Background : Panax ginseng C. A. Meyer is a medicinal plant corresponding to 'raw materials for food use' in Korean food standards codex, and it is known that it has the same origin although it is classified into wild ginseng, cultured ginseng and red ginseng. It varies morphologically, molecularly, depending on the cultivation or habitat environment. In this study, we carried out experiments for the morphological differentiation of cultured ginseng (Hongcheon, Gunsan, Miryang) and adventitious roots culture of wild mountain ginseng (by company). Methods and Results : Morphological observations were made with resin sectioning method (RSM). The test method was sampled, preprocessed, embedded, segmented, slid and then observed with an optical microscope. The epidermis, cortex and vascular tissues were identified in the inner cross section of adventitious roots culture of wild mountain ginseng. Phloem was formed at the center, and xylem was formed at the side. In cultured ginseng, the organs of the vascular tissues were differentiated into two, whereas in the adventitious roots culture of wild mountain ginseng, one vascular tissue was formed due to the thin adventitious. Conclusion : Plant resources have the diversity of using the same or different origins depending on their distribution. The morphological differentiation method of ginseng and adventitious roots culture of wild mountain ginseng is expected to be based on domestic fair trade to prevent discrimination.

Background: To obtain useful cosmetic resources, this study aimed to determine the non-saponin fatty acid and inhibitory activities of collagenase and elastase by treatment of Saccharomyces cerevisiae in supercritical fluid extracted oil of the adventitious root culture of wild mountain ginseng. Methods and Results: We performed supercritical fluid extraction at various conditions such as pressure, temperature, time, and use of co-solvents, unlike the n-hexane extraction for the adventitious roots culture of wild mountain ginseng. The non-saponin-fatty acid obtained from the oil of the adventitious roots culture was incresed by treatment with S. cerevisiae. The supercritical fluid extraction was conducted using gas chromatography. Non-saponin-fatty acid content, in the oil of adventitious roots culture of wild mountain ginseng treated with S. cerevisiae for 2 days were three times higher than that in the control. In addition, the oil of the adventitious roots culture treated with S. cerevisiae was investigated for the anti-wrinkle effect by using collagenase and elastase. The oil of adventitious roots culture treated with S. cerevisiae exhibited higher collagenase and elastase inhibitory activities than those in the control. Conclusions: Supercritical fluid extracted oil of the adventitious roots culture of wild mountain ginseng treated with S. cerevisiae was found to have decreased ratio of saturated fatty acids and incresed ratio and content of unsaturated fatty acids increased. Furthermore, it showed anti-wrinkle effects in vitro.

Background: Hot steaming is known to be effective in improving the biological activities of plant extracts by breaking down useful compounds to low molecular weight ones. Methods and Results: This study aimed to develop an optimal extraction and steam processing method for enhancing the low molecular ginsenoside contents of the adventitious roots culture of wild mountain ginseng. The total ginsenoside was optimally extracted when 70% EtOH was used at 50℃, whereas low molecule ginsenoside such as Rg2, Rh1, Rh4 and Rk1 could be extracted using 70% EtOH at 70℃. The adventitious roots culture of wild mountain ginseng is known to contain four major ginsenosides, i.e., Rb2, Rb1, Rg1 and Rd, however new ginsenosides Rg6, Rh4, Rg3, Rk1 and Rg5 were new abundantly obtaind after steam processing method was applied. The contents of total ginsenosides were the highest when thermal steam processing was conducted at 120℃ for 120 min. Unlike ginsenosides such as Rg1, Re, Rb1, Rc, Rb2, and Rh1, which decreased after steam processing, Rg3, Rk1, and Rg5 increased after thermal processing. Steam processing significanltly reduced the content of Rb1, increased that of Rg6 by about ten times than that in the adventitious roots culture of wild mountain ginseng. Conclusions: Our study showed that the optimal extraction and steam processing method increased the content of total ginsenosides and allowed the extraction of minor ginsenosides from major ones.