Abstract
This study was conducted to investigate the characteristics of transmittance spectrum of Korean red ginseng using VIS/NIR spectroscopy. The results of this study were as follows; Light intensity affected the characteristics of the spectrum. For over 40% light intensity, the first and second peaks appeared at 700nm and 1,100nm, respectively. For the 20% light intensity, the first and second peaks appeared at 800nm and 1,100nm, respectively. Thus, the typical color characteristics of halogen lamp were similar to each other if over 40% of maximum light intensity power, otherwise it was not. Transmittance spectrum showed different characteristics at different portions of red ginseng. Normal red ginseng showed strong intensity at the first peak around 700nmbecause of reddish internal tissue. However, an internal white core red ginseng showed weak peak-intensity due to whitish internal tissue. There was no significant difference in the second peak at 800nm for the different internal qualities. Third peak at 900nm showed somewhat difference by internal qualities but it was difficult to find significant trend. To separate the differences of the internal qualities, intensity differences between peaks were used. It was possible to classify normal red ginseng by the differences of "peak 1 -peak 2" and "peak 1 - peak 3". In addition, shift of the first and the third peaks in the spectrum could separate normal red ginseng from others.ginseng from others.
