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Fermented Black Ginseng > Saponin Story

Fermented Black Ginseng

Saponin Story

Among the constituent groups of ginseng, the most pharmacologically active component group is, as is well known, saponin.
Saponin is a Greek word for bubble and is a type of surfactant.
The soap we use in our daily life is a representative surfactant, and the principle that soap dissolves both water and oil is because the water-soluble and fat-soluble parts coexist in the molecular structure, and this is the why the water made with ginseng has bubble.
However, saponin in ginseng exists in the form of only saponin, but in some cases the size is increased because it is combined with high molecular compounds such as resins.
So, when it is decomposed by the enzymes made by intestinal microorganisms, it exists in the form of only saponin, which makes intestinal absorption easier.
Therefore, fermenting ginseng products (including red ginseng and black ginseng) or artificial enzyme treatment can increase intestinal absorption.

This is a well-known fact.
However, saponins absorbed from the intestine into the blood must flow into the cell and penetrate the cell membrane to exert their unique pharmacological action.
And since the cell membrane is composed of phospholipids, the fat-soluble component penetrates the cell membrane much more easily than the water-soluble component, and the water-soluble component is difficult to permeate, so energy is required to permeate it. (Active transport)
On the other hand, the fat-soluble component is easily permeated, so it is easy to permeate without the need for a lot of energy. (Passive transport)


The important thing is that the saponin of fresh ginseng has both fat-soluble and water-soluble parts (ginsenosideRa, Rb, Rc group), and the more steamed, the more the water-soluble component falls off. (ginsenosideRg, Rh, Rk group)
In the end, from fresh ginseng to red ginseng to black ginseng, the cell membrane permeability of saponins increases and energy is not needed as much…
It is presumed that there are no side effects such as fever, heart palpitations, and insomnia like fresh ginseng when taking it. (Of course, other reasons such as cytokines cannot be ruled out.)
However, high-level steaming technology is required because carbonization occurs during the process of steaming several times, resulting in carcinogens such as benzopyrene.
And to remove more water-soluble components from the saponin of black ginseng, a fermentation method is required. (ginsenoside Rh series, sapogenin) In particular, as ginseng itself has strong antibacterial properties, the fermentation method is very difficult, and this also requires advanced technology. (patented by Ginseng by Pharm Co.,ltd.)

At Ginseng by Pharm Co., Ltd., several pharmacists have accumulated this high level of know-how through long-term research, and in the future, we are trying to further develop the efficacy of fermented black ginseng through an affiliated research institute. In Korea, only pharmacists who have received special education can sell our fermented black ginseng products in pharmacies.​