Component profile analysis of irradiated Korean white ginseng powder

Currently, some food materials are disinfected by γ-irradiation (using Co-60) or ethylene oxide treatment. These treatments were applied to ginseng powder and the ginseng components such as ginsenosides, polyacetylenes and phenolic acids were analyzed by HPLC to determine any compositional changes due to irradiation. No appreciable difference was observed in the HPLC pattern of ginsenosides, polyacetylenes of ginseng powder after 10 key irradiation or ethylene oxide treatment (EO CO2 = 3:7, w/wfb) from those of untreated fresh ginseng powder when they were analyzed soon after treatments. When the ginseng powders were stored at room temperature for three years after the same treatment, the HPLC patterns of polyacetylenes and phenolic acid fraction showed appreciable change from those of fresh ginseng powder, however, the HPLC patterns of three year old samples did not show any appreciable difference. (author)