Changes of Fatty Acids, Minerals and Ginsenosides on Ginseng Seeds during Stratifying Treatment

Background : This study was carried out to investigate the changes to fatty acid, mineral, and ginsenosides contents in ginseng seed when they were stratified for different length of time and to determine whether variety had any effects on the changes. The aim was to improve the ginseng seed stratification process. Methods and Results : The ginseng varieties used were Geumpoong, Chunpoong, Yunpoong, and K-1. Stratifying periods treated on ginseng seed were 0, 20, 40, 60, 80, and 100 days. The main fatty acids of ginseng seed were oleic acid (C18 : 1, n9c) with a content of 78.40 - 79.20% followed by linoleic acid (C18 : 2, n6c). The main mineral in the seeds was potassium (K), at 1208.2 - 1337.6 ㎎/100 g. The main ginsenosides in ginseng seed were ginsenoside Re and Rb1. Increasing the length of the stratification periods led to increases in oleic acid content (60 - 80 days), however after this the content declined. In contrast, linoleic acid content fell as the stratification period increased. K, P, Mg, Ca and Na content rose as the stratification period increased. The ginsenoside Re content of Chunpoong and K-1 cultivar seeds also rose as the stratification period increased which meant that total ginsenoside content increased. However, ginsenoside Re content rose in Geumpoong and Yunpoong seeds, but total ginsenoside content decreased as the stratification period increased. Conclusions : Some beneficial compound in ginseng seed rose as the stratification period increased. Therefore, ginseng seed stratification could improve the food value of ginseng.