Study on the Nitric Oxide Scavenging Effects of Ginseng and Its Compounds

摘要

In this study,an in vitro nitric oxide(~(centre dot)NO)-generating system was used to investigate the ~(centre dot)NO-scavenging effects of methanolic extracts of white ginseng(Panax ginseng C.A.Meyer),red ginseng,and sun ginseng and several ginsenosides and phenolic compounds.Sun ginseng extract showed the strongest activity among the three ginseng extracts.None of the ginsenosides used in this experiment showed ~(centre dot)NO-scavenging activity,but the phenolic compounds,such as p-coumaric and vanillic acids,and maltol inhibited ~(centre dot)NO production in a concentration-dependent manner.Moreover,maltol levels markedly increased by heat processing.Therefore,the enhanced ~(centre dot)NO-scavenging activity of ginseng by heat processing was closely related to phenolic acids and the increased content of maltol.