• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.12 no.2
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• pp.93-103
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• 1988

Diversities of lipid compositions according to the morphological differences of the Panax ginseng root were studied by means of column, thin layer, gas-liquid chromate-graphies and histochemical stainings. Purified lipids from various parts were 1.08-2.23% of dry weight, of which 64.2-73.5% were neutral lipids, 15.4-17.4% were glycolipids and 10.4-19.2% were phospholipids. Especially the contents of neutral lipids were highest in cortex, suggesting to be the presence of lipid ducts only in cortex. Triglycerides, sterol esters and hydrocarbons were abundant in the neutral lipid fractions. Twelve components were identified in the periderm and cortex, but unidentified II, IV and V components were not present in the medulla. The major components of glycolipid freactions were sterol glycoside, digalactosyl diglyceride and esterified sterol glucoside. Phosphatidyl glycerol, phosphatidyl choline and phosphatidyl ethanolamine were major components of phospholipid fractions, And phosphatidyl choline was extreamly much in the periderm and medulla, but phosphatidyl glycerol was largest in quantity in the cortex. Eighteen kinds of fatty acids were identified in the neutral lipid, glycolipid and phospholipid fractions. Linoleic, palmitic, oleic and linolnic acids were the main components of fatty acids. The contents of saturated fatty acids, unsaturated fatty acids and essential fatty acids of each three fractions were different one another regardless of the Periderm, cortex and medulla.