Characterization of Black Ginseng Extract with Acetyl- and Butyrylcholin- esterase Inhibitory and Antioxidant Activities

Black ginseng and white ginseng were extracted with 80% ethanol and evaluated for relative ginsenoside composition, acetylcholinesterase (AChE) and butyrylcholinesterase (BChE) inhibitory activities, and antioxidant properties. As analyzed by HPLC, black ginseng contained a greater proportion of ginsenoside Rg₃ compared to white ginseng. White ginseng was characterized by undetectable ginsenoside Rg₃ but it contained more total ginsenosides than black ginseng. Black ginseng extract exhibited higher (p＜0.05) free radical-scavenging activity, as well as higher antioxidant activities than white ginseng against 2,2-diphenyl-1-picryl-hydrazyl, superoxide dismutase, and xanthine oxidase, despite the fact that the total saponin content was higher in white ginseng than black ginseng. In addition, the black ginseng extract displayed greater AChE and BChE inhibitory activities. These results suggest that black ginseng has stronger effects on anti-oxidation and AChE and BChE inhibition than white ginseng.