What is saponin(ginsenoside) ?

 The name "saponin" was awarded because the substance generates fine foams just like soap when dissolved in water. Ordinary saponin lowers the surface tension of water and readily generates foams, exhibiting hematolytic effects. It has been proven that the medical property of ginseng saponin is mild and has no toxicity, seldom having hematolytic effects. Further, the chemical structure of ginseng saponin is completely different from those found in other herbs. Thus, for the purpose of differentiating ginseng saponin from those of other vegetables, it is called "ginsenoside," which refers to "ginseng glycoside."
A more scientific study classifies ginseng saponins into three groups according to their chemical structures: protopanaxadiol (PD), protopanaxatriol (PT) and oleanolic acid (See Figure 1). Majority of saponins existing in vegetable kingdom is of oleanane family, while ginseng saponin is known to be of triterpenoid saponin, a family of dammarane, which is rarely seen in other herbs.

Major medical actions of ginsenosides Ginseng saponin exhibits diversified effects in regulating physical functions by influencing endocrimium, central nervous system, immune system and metabolic system. Of the more than 30 different ginsenosides contained in KOREA INSAM, more than ten individual ginsenosides have been proven for their medical actions. These ginsenosides exhibit similar or opposite properties. Thus, ingredients akin or dissimilar to each other in terms of properties coexist in KOREA INSAM. For example, ginsenoside-Rb1, a typical PD family saponin, exhibits inhibitive function to CNS (central nervous system) while ginsenoside-Rg1, a typical PT family saponin, exhibits excitative function. These ingredients, however, are believed to be exhibiting no antagonism against each other.