Kinetic Studies on the Thermal Degradation of Ginsenosides in Ginseng Extract

Abstract

Kinetic study for the thermal degradation of ginsenosides in ginseng extract was conducted. The results indicate that the thermal degradation followed first order kinetics and rate constants varied substantially depending on the types of ginsenosides and heat treatment temperatures. Activation energy calculated by Arrhenius plots ranged from 16.80 kcal/mole to 30.10 kcal/mole and values ranged from 2.01 to 3.49. Correlation coefficients between the change of ginsenoside contents by thermal degradation and heat treatment temperature were . The dependence on temperatures of the decomposition rate constant of total ginsenoside can be expressed as exp(8898.8/T).