Saponins in Ginseng Roots

As Table X shows, lateral roots contain significantly more Ginseng saponins, especially saponins of (26), than commercial White Ginseng which is prepared from 4- or 6 year aged main roots after removal of lateral roots and periderm. The saponin content of 1- or 2 year aged roots is also somewhat higher than that of White Ginseng 18, 69). 

Kubo et al. 74) further investigated these differences in saponin content and found that the saponins of Ginseng roots are localized outside the cambium, i. e., not in the xylem or pith but in the periderm and cortex. They mentioned that the peeling process for the production of White Ginseng results in a remarkable loss of the biologically active saponins and is therefore undesirable from the pharmaceutical point of view. 

Otsuka et al. (75) reported a high saponin content in a Ginseng corm (a rhizome part on a head of the root) as part of a study on the separation of the saponins by means of droplet counter current chromatography (DCC). 

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