The puffing process was evaluated as an alternative to the steaming process for producing a biologically more active ginseng product, like red ginseng, from raw ginseng. A puffing treatment of dried raw ginseng roots induced an overall increase in crude saponin content. As puffing pressure increased, the content of ginsenoside Re, Rg1, Rb1, Rc, and Rb2 decreased, while ginsenoside Rg3 increased significantly as compared to raw ginseng. The content of ginsenoside Rg3 in puffed ginseng at a pressure of 490 kPa was similar to that of red ginseng. Cancer cell lines (HeLa, MCF-7, and HepG2) showed that antiproliferative effects of saponin extract of puffed ginseng increased with an increase in puffing pressure. Ginseng explosively puffed at 490 kPa had similar saponin constituents and antiproliferative effects as those of red ginseng.
Practical application: The puffing process could provide an alternative mean to produce functional ginseng products, along with a reduction in processing time as compared to traditional red ginseng processing by steam.