[Chemical fluctuation of the constituents during the drying of Ginseng radix and Ginseng radix Rubra. Crude drug processing by far-infrared treatment].

In order to evaluate the utility of far-infrared drying method for crude drugs, the efficiency in the drying process of Ginseng Radix and Ginseng Radix Rubra was examined. Furthermore, chemical fluctuation of the constituents of Ginseng Radix and Ginseng Radix Rubra, which may occur during their drying process, has been investigated by means of HPLC quantitative analysis for ginsenosides and malonyl-ginsenosides, and TLC qualitative analysis for lipophylic constituents. It has been found that the far-infrared drying method (oven temperature 45 degrees C) dried Ginseng Radix faster without reducing both ginsenosides and malonyl-ginsenosides in comparison with the conventional drying methods such as an air drying and a hot-air drying.