“For an easier and simpler explanation of its function,

Think of saponin as a compound that enters the human body

And cleans the blood vessels and organs like soap.”

There are a wide range of plants that contain saponin including beans, deodeok, buckwheat, bellflower, water parsley, mung beans, onions, ginkgo and kudzu. However, because saponin compounds contained in ginseng differ from those in other plants in terms of chemical structure, they are called ginsenoside, which is a compound word created by combining “ginseng” and “glycoside,” as a way to differentiate them. Ginsenosides are largely divided into panaxatriol-ginsenoside (PT), which is a stimulant, and panaxadiol ginsenoside (PD), which is a depressant. Compared to foreign ginseng varieties such as American ginseng, Three-seven ginseng and Japanese ginseng, Korean ginseng in particular consists of more types of saponin compounds and contains a balanced amount of PD and PT ginsenosides, meaning that it helps promote homeostasis by maintaining the blood pressure and body temperature among other physiological factors at desired levels.