Articles
ASSESSMENT OF ONTARIO-GROWN GINSENG (PANAX QUINQUEFOLIUS L.) FOR NUTRITIONAL QUALITY AND FOOD SAFETY
Article number
629_15
Pages
115 – 121
Language
English
Abstract
The natural health product industry is in need of standard criteria to assess the quality of herbals/botanicals for the international market.
Presently, grading and pricing of the ginseng roots are exclusively determined based on the physical appearance of the roots.
To initiate development of standardization criteria for ginseng quality and safety, twenty representative samples of three- and four-year-old ginseng roots (Panax quinquefolius L.) were collected from Ontario, Canada and were analysed for a wide range of nutritional and food safety parameters (to assess of their phytochemical qualities and for determination of concentrations of constituents such as ginsenosides, polysaccharides, macro- and micro-nutrients, microbial populations, and fungicide and pesticides levels) in an ISO 9001:2000 registered laboratory.
Proximate analysis revealed that ginseng roots contained 8 to 12% proteins, 0.3 to 1.2 % fat, 67 to 80 % carbohydrate, and 3 to 8 % ash on dry weight basis.
Ginseng contained 16 to 30 % dietary fibre.
The calculated average energy value of ginseng was 342 kcal.
Total ginsenosides concentration in roots ranged from 53 to 94 mg/g dry weight while ginsenosides Rb1 (54.8 %) and Re (16.3 %) contributed up to 70 % of the total ginsenosides.
Rf was absent from all the Ontario ginseng roots.
Among the micronutrients K (12.6 to 15.7 mg/g DW), Ca (1.6 to 6.4 mg/g DW), P (2.3 to 3.8 mg/g DW) and Mg (1.3 to 1.9 mg/g DW) were predominant.
Several other elements such as Na > Fe > Mn > Zn > B > Cu > Se were present in minor amounts as indicated descending order.
Metalloid or heavy metals Cd, Cr, Hg, Mo, Ni, and Pb were not detectable in ginseng roots.
The pesticides quintozene, iprodione and zineb were detectable in some samples and the levels were variable among samples.
However, chlorothanil and metalaxyl were not detectable.
The E. coli and total Coliform counts of roots were in acceptable range.
The aerobic bacteria, yeast and mold counts did not exceed the levels for self-stability.
A comprehensive standardization procedure to assess the quality of ginseng roots is being developed.
Presently, grading and pricing of the ginseng roots are exclusively determined based on the physical appearance of the roots.
To initiate development of standardization criteria for ginseng quality and safety, twenty representative samples of three- and four-year-old ginseng roots (Panax quinquefolius L.) were collected from Ontario, Canada and were analysed for a wide range of nutritional and food safety parameters (to assess of their phytochemical qualities and for determination of concentrations of constituents such as ginsenosides, polysaccharides, macro- and micro-nutrients, microbial populations, and fungicide and pesticides levels) in an ISO 9001:2000 registered laboratory.
Proximate analysis revealed that ginseng roots contained 8 to 12% proteins, 0.3 to 1.2 % fat, 67 to 80 % carbohydrate, and 3 to 8 % ash on dry weight basis.
Ginseng contained 16 to 30 % dietary fibre.
The calculated average energy value of ginseng was 342 kcal.
Total ginsenosides concentration in roots ranged from 53 to 94 mg/g dry weight while ginsenosides Rb1 (54.8 %) and Re (16.3 %) contributed up to 70 % of the total ginsenosides.
Rf was absent from all the Ontario ginseng roots.
Among the micronutrients K (12.6 to 15.7 mg/g DW), Ca (1.6 to 6.4 mg/g DW), P (2.3 to 3.8 mg/g DW) and Mg (1.3 to 1.9 mg/g DW) were predominant.
Several other elements such as Na > Fe > Mn > Zn > B > Cu > Se were present in minor amounts as indicated descending order.
Metalloid or heavy metals Cd, Cr, Hg, Mo, Ni, and Pb were not detectable in ginseng roots.
The pesticides quintozene, iprodione and zineb were detectable in some samples and the levels were variable among samples.
However, chlorothanil and metalaxyl were not detectable.
The E. coli and total Coliform counts of roots were in acceptable range.
The aerobic bacteria, yeast and mold counts did not exceed the levels for self-stability.
A comprehensive standardization procedure to assess the quality of ginseng roots is being developed.
Authors
C.C. Jackson, H.P.V. Rupasinghe, T. Ayanbadejo, P. Martos, J. Schooley
Keywords
American ginseng, triterpene dammarane (saponins), polysaccharides, micro-nutrients, heavy metals, fungicides, pesticides
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