Application of Nanotechnology to Korean Black-Red Ginseng: Solubility Enhancement by Particle Size Reduction

In order to investigate whether the particles reduced to almost nano grade might affect the chemical and physical properties of organic materials, whole Korean Black-Red Ginseng was pulverized into almost nano size and then ginsenosides, minerals, carbohydrates, lipids and proteins in the ultrafine particles were compared with those in the regular particles as control. The mean size of the ultrafine particles was in the 350 nm range, while that of the regular particles was $127{\mu}m$. More ginsenosides, minerals, carbohydrates, lipids and proteins were detected in the ultrafine particles than in the regular particles. Interestingly, more lipids from the ultrafine particles dissolved in the water than those from the regular particles in the ethanol. Absorption and transport of carbohydrate, lipid or antioxidant activity across the intestinal wall using everted intestine sacks of mice was also enhanced by particle size reduction at the almost nano scale. More cytotoxic effect against hepatoma cell growth by ultrafine particles was also found. These results could be used as the basic data for the understanding and evaluation of the effects of organic nanomaterials on the human health.