Optimization of the Manufacturing Process for Black Ginseng

Abstract

Black ginseng is derived from a repeated steaming/drying process; however, the black ginseng manufacturing process is not well established. To determine the steaming and drying optimum conditions for producing high levels of biologically active substances such as acidic polysaccharides, ginsenoside Rg3, and polyphenols and low levels of benzopyrene, response surface methodology was used with temperature and time as independent variables. As steaming temperature/time increased, acid polysaccharide, polyphenol, and benzopyrene content increased; ginsenoside Rg3 levels increased with steaming time at temperatures >= 100 degrees C. As drying temperature/time increased, ginsenoside Rg3, benzopyrene, and acidic polysaccharide content also increased. These substances showed a nonlinear canonical form, whereas the phenolic component showed a linear canonical form. Optimum conditions were determined to be steaming at 113.04 degrees C for 18 h and drying at 100 degrees C for 8.03 h, resulting in 0.75 mg/g ginsenoside Rg3, 13.72 mg% acidic polysaccharide, 0.26 ppb benzopyrene, and 3.24 mg% polyphenol.