Metabolomic characterization of fresh and dried Korean red ginseng (Panax ginseng) based on GC-MS analysis, alongside an exploration of the antioxidant and anticancer properties of their methanolic extract

Several bioactive constituents found in conventional medicine possess antioxidants and anti-cancer effects and may be useful in the treatment of a variety of diseases, so the current study sought to conduct a thorough investigation of their potential use as a potent antioxidant and anticancer agent for Korean red ginseng root. The preliminary phytochemical analysis in a methanol extract of Panax ginseng indicated the existence of numerous bioactive secondary metabolites especially in fresh Korean ginseng than dried one where about 79 active phytoconstituents in fresh ginseng compared to 25 in dried ginseng. More accurately, several bioactive compounds, including eicosatrienoic acid and melezitose, were identified in Korean red ginseng, some of which are less commonly reported in this species. The results demonstrated that the plants have therapeutic values, since the extracts' antioxidant impact was examined using radical 2,2- diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl. The methanolic extract displayed varying half-maximal inhibitory concentration values slightly above the standard, indicating the significance of the bioactive metabolites present in the plant. Additionally, investigation was conducted on the potential anticancer properties targeting a specific cancer cell line and we revealed that fresh ginseng was the powerful would effectively inhibit cancer cell lines. KEY WORDS: Panax ginseng, Phytoconstituents, GC-Ms, Antioxidant activity, Anticancer Bull. Chem. Soc. Ethiop. 2025, 39(10), 2039-2053. DOI: https://dx.doi.org/10.4314/bcse.v39i10.18