Enhancement of Physicochemical Characteristics and Antioxidant Activities of White Ginseng Extract by pH Control and Homogenization Treatment

Background: The main useful components of ginseng are ginsenosides, acidic polysaccharides, and proteins. The aim of this study was to increase the extraction efficiency of thease useful components by changing the pH and homogenizing using a buffer solution.BRMethods and Results: White ginseng powder (WGP) was first extracted with a 20 fold solution of citric acid-phosphate buffer (pH 3.0, 3.5, 4.0, 4.5, and 5.0) and distilled water at 80℃ for 5 hours by stirring in 550 rpm, and then each extract was homogenized with speed (0 to 15,000 rpm) and time (0 to 25 min). Total ginsenosides, acidic polysaccharide crude protein content and transmittance of WGP extract homogenized (12,500 rpm, 15 min) at pH 4.0 - pH 4.5 were 1.07 ㎎/㎖ - 1.10 ㎎/㎖, 0.85% - 0.87%, 0.96% - 0.99% and 36.53% - 40.21%, respectively, and were increased due to pH control and homogenization treatment compared to the untreated (distilled water extraction and no homogenization). The antioxidant activity such as 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging activity, 2,2