Compound K', Is Fast Absorbing And Has A Higher Immune-Boosting Effect Than Ginseng

- Ministry of Food and Drug Safety, 1 in 4 Koreans do not have the ability to break down ginsenosides

- Ginsenosides in ginseng must be the same ginsenoside structure as Compound K to be absorbed by the body

- Ginseng Extract ‘GBCK10S’ enhances the activation of NK cells, which can kill cancer cells 

GCOOP_ General Bio (Co-CEOs Jeong Hun Seo, Seok Geun Jung) announced that the Compound K they manufacture in-house, showed a higher immune boosting effect than Ginseng Powder.

General Bio obtained these results by conducting a joint research study with Jeonbuk National University’s Department of Molecular Biology - Immunology Lab, using ‘GBCK10S’, an ingredient General Bio produces in-house that contains Compound K. In particular, the study has been published in the Journal of Ginseng Research (IF 6.06), an internationally accredited journal registered in SCI (Science Citation Index) and is being recognized academically.

Ginseng, which has been used as a precious medicinal ingredient for a long time due to its efficacy, contains saponins called Ginsenosides. This ingredient is known to be effective in enhancing immunity, stabilizing nerves, as well as inhibiting and preventing cancer. According to the South Korean Ministry of Food and Drug Safety, 1 in 4 South Koreans cannot convert ginsenosides into Compound K due to insufficient quantity or ineffectiveness of intestinal microbes that help break down Ginsenosides.

Accordingly, researchers from General Bio and Jeonbuk National University conducted a joint study to confirm the pharmacological effects of Compound K. 

This study was conducted by administering 'GBCK10S', a fermented ginseng extract produced using MEBT (Multi-enzymatic Bioconversion Technology – General Bio’s core patented technology) and Ginseng Powder, to laboratory mice for 4 weeks. Researchers found that the size of the spleen and thymus, the organs responsible for immune function, increased the most in mice that the 200 mg/kg of GBCK10S was administered to, and their immunoglobulin (antibody) M, also increased significantly.

They also found that GBCK10S made a greater contribution to the activation of NK cells (Natural Killer cells) than Ginseng Powder. NK cells are immune cells that are known to kill cancer cells. As a result of culturing NK cells isolated from the splenocytes of the experimental mice with YAC-1 cells (leukemia cells), the apoptotic cell ratio was approximately twice as high in the experimental group that was administered with GBCK10S 200 mg/kg. In addition, the activity of NK cells also increased by approximately 10%.

Dr. Ji Sang Park, who participated in the study, said, “Ginsenosides have beneficial effects, but 'efficient absorption' is crucial to experiencing its efficacy.” He also said, “Through this study, we found that minor ginsenosides, that have undergone enzymatic bioconversion, such as Compound K, are more efficiently absorbed compared to Ginseng Powder, and therefore GBCK10S showed more enhanced immune-boosting activity.”

A representative of General Bio said, “Through this study, we have confirmed once again the immune boosting function of Fermented Ginseng Extract, a key ingredient in our core product line ‘CK Balance. We plan to use this research to register our ingredient as a Functional Ingredient by having it individually recognized by the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety (of South Korea).

General Bio Co., Ltd. is a social enterprise established in 2007, that develops functional raw materials, new biomaterials, and a wide range of products. In recognition of its socially conscious activities, General Bio was selected as one of the TOP 10 global B Corp’s (Benefit Corporation)' certified by B-Lab, a non-profit organization in the United States.