Roy Joshua C. Gerona, Francesca Gabrielle P. Hurtado, Robel Paulo B. Villaos (March 2012)
Philippine Science High School Western Visayas Campus – Department of Science and Technology (DOST-PSHS WVC), Brgy. Bito-on, Jaro, Iloilo City 5000, Philippines
ABSTRACT
Ginseng is one of the most highly regarded herbal medicines in the Orient. Some seemingly magical properties attributed to it are its abilities to improve psychological function, cardiovascular conditions, and immune system activities. Ginsenosides, the active constituents of ginseng, are the ones most responsible for giving ginseng products their supposed health benefits. It is important to investigate the concentrations of ginsenosides in these products, to ensure that they really deliver. BFAD (Bureau of Food and Drugs) is a regulatory agency that ensures the safety and quality of processed foods, drugs, and other substances using state-of-the-art technology. It also tests the scientific soundness and truthfulness of the products’ information, for the protection of public health. Any products that will be imported, exported, manufactured or distributed must first pass the BFAD’s approval. Ginseng root powder with 80% ginsenoside purity was obtained and dissolved in hot water to create the standard solution. This was then diluted into percentages: 20, 40, 60, 80 and 100. Korean Heaven Red ginseng tea was also obtained and dissolved in hot water to create the tea stock solution. Spectrophotometric analysis was carried out to determine the concentration of ginsenoside in the tea solutions. The concentrations of ginsenosides in the solutions were calculated using their absorbencies using standard addition method. The slope for the standard curve was R- 1.1163, and the resolved concentrations per 1 gram sample in mol/L (M) were 1.19×10-4 for the Red tea and 4.40×10-5 for the Brown tea. Calculations for the concentrations were done using the molecular weight of Rg1 which is 801.01 g/mol. To conclude, the two ginseng teas that did not pass through BFAD approval do contain ginsenoside but in very small amounts.