| Abstract
| - In this study, an in vitro nitric oxide (•NO)-generating system was used to investigate the•NO-scavenging effects of methanolic extracts of white ginseng (Panax ginseng C.A. Meyer), redginseng, and sun ginseng and several ginsenosides and phenolic compounds. Sun ginseng extractshowed the strongest activity among the three ginseng extracts. None of the ginsenosides used inthis experiment showed •NO-scavenging activity, but the phenolic compounds, such as p-coumaricand vanillic acids, and maltol inhibited •NO production in a concentration-dependent manner. Moreover,maltol levels markedly increased by heat processing. Therefore, the enhanced •NO-scavenging activityof ginseng by heat processing was closely related to phenolic acids and the increased content ofmaltol. Keywords: White ginseng; red ginseng; sun ginseng; nitric oxide; ginsenoside; phenolic compound
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