[Advances in the study of ginsenoside compound K]

Ginsenoside compound K is the main metabolite of protopanaxadiol type ginseng saponins in intestine after oral administration and also is the major form of protopanaxadiol saponins absorbed to the body. Recently, ginsenoside compound K has received increasing attention, because in vivo or in vitro various biological actions of anticancer, hepatoprotective and anti-inflammatory etc, have shown to be mediated by this metabolite. In this paper, the studies of preparation, bioactivities, absorption, distribution and pharmacokinetics of compound K were reviewed in detail.