Ginsenosides, the power of red ginseng comes from here.

One of the most frequently heard words when choosing red ginseng products is 'ginsenoside'. If you look at the back of health supplement packaging, you can find a label stating "Ginsenoside Rg1+Rb1+Rg3 content OOmg". Do you know what this ingredient is and why it's important?

Today, we will learn more about ginsenosides, the key ingredients of red ginseng.

💡You can find answers to these questions!

"Should I choose 10mg or 20mg of ginsenosides?"

"Rg1, Rb1, Rg3... I have no idea what these are."

"Is a higher content always better?"

What are ginsenosides?

Ginsenoside is a compound word of ginseng and glycoside and is a unique saponin component found only in ginseng and red ginseng. 

Unlike saponins found in common plants, ginsenosides are unique compounds only found in plants of the ginseng family. This ingredient is known to be the key substance that indicates the various health functionalities of red ginseng.

Scientific Characteristics

Ginsenosides belong to the triterpenoid saponin class, and based on their molecular structure, they are divided into two main types.

1. Protopanaxadiol (PPD) type: Rb1, Rb2, Rc, Rd, etc.

2. Protopanaxatriol (PPT) type: Rg1, Re, etc.

Each ginsenoside has slightly different structures, and accordingly, their actions in the body also vary.

How many types of red ginseng are there?

Surprisingly, red ginseng contains over 40 types of ginsenosides. 

In contrast, common ginseng (white ginseng) contains about 15 types of ginsenosides. This is because new types of ginsenosides are generated during the steaming process used to produce red ginseng through chemical reactions caused by heat.

Major Types of Ginsenosides

Especially, Rg3 is a special component that is only produced during the manufacturing process of red ginseng and does not exist in common ginseng.

The functionality of ginsenosides recognized by the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety

The Ministry of Food and Drug Safety recognizes the functionality of ginsenosides in red ginseng (the sum of Rg1 + Rb1 + Rg3) and sets standards at 2.5mg or more per 1g of material and 80% or more in the final product label. Based on the content, the following functionalities are recognized.

✅ Recognized health functionalities

Daily intake standards (ginsenoside Rg1+Rb1+Rg3 content)

Source:「Standards and specifications for health functional foods」 official document (Notification No. 2025-11 March 5, 2025.)

Why is ginsenoside content important?

A high ginsenoside content signifies two things.

1️⃣ Quality of raw materials

It is known that six-year-old red ginseng has about 40% higher ginsenoside content than four-year-old red ginseng. This is because longer cultivation allows for sufficient accumulation of components in the roots.

2️⃣ Excellence of the manufacturing process

• GMP (Good Manufacturing Practice) certification: Produced in facilities with stringent quality controls

• Appropriate steaming conditions: Optimizing temperature and time to minimize ginsenoside loss

• Extraction technology: Maximizing effective components through efficient extraction methods

Ginsenosides alone are not enough

The health functionality of red ginseng is not solely attributable to ginsenosides. 

In addition to ginsenosides, red ginseng contains

• Acid polysaccharides (4.5~7.5%)

• AFG (Arginine-Fructose-Glucose, 1.0~1.5%): A unique component generated only during the manufacturing process of red ginseng

• Polyacetylene

• Maltol

• Amino acids, minerals, etc.

These various components work synergistically to manifest the health functionality of red ginseng.

Therefore, simply having a high content of ginsenosides does not indicate a good product; it is also important to have a balance between saponins (ginsenosides) and non-saponin components. This is achieved by following the traditional manufacturing method that uses the whole red ginseng root.

Precautions when consuming

When consuming health functional foods made from red ginseng, please refer to the following:

• Adhere to the recommended intake: Please follow the recommended intake for each product.

• Individual differences: Reactions may vary depending on constitution and health status.

• Consult a professional: Consult a professional before consumption in the following cases.

  • If you are being treated for a specific disease

  • If you are taking diabetes medication

  • If you are on anticoagulants

  • If you are pregnant or nursing

  • If you have kidney disease

In conclusion

Ginsenosides are the key components that indicate the health functionality of red ginseng. However, it is not just about having high content; what is more important is that a variety of ginsenosides and other effective components are present in a balanced manner.

When choosing health functional foods,

1. ✅ Check for health functional food certification mark

2. ✅ Verify ginsenoside content (amount that fits your purpose)

3. ✅ Confirm quality certifications such as GMP, HACCP

4. ✅ Check raw material labeling and manufacturer information

Make sure to check these four points and choose a product that meets your health condition and goals.

Reference Materials

• The Ministry of Food and Drug Safety, Status of Recognition of Functional Raw Materials for Health Functional Foods

• The Ministry of Food and Drug Safety, Health Functional Foods Manual

• Standards and Specifications for Health Functional Foods, Notification No. 2025-11 of the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety

• Korean Ginseng Society Academic Materials

• Characterization of Korean Red Ginseng: History, Preparation Method, and Chemical Composition (PMC, 2015)