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Korean Red Ginseng
INCI: Panax Ginseng Root Extract.
CAS Number #: 84650-12-4
Also Called: Red Ginseng Water
CosIng information:
Colour: Pale yellow.
All Functions: Hair conditioning, masking, skin protection, tonic
Description: Panax ginseng root water is the aqueous component from a steam distillation of the ginseng roots, Panax ginseng, Araliaceae.
One of the most extensive distributions worldwide, Korean ginseng is processed into different products, such as functional food, cosmetics, and medical supplies.
It is traditionally used as an essential herbal medicine in Far East Asia. Ginseng is the root of a plant genus called Panax, which means ‘treat all’ in Greek.
Panax ginseng includes three species of Korean, Chinese, and American ginseng, which have been
globally cultivated and traded.
Panax ginseng includes three species of Korean, Chinese, and American ginseng, which have been globally cultivated and traded.
Depending on the processing, Ginseng’s medical products are classified into three categories - fresh, white, and red ginseng. Almost all medical products are derived from ginseng after 4 to 6 years of cultivation.
Ginseng can be divided into three types according to the date from cultivation to harvest: at less than four years, ginseng is known as fresh ginseng because it will be consumed in a new state; between 4 to 6 years, ginseng is dried directly after peeling and called white ginseng; and if ginseng that has been grown for more than six years, it is produced by steaming at a temperature of around 100°C for 2 to 3 hours. Then, it is dried until the moisture content is less than 15%. After that, this kind of ginseng is called red ginseng.
There is a difference in characteristics between red and white ginseng because these have the exact origins of the plant but have different processing. Studies of the differences between red and white ginseng have been conducted since the early 1980s. These reports described the ginseng's chemical profile changes due to the different processing methods.
Red ginseng is only manufactured in Korea, so it has been named Korean Red Ginseng. KRG generally refers to unpeeled fresh ginseng cooked by steaming and drying. Its colour ranges from light yellowish-brown to light reddish-brown. White ginseng is dried without peeling and cooking by sunlight, hot air, or other methods; its colour ranges from white to pale yellow.
Fresh Ginseng (6 years old) is washed, steamed & dried before extraction of the water-soluble extract. Red Ginseng marc, a by-product of water-soluble extract production, is the source material for Red Ginseng Oil, which is extracted using either a solvent or the supercritical fluid method.
History of Korean Red Ginseng:
Ginseng is a perennial umbel plant, often with a branched rootstock and a stalk bearing 2-5 whorls and long-stalked leaves with jagged edges. It is a self-pollination plant that blooms at its third-year growth phase. Once the flowers bloom in May, they develop into red berries, with each fruit containing two seeds.
Ginseng roots are usually harvested at 4 to 6 years of age during autumn. The sources are the rhizomes (neck), primary roots and rootlets. A matured 6-year-old ginseng, on average, would have a total root length of about 34 cm, with the primary source being approximately 7-10 cm long and 3 cm wide, with several stout rootlets.
Depending on the quality, red ginseng is divided into chonsam, jisam, and yangsam. In the process of steaming and drying fresh ginseng to make red ginseng, there are changes in the types and concentrations of unique compounds found in ginseng, known as ginsenosides. There are also physical and chemical changes in polysaccharides, the most abundant compounds in Korean Red Ginseng; notably, starch gelatinisation enables long-term storage. Korean Red Ginseng contains a high concentration (60–70%) of carbohydrates, including starch, but also includes several specific compounds that are not found in other plants, including ginsenosides, proteins that are nitrogen-containing compounds, peptides, alkaloids, polyacetylenes that are liposoluble, and polysaccharides as well as flavonoids and fatty acids.
Total phenolic content (TPC), total flavonoid content (TFC), and antioxidant capacities of red ginseng extract and fractions.
During the Red Ginseng preparation, the heat process may generate new compounds. A series of procedures for preparing Red Ginseng, extracts, and water-soluble/insoluble component-rich fractions were manipulated to determine and compare the composition of various compounds. Newly identified maltol derivatives, such as red ginseng-derived non-saponin in the water-soluble, exhibit antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and intracellular oxidative stress scavenging effects.
Ginseng has been used in Korea for a long time as a vital herbal medicine.
There are two main varieties of ginseng: Panax ginseng (Korean ginseng) and Panax quinquefolius (American ginseng). According to anecdotal reports, American ginseng helps reduce body temperature, whereas Korean ginseng improves blood circulation and increases body temperature; however, their respective effects on body temperature and metabolic parameters have not been studied.
Ginseng is divided into two types in traditional preparation: white ginseng and red ginseng. White ginseng is peeled and dried, and ginseng root and red ginseng are produced by steaming fresh ginseng root at 98–100°C for 2–3 h and then drying until the moisture content is <15%. Red and white ginseng have both been shown to have immunomodulatory, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and anti-atopic activities. Moreover, red ginseng has been reported to have more potent pharmacological activities than white ginseng in some respects. The differences in biological activities between red and white ginseng are caused by the chemical changes of ginsenosides after the steaming process.
Almost all medical products are derived from ginseng after 4 to 6 years of cultivation. Fresh ginseng is defined as less than four years old and requires minimal processing. White ginseng is 4-6-year-old and is peeled and dried. Red ginseng is six years old and is first steamed and then dried. Each type of ginseng can be further processed into different formulations, including powder, extract (tinctured or boiled), juice, tea, capsules, tablets, and more.
Panax ginseng, a medicinal plant, has been used as a blood-nourishing tonic for thousands of years in Asia, including Korea and China. There are two traditional preparations of ginseng: white ginseng and red ginseng. Korean Red Ginseng has been reported in basic and clinical studies to possess diverse effects such as enhanced immunity, fatigue relief, memory, blood circulation, and anti-oxidation. Moreover, it also protects against menopausal symptoms, cancer, cardiac diseases, and neurological disorders. The active components found in most Korean Red Ginseng varieties include ginsenosides, polysaccharides, peptides, alkaloids, polyacetylene, and phenolic compounds.
Native to Asia, Korean ginseng is the most used type; American ginseng (Panax quinquefolius) is the other. Both Asian and American ginseng contain ginsenosides (ginseng saponins), natural active compounds believed to give ginseng medicinal properties, like vasodilation (the relaxing of blood vessels), antioxidant activity, and anti-inflammation and anti-cancer properties. Ginseng is an adaptogen used in herbal medicine believed to help the body deal with stress and increase well-being.
It provides the following beneficial effects (although more clinical studies need to be done before researchers can say for sure):
Dermatological benefits: Recent studies have shown that Korean Red Ginseng (RG) protects skin from photo ageing, wrinkling, and wound healing, and it can also relieve atopic dermatitis and allergy symptoms. It improves skin health, enhances hair growth, fights against pathogens, and protects skin from sun damage.
Could Boost the Immune System: Laboratory studies suggest that ginseng may enhance the immune function by stimulating lymphocytes, the cells involved in fighting off infections.
Could Improve heart disease: Various human and animal studies suggest that it may lower blood pressure, improve blood circulation, and reduce blood cholesterol and triglyceride levels, all of which can benefit the heart.
Could Enhance Brain Health: Some animal research has found that it may improve the symptoms of Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, and Huntington’s diseases.
Ginseng-derived compounds may also enhance mental performance, learning, and memory.
Could Help decrease stress: Some studies have found that ginseng can reduce stress levels.
Could Help with Diabetes: It may help lower blood sugar levels, a concern for people with diabetes. Small studies suggest that people with type 2 diabetes who use ginseng may have improved fasting glucose levels and lower triglycerides and cholesterol levels.
Could Help fight cancer: Ginseng may help prevent tumour growth. It seems to lower inflammation and inhibit angiogenesis, two critical processes in the formation and progression of cancer.
Could improve erectile dysfunction: According to research, certain compounds found in ginseng may protect against oxidative stress in the blood vessels and tissues and are valuable alternatives for treating erectile dysfunction.
Skin also contributes to the formation of several appendages, including hair, nails, and sebaceous and sweat glands. Many internal and external factors, such as diseases, nutritional deficiencies, ageing, hormonal imbalances, stress, and UV radiation, may disturb the condition of healthy skin. In addition, impaired skin functions may affect the structure and the development of skin appendages, including hair.
Red ginseng oil (RGO), extracted from red ginseng, one of the most popular folk medicines in East Asia, has been demonstrated to prevent the pathogenesis of various diseases and other chronic conditions. Antioxidant and hepatoprotective activities of Red Ginseng Oil are associated with the upregulation of cellular antioxidant defence systems. Red Ginseng Oil reduces inflammation by inhibiting the production of pro-inflammatory mediators and cytokines by suppressing cell proliferation and induction of cytoprotective mechanisms. According to the research, The topical application of Red Ginseng Oil restored hair regeneration in an androgenic alopecia mouse model.
Topical application of Red Ginseng effectively promoted hair regeneration by inducing early telogen-to-anagen transition and significantly increasing hair follicles' density and bulb diameter. Major compounds, including linoleic acids and β-sitosterol, contributed to Red Ginseng Oil promoting hair growth. Treatment with Red Ginseng Oil and its significant components upregulated the expression of hair growth-related proteins.
Korean Red Ginseng has been proven effective in preventing skin ageing due to exposure to ultraviolet light, and it has been reported to avoid wrinkles and improve atopic dermatitis and chronic skin damage.
Korean ginseng also has a good impact on skin regeneration. Kim et al. reported that the ginsenoside Rd can remarkably enhance the proliferation and migration of human dermal fibroblasts. Animal wound models were used to prove that ginsenoside Rd potentiated wound healing, which could be a natural medicine in skin regeneration.
Korean Red Ginseng may be a functional food candidate for skin photoaging. Photoaging is characterised by thickening, roughness, coarse wrinkles, mottled pigmentation and histologic changes, including damage to collagen fibres and the excessive deposition of abnormal elastic fibres. Several studies have reported that various compounds isolated from natural products afforded protection against UV-induced photoaging.
The main function of the Skin melanocytes is to produce melanin and melanosomes, which are related to skin colour and skin cell photoprotection. If the synthesis function becomes disordered, skin colour will be abnormal. These two abnormal changes in the skin are hyperpigmentation & hypopigmentation. In hyperpigmentation, skin colour is darker than usual because of the excess melanin production.
With ageing, melanocytes increase in size and provide hyperpigmentation. Kong et al. reported that cinnamic acid, mainly found in Korean ginseng, can inhibit tyrosinase. The potent inhibition of tyrosinase and melanin synthesis is also suppressed. According to an experiment, UVB irradiation established a hyperpigmentation model in brown guinea pig skin. Cinnamic acid was found to remove melanin synthesis remarkably and exhibit good depigmenting activity, which has apparent skin-whitening effects.
For thousands of years, people in eastern Asia have relied on Korean red ginseng to treat various ailments. In addition to being used to improve heart health, treat diabetes, increase energy, reduce stress, and treat impotence, it has also been used to boost the immune system. Traditionally, the herb is commonly consumed as a tea or eaten directly.
Although Korean red ginseng has been used in traditional medicine for a long time, some of its biological benefits remain inconclusive, according to modern research. Some studies have shown that patients with mild diabetes may benefit from ginseng with its memory-enhancing capabilities. There are also indications it can reduce exhaustion and treat symptoms of menopause.
When used orally for a short period, Korean red ginseng is safe for consumption.
Common side effects:
Breast tenderness and vaginal bleeding.
Uncommon side effects may include:
Contraindications of using Korean Red Ginseng:
Natural foods, including Ginseng, emerge in the discourse around enhancing bodily functions. It is a plant in the family Araliaceae and the genus Panax. Red ginseng (Korean Red Ginseng) has been recognised by the Korean Ministry of Food and Drug Safety for its six functions: improving immunity, improving fatigue, improving blood circulation (by preventing blood platelet aggregation), enhancing memory, antioxidation, and improving the health of post-menopausal women.
2. Is Korean Red Ginseng same as panax ginseng?
Ginseng has beneficial effects on cancer, diabetes and ageing. There are two main varieties of ginseng: Panax ginseng (Korean ginseng) and Panax quinquefolius (American ginseng).
3.Is Korean red ginseng good for the prostate?
Chronic prostatitis typically occurs in ageing men, and its symptoms include frequent and painful urination. Korean Red Ginseng (KRG) has been used safely in humans for a long time. It has been traditionally used in Korea and East Asian countries to treat diverse diseases. It is a heat-modified product of the Ginseng Radix (Panax ginseng) root. The Korean Red Ginseng known so far has been reported to be effective as an antioxidant, antibacterial, anti-inflammatory action agent, blood circulation enhancer, cancer-preventing agent, and infectious defence and immunity enhancer. Korean Red Ginseng is also commonly used for male rejuvenation and for treating urinary discomfort in older people.
4.Is Korean Red Ginseng safe to take?
For thousands of years, people in eastern Asia have relied on Korean red ginseng to treat various ailments. In addition to being used to improve heart health, treat diabetes, increase energy, reduce stress, and treat impotence, it has also been used to boost the immune system. Traditionally, the herb is commonly consumed as tea or eaten directly.
5.Is Korean Red Ginseng good for the kidney?
Korean red ginseng is one of the bestselling dietary supplements, and its constituents enhance renal function. It can suppress renal inflammation, injury, and fibrosis.
6. Is Korean Red Ginseng healthy?
A Study has proven through its eight-week intake test and subsequent analysis that KRG boosts the immune system through an increase in T cells, B cells, and WBCs and is safe according to the study's safety evaluation.
7.Uses Korean Red Ginseng.
For thousands of years, people in eastern Asia have relied on Korean red ginseng to treat various ailments. In addition to being used to improve heart health, treat diabetes, increase energy, reduce stress, and treat impotence, it has also been used to boost the immune system. Traditionally, the herb is commonly consumed as tea or eaten directly.
Although Korean red ginseng has been used in traditional medicine for a long time, some of its biological benefits remain inconclusive, according to modern research. Some studies have shown that patients with mild diabetes may benefit from ginseng with its memory-enhancing capabilities. There are also indications it can reduce exhaustion and treat symptoms of menopause.
8. Benefits of Korean red ginseng extract powder tea.
Red Ginseng is made from Ginseng that has been steamed and dried, a process that gives its red colour and changes its composition. It has strong antioxidant properties.
The nutritional value of ginseng is very high. It contains vitamins and some minerals. A 100-gram pack of Korean red dried ginseng powder typically contains 13 mg of Sodium, 415 mg of Potassium/Vitamin K, 80 Calories, 18 g of Carbohydrates, 2 g of protein, 8.5 g of Vitamin C, 1 g of Calcium, and 3.5 g of Iron.
9. Taste of Korean red ginseng?
Korean red ginseng taste is described as a combination of sweet, bitter, and slightly spicy with a woody aftertaste. The two primary notes are “earthy and bitter”.
10. Benefits from Korean red ginseng?
Sun Hee Hyun, H.-Y. A.-J.-H.-K.-K. (2021 , Jan ). Immuno-enhancement effects of Korean Red Ginseng in healthy adults: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. Journal of Ginseng Research, 191–198. doi:10.1016/j.jgr.2020.08.003
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7790881/
Margaret Song, J.-H. M.-C.-S.-B. (2011 , Jun). Korean Red Ginseng Powder in the Treatment of Melasma: An Uncontrolled Observational Study. Journal of Ginseng Research, 35(2), 170–175. doi: 10.5142/jgr.2011.35.2.170
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3659531/
HerbalSupplements. (n.d.). Korean Red Ginseng: Benefits, Side-Effects, Usage, Dosage, History, and Differences. Retrieved from https://herbalsupplements.health/plant/ginseng-red#respond
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jgr.2017.12.006Chimene Richa, M. M. (AUG 09, 2021 ). Korean red ginseng benefits for erectile dysfunction. Retrieved from https://ro.co/health-guide/bio/chimene-richa-md/
Eun-Young Park, M.-H. K.-H.-K.-S.-C.-S. (2014). Efficacy comparison of Korean ginseng and American ginseng on body temperature and metabolic parameters. National Library of Medicine, 173-87. doi:10.1142/S0192415X14500128
HerbalSupplements. (n.d.). Korean Red Ginseng: Benefits, Side-Effects, Usage, Dosage, History, and Differences. Retrieved from https://herbalsupplements.health/plant/ginseng-red#respond
Jeong Hun Choa, M. C.-T.-O.-S. ( 2023, July). Newly identified maltol derivatives in Korean Red Ginseng and their biological influence as antioxidant and anti-inflammatory agents. Journal of Ginseng Research, 47(4), 593-603. doi:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jgr.2023.02.006
Jun Young Kim, M. H. (2022 , Mar 24). Effects of Black Ginseng Water Extract under the Inflammatory Conditions of Cultured Sebocytes and Outer Root Sheath Cells. Annals of Dermatology, 95–104. Retrieved from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8989908/
Kang, S. W. (2019, jan 14). The Effects of Korea Red Ginseng on Inflammatory Cytokines and Apoptosis in Rat Model with Chronic Nonbacterial Prostatitis. Natural Compounds against Cancer, Inflammation, and Oxidative Stress. Retrieved from https://www.hindawi.com/journals/bmri/2019/2462561/
Kim, K. (2014, November 24). Effect of ginseng and ginsenosides on melanogenesis and their mechanism of action. Journal of Ginseng Research, 39(1), 1-6. doi:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jgr.2014.10.006
Ki-Soo Park, D.-H. P. ( 2018, January 10 ). The effect of Korean Red Ginseng on full-thickness skin wound healing in rats. Journal of Ginseng Research, 43(2), 226-235. doi:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jgr.2017.12.006
Ki-Soo Park, D.-H. P. (2019, April ). The effect of Korean Red Ginseng on full-thickness skin wound healing in rats. Journal of Ginseng Research, 43(2), 226-235. doi:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jgr.2017.12.006
Ki-Soo Park, D.-H. P. (2019, April ). The effect of Korean Red Ginseng on full-thickness skin wound healing in rats. Journal of Ginseng Research, 43(2), 226-235. doi:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jgr.2017.12.006
(2021, March 27). Korean Red Ginseng: The Harvesting Process. Andrew Park. Retrieved from https://www.kgcus.com/en-in/blogs/ginseng-101/korean-red-ginseng-the-harvesting-process
Long You, J. Y. ( 2021, May). The regulatory role of Korean ginseng in skin cells. Journal of Ginseng Research, 45(3), 363-370. doi:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jgr.2020.08.004
Long You, J. Y. (2021, May ). The regulatory role of Korean ginseng in skin cells. Journal of Ginseng Research, 45(3), 363-370. doi:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jgr.2020.08.004
Sabouri-Rad, S., Sabouri-Rad, S., Sahebkar, A., & Tayarani-Najaran, Z. ( 2017, Number 11). Ginseng in Dermatology: A Review. Current Pharmaceutical Design,, 23, 1649-1666. Retrieved from https://www.ingentaconnect.com/content/ben/cpd/2017/00000023/00000011/art00010#expand/collapse
Sang Myung Lee, ∗. B.-S.-W.-G.-G.-L.-S. (2015, October). Characterization of Korean Red Ginseng (Panax ginseng Meyer): History, preparation method, and chemical composition. Journal of Ginseng Research, 39(4), 384–391. doi:10.1016/j.jgr.2015.04.009
Sang Myung Lee, B.-S. B.-W.-G.-G.-L.-S. ( 2015, October). Characterization of Korean Red Ginseng (Panax ginseng Meyer): History, preparation method, and chemical composition. Journal of Ginseng Research, 39(4), 384-391. doi:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jgr.2015.04.009
Sang Myung Lee, B.-S. B.-W.-G.-G.-L.-S. ( 2015, October). Characterization of Korean Red Ginseng (Panax ginseng Meyer): History, preparation method, and chemical composition. Journal of Ginseng Research, 39(4), 384-391. doi:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jgr.2015.04.009
Sang Myung Lee, B.-S. B.-W.-G.-G.-L.-S. ( 2015, October). Characterization of Korean Red Ginseng (Panax ginseng Meyer): History, preparation method, and chemical composition. Journal of Ginseng Research, 39(4), 384-391. doi:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jgr.2015.04.009
Sang Myung Lee, B.-S. B.-W.-G.-G.-L.-S. (2015 , May 11). Characterization of Korean Red Ginseng (Panax ginseng Meyer): History, preparation method, and chemical composition. Journal of Ginseng Research, 384–391. doi:10.1016/j.jgr.2015.04.009
Sang Myung Lee, B.-S. B.-W.-G.-G.-L.-S. (October 2015). Characterization of Korean Red Ginseng (Panax ginseng Meyer): History, preparation method, and chemical composition. Journal of Ginseng Research.
Sun Hee Hyun, H.-Y. A.-J.-H.-K.-K. (2021 , Jan). Immuno-enhancement effects of Korean Red Ginseng in healthy adults: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. Journal of Ginseng Research, 45(1), 191–198. doi: 10.1016/j.jgr.2020.08.003
Sun Hee Hyun, H.-Y. A.-J.-H.-K.-K. (2021 , Jan ). Immuno-enhancement effects of Korean Red Ginseng in healthy adults: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. Journal of Ginseng Research, 191–198. doi:10.1016/j.jgr.2020.08.003
Sun Hee Hyun, H.-Y. A.-J.-H.-K.-K. (2021, Jan). Immuno-enhancement effects of Korean Red Ginseng in healthy adults: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. Journal of Ginseng Research, 191–198. doi:10.1016/j.jgr.2020.08.003
Sun Hee Hyun, S. W.-K.-K. ( 2020, July). Physiological and pharmacological features of the non-saponin components in Korean Red Ginseng. Journal of Ginseng Research, 44(4), 527-537. doi:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jgr.2020.01.005
Sun Hee Hyun, S. W.-K.-K. ( 2020, July). Physiological and pharmacological features of the non-saponin components in Korean Red Ginseng. Journal of Ginseng Research, 44(4), 527-537. doi:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jgr.2020.01.005
Tong Ho Kang, H. M.-B.-H. ( 2009, June 25). Effects of red ginseng extract on UVB irradiation-induced skin aging in hairless mice. Journal of Ethnopharmacology, 123(3), 446-451. doi:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jep.2009.03.022
Van-Long Truong, Y.-S. K.-S. ( 2021, July). Red ginseng oil promotes hair growth and protects skin against UVC radiation. Journal of Ginseng Research, 45(4), 498-509. doi:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jgr.2020.12.008
Van-Long Truong, Y.-S. K.-S. (2021, July ). Red ginseng oil promotes hair growth and protects skin against UVC radiation. Journal of Ginseng Research, 498-509. doi:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jgr.2020.12.008
Van-Long Truong, Y.-S. K.-S. (2021, , July ). Red ginseng oil promotes hair growth and protects skin against UVC radiation. Journal of Ginseng Research, 45(4), 498-509. doi:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jgr.2020.12.008
Ye Hyang Kim, H. R. ( 2020, January). Effect of red ginseng NaturalGEL on skin aging. Journal of Ginseng Research, 44(1), 115-122. doi:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jgr.2018.09.006
Yong Yang, C. R. (2017 , Dec 1). Ginseng: An Nonnegligible Natural Remedy for Healthy Aging. Aging and Disease, 708–720. Retrieved from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5758347/
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Yu Kyung Lee, Y.-W. C. (2013 , Sep). Effects of Korean red ginseng extract on acute renal failure induced by gentamicin and pharmacokinetic changes by metformin in rats. Food Chem Toxicol, 153-9. doi:10.1016/j.fct.2013.05.025
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