Antioxidant activity of polysaccharides from different sources of ginseng

The crude polysaccharides from ginseng roots and stems were extracted by decoction method, acid polysaccharides and neutral polysaccharides were further separated. The content of ginseng polysaccharides was determined by phenol‑sulfuric acid method. The antioxidant activity of ginseng polysaccharides was determined by DPPH method. The results showed that the antioxidant activity of polysaccharides from aboveground part was higher than that from underground part. The antioxidant activity of polysaccharides in the aerial part was as follows: neutral polysaccharides > acid polysaccharides. The acid polysaccharides in underground part had little antioxidant activity.