When people think of traditional Chinese herbal medicine, ginseng is often the first thing that comes to mind. As one of the rare and precious traditional Chinese medicines, ginseng has long been cherished for its unique shape and extensive health benefits. Since systematic records of Chinese herbs began, ginseng has been documented as a versatile "wonder drug" with a wide range of therapeutic applications, earning it the title "King of Herbs." What is the secret behind this renowned herb, and how can we better utilize its efficacy?

When tradition meets technology, ginseng gets an innovative twist! Today, let's unveil the mystery of "fermented ginseng" and see how this ancient herb is revitalized with the help of modern technology!

The Science Behind the Magic: The Power of Fermentation

As a traditional tonic, ginseng contains active components like ginsenosides (such as Rg1, Re) and polysaccharides, which have immunomodulatory effects. However, excessive intake can disrupt the body's internal homeostasis, leading to symptoms like mouth ulcers, sore throat, and dryness/heatiness – commonly referred to as "heatiness" reactions in some individuals.

Ginseng that undergoes microbial fermentation has a remarkable "transformation." In a professional dietary intervention study, volunteers who consumed fermented ginseng continuously showed a significant reduction in "heatiness" symptoms. Compared to traditional ginseng, the fermented ginseng group had a greatly reduced incidence of "heatiness"! This indicates that while retaining the many benefits of traditional ginseng, fermented ginseng cleverly avoids the "drying" drawback, making it more suitable for long-term consumption by a wider range of people. It also makes ginseng's nourishing effects milder and more agreeable, allowing it to integrate better into daily health regimens and safeguard well-being.

Figure 1: Percentage of volunteers with two or more "heatiness" symptoms after consuming the sample

To truly widely apply ginseng in food and pharmaceuticals, it's essential not only to address the issue of ginseng's "heatiness" but also to solve the problem of low intestinal absorption and utilization of ginsenosides.

Quality Over Quantity!

Prototype ginsenosides are barely metabolized in the liver and are primarily degraded in the gut. However, prototype ginsenosides are poorly absorbed directly by the intestines after oral administration; only 3-5 types of ginsenosides can enter the bloodstream in their original form, resulting in a bioavailability of just 1%. Therefore, prototype ginsenosides must be metabolically converted into rare ginsenosides with smaller molecular structures to quickly cross cell membranes into the bloodstream and exert biological activity. But the content of rare ginsenosides is extremely low and cannot be directly extracted from ginseng in significant quantities. To overcome the limitations of absorption and conversion, microbial fermentation is utilized to multiply the key components. Monitoring results show that the content of rare ginsenosides in fermented ginseng is significantly higher than that in regular ginseng.

Figure 2: Significant increase in rare ginsenosides Rg3, 20(R)-Rg3, and Rg5 after fermentation

Soaring rare ginsenoside content means doubled efficacy! This is not just an empty claim.

Combatting Anemia, Made Easy!

Good news for those struggling with anemia! Fermented ginseng not only reduces heatiness but can also help improve anemia! Experiments have shown that zebrafish fed fermented ginseng powder exhibited significantly increased heart red blood cell staining intensity. What does this mean? It means your blood quality can also become more vibrant and healthier, just like these little creatures!

Figure 3: Zebrafish experiment certificate and heart staining diagram demonstrating fermented ginseng's improvement of anemia

Anti-Aging, Antioxidant, Anti-Fatigue – It's All Possible!

1. Anti-Aging: Time waits for no one, but fermented ginseng can help! Research indicates it can not only enhance antioxidant enzyme activity but also improve the expression of genes related to aging, helping your body radiate youthfulness from the inside out! Don't believe it? Check out this study conducted on Caenorhabditis elegans: fermented ginseng increased lifespan, heat stress resistance, and acute oxidative stress resistance – a true model of "reverse aging"!

Figure 4: Anti-Aging Effects in Caenorhabditis elegans

2. Antioxidant: Fermented ginseng acts like a "little antioxidant guardian." In lab tests, it effectively scavenged harmful free radicals, such as DPPH radicals and hydroxyl radicals. These free radicals are the "bad guys" behind bodily aging and disease; fermented ginseng helps "chase them away," aiding the body in maintaining youth and health.

Figure 5: In Vitro Antioxidant Activity (Free Radical Scavenging)

3. Anti-Fatigue: Fermented ginseng significantly enhanced the anti-fatigue capacity in mice. It helped reduce post-exercise fatigue indicators, such as the accumulation of lactic acid and blood urea nitrogen (these are the "triggers" for fatigue sensation), while increasing liver glycogen reserves (the body's energy "warehouse"). Compared to non-fermented ginseng, fermented ginseng performed better in these aspects, acting like a "super energy replenishment station," making the mice more energetic.

Figure 6: Anti-Fatigue Efficacy in Mice

A Natural Choice, Safe and Reliable

Don't worry, fermented ginseng isn't some dubious "black tech." It retains the natural essence of ginseng while becoming milder and easier to absorb through fermentation, which reduces its heatiness. Whether you want to improve your constitution, boost immunity, or pursue beauty and health, it can become your capable assistant!

1. Pesticide Residues:

According to the pesticide residue testing methods referenced from the Pharmacopoeia of the People's Republic of China, no pesticide residues were detected in the ginseng after fermentation treatment.

2. Plasticizer Residues:

Referenced according to the "Ministry of Health Letter on Informing the Maximum Residue Limits of Phthalate Esters in Food and Food Additives (Wei Ban Jian Du Han [2011] No. 551)."

3. Toxicological Tests:

Fermented ginseng has undergone oral toxicity tests, mammalian erythrocyte micronucleus tests, bacterial mutation tests, mouse spermatogonial or spermatocyte chromosome aberration tests, and a 28-day oral toxicity study, confirming that fermented ginseng is safe and reliable.

Figure 7: Safety Assessment of Fermented Ginseng

Unlock a new level of vitality. Let fermented ginseng be the spark that powers your well-being. Try fermented ginseng and let it become your secret weapon on your health journey! Whether you're a busy professional, a fitness enthusiast, or new to wellness, you can find your own pleasant surprise in this gift from nature!

Angel Yeast's Nutrition and Health Technology Center possesses professional capabilities in basic R&D, tracking cutting-edge technologies, and developing new biotechnologies. It develops and reserves technologies such as efficient strain selection and breeding, solid-state fermentation applications, special enzymes and biocatalytic synthesis, derivative separation and purification, intelligent fermentation control, healthy ingredient compounding, and the development of health foods from fermentation sources, continually creating new products welcomed by the market.

Take action now and make fermented ginseng part of your life, and together let's open a new chapter of health and beauty!

Reference:

1.Xu, H.-Y., et al. (2023). Anti-Oxidative and Anti-Aging Effects of Probiotic Fermented Ginseng by Modulating Gut Microbiota and Metabolites in Caenorhabditis elegans. Plant Foods for Human Nutrition. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11130-023-01055-9

2.Zhang, X., et al. (2022). Determination of Ginsenosides in Ginseng by High-Performance Liquid Chromatography. Journal of Chromatographic Science. https://doi.org/10.1093/chromsci/bmac001

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