Evaluation of the Peroxynitrite Scavenging Activity of Heat-Processed Ginseng

Abstract

To ascertain the principal active peroxynitrite (ONOO⁻) scavenging components of heat-processed Panax ginseng C.A. Meyer (sun ginseng [SG]), the ONOO⁻ scavenging activities of fractions and components of SG were compared. The results demonstrated that the ONOO⁻ scavenging ability of SG was due to its ether fraction containing phenolic compounds. High-performance liquid chromatography analysis and ONOO⁻ scavenging activity tests of the phenolic acids contained in SG identified vanillic acid, ferulic acid, p-coumaric acid, syringic acid, and maltol as the main active ONOO⁻ scavenging components of SG. The ONOO⁻ scavenging activities of phenolic acids and maltol were dependent on the degrees of their proton donating ability.