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Chinese Agricultural Science Bulletin ›› 2015, Vol. 31 ›› Issue (17): 105-110.doi: 10.11924/j.issn.1000-6850.casb15030090

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Effect of Phenolic Acid and Ginsenosides in American Ginseng on the Growth of Pathogenic Fungi

  

  • Received:2015-03-11 Revised:2015-05-26 Accepted:2015-05-12 Online:2015-07-27 Published:2015-07-27

Abstract: This study aimed to investigate the roles of major secondary metabolites in American ginseng (Panax quinquefolium L.) defensing against pathogens infection. Contents of three kinds of phenolic acids in the root of American ginseng, including p-coumaric acid, ferulic acid and benzoic acid, were determined by using high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Sensitivities of four pathogenic fungi, including Rhizoctonia solani, Fusarium solani, F. oxysporum and Cylindrocarpon destructans, to phenolic acid or ginsenosides were analyzed using flat growth restraint method. The results showed that contents of p-coumaric acid, ferulic acid and benzoic acid were (1.37±0.07), (2.80±0.04), and (6.07±0.24) mg/kg in three-year-old American ginseng root, respectively. All the three kinds of phenolic acids showed no effect on the growth of the four pathogenic fungi under these concentrations. However, R. solani, F. oxysporum and C. destructans were significantly inhibited by ginsenosides at concentration of 4~40 mg/mL, which were corresponding to the concentrations of ginsenosides in roots (P<0.05). Inhibition ratios on R. solani, F. solani, F. oxysporum and C. destructans were 100%, 83%, 77% and 58%, respectively, when concentration of ginsenosides was 40 mg/mL (P<0.05). The results indicated that ginsenosides was important in inhibiting pathogenic fungi as a kind of chemical defense compounds.