It was reported that Red ginseng contains specific ginsenoside-Rg2, -Rg3, -Rh1 and -Rh2, which show various pharmacological effects.
However, production of these specific ginsenosides from Red ginseng is not commercially applicable because of high cost of the raw material, roots.
This work was carried out to examine the production of Red ginseng specific ginsenosides from Agrobacterium-transformed hairy roots.
Hairy roots were induced from 3 year-old root segments of Korean ginseng (Panax ginseng C.A. Meyer) after infection with Agrobacterium rhizogenes A4.
Among many lines of hairy roots, KGHR-8A was selected.
Steam heat treatment of hairy roots was resulted in the changes of ginsenoside composition.
Eleven ginsenosides were detected in heat-treated hairy roots but eight in freeze dried hairy roots.
In heat treated hairy root, content of ginsenoside-Rb1, Rb2, Rc, Rd, Re, Rf, and Rg1 were decreased compared to those of freeze dried hairy roots.
However, heat treatment strongly enhanced the amount of Red ginseng specific ginsenosides (ginsenoside-Rg2, -Rg3, -Rh1 and -Rh2).
Amounts of ginsenoside-Rg3, -Rh1 and -Rh2 in heat-treated hairy roots were 2.58, 3.62 and 1.08 mg/g dry wt, respectively, but these were detected as trace amount in hairy roots without heat treatment.
Optimum condition of heat treatment for the production of Red ginseng specific ginsenoside was 2 h at 105oC.
This result represents that Red ginseng specific ginsenoside can be produced from hairy roots by steam heat treatment.