Ginsenosides and phenolics in fresh and processed Korean ginseng (Panax ginseng C.A. Meyer): Effects of cultivation location, year, and storage period

This study reports the effects of cultivation location, cultivation year, and storage period on 13 ginsenosides and 30 phenolics in Korean fresh ginseng (FG) and its three processed ginsengs (white ginseng, WG; taeguek ginseng, TG; red ginseng, RG). Total ginsenosides content in FG was affected by cultivation year (P = 0.038) and storage period (P = 0.0021), not by cultivation location. In contrast, phenolics content in FG was affected by cultivation locations (P < 0.0001) and cultivation year (P = 0.0083), but not by storage period. Processed ginsengs, especially RG, contained larger amounts of ginsenosides and phenolics than those in FG. Thus, RG could be considered as the best ginseng type for human health benefits. The present study extended our knowledge about the change of ginsenosides and phenolics in ginsengs with respect to cultivation location, cultivation year, and the storage period.