) and red ginseng (RG) to enhance taste.
Methods and Results : Gugija extract were prepared by adding 0, 20, 40, 60, 80 and 100% of ginseng (WG and RG) to the weight of Gugija, respectively. Antioxidant activities of Gugija extracts were investigated DPPH and ABTS radical scavenging activity, SOD-like activity, FRAP, activity. As the amount of WG added increased, DPPH, ABTS radical scavenging activity, and FRAP activity of Gugija extract decreased. On the other hand, the physiological activity of Gugija extract increased with increasing amount of RG. The SOD-like activity of Gugija extract added up to 60% of WG and to 40% of RG was continuously lowered, in the addition amount thereafter, the activity increased as the addition amount increased. In components, As the amount of WG and RG added increased, the ginsenosides content of Gugija extract increased, the content of ginsenosides was higher in extract added RG than WG, but betaine and total flavonoid content decreased.
Conclusion : From the above results, we may suggest that Gugija extracts by adding RG increased the antioxidant activities, SOD-like activity, and the preference degree.