Advances in the study of ginsenoside compound K

Ginsenoside compound K is a protopanaxadiol type ginseng saponins and also is the major form of protopanaxadiol saponins metabolized in the body.Recently,studies have indicated that various biological actions of ginseng were resulted from the ginsenoside compound K after the experiments in vivo or in vitro,particularly its anticancer,antidiabetic,neuroprotection,antiaging and anti inflammatory.In this paper,the progress in the natural sources,chemical modification,biotransformation and the main bioactivity of ginsenoside compound K were reviewed.