April 10, 2026Apr 10, 2026
KCNA Voice of Korea (EN)

Functional Food--Black Platycodon

Date: 25/09/2023 | Source: Voice of Korea (EN) | Read original version at source

There are many well-known medicinal materials and edible herbs in the mountains of Korea.

Among them is platycodon (root of balloonflower) widely known to the people for its peculiar taste, fragrance and potency.

Platycodon looks like insam. So it is called a cousin of insam.

The Moranbong Ragwon Health Food Production Station has turned out black platycodon good for the improvement of the people's health by processing wild platycodon of Mt. Kumgang.

In the course of turning black, the saponin content of the black platycodon has got over 10 times higher than that of the ordinary one and its physiological activators increased.

If platycodon is likened to insam, black platycodon can be likened to red insam.

Black platycodon makes bronchial mucosa strong to prevent and improve bronchial disorders such as cough, sputum and asthma.

Polysaccharide inulin has outstanding blood sugar controlling effect to be called natural insulin. It greatly helps prevent and improve diabetes and is effective for preventing cancer.

The station also produces black platycodon tea, black platycodon concentrated juice and black platycodon for children.

The black platycodon processing technique was granted a national patent some time ago.

Technical Assistant Jin Myong Hun says:

"Generally, platycodon should be used a lot to cure respiratory diseases and tastes bitter. So it's quite uncomfortable for children to use. The black platycodon we developed, however, has sweet taste and the use of only one or two roots improves metabolism and immunity, producing big curative effects."

The production station is still striving to develop a larger number of functional foods conducive to improving the people's health.

More From Voice of Korea (EN)

National fine art exhibition opens

National fine art exhibition opens

A national fine art exhibition opened for celebrating the 114th birth anniversary of the great leader Kim Il Sung. Displayed at

April 10, 2026

A national fine art exhibition opened for celebrating the 114th birth anniversary of the great leader Kim Il Sung. Displayed at

Academic degrees and titles conferred on intellectuals

Academic degrees and titles conferred on intellectuals

State academic degrees and titles were conferred on the intellectuals who made scientific research findings conducive to the

April 10, 2026

State academic degrees and titles were conferred on the intellectuals who made scientific research findings conducive to the

National symposium held

National symposium held

A national symposium for deeply studying and thoroughly implementing the idea and policies set forth by the respected Comrade Kim

April 10, 2026

A national symposium for deeply studying and thoroughly implementing the idea and policies set forth by the respected Comrade Kim

Film week for celebrating April 15 opens

Film week for celebrating April 15 opens

A film week for celebrating April 15 opened on the occasion of the significant holiday in April. Documentaries will be screened at

April 10, 2026

A film week for celebrating April 15 opened on the occasion of the significant holiday in April. Documentaries will be screened at

Fine art exhibition of veteran artists opens

Fine art exhibition of veteran artists opens

A fine art exhibition of veteran artists opened at the Pyongyang International House of Culture on the 9th in celebration of the

April 10, 2026

A fine art exhibition of veteran artists opened at the Pyongyang International House of Culture on the 9th in celebration of the

SPA Standing Committee issues decree

SPA Standing Committee issues decree

The Standing Committee of the Supreme People's Assembly of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea issued Decree No. 3 on March

April 10, 2026

The Standing Committee of the Supreme People's Assembly of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea issued Decree No. 3 on March

In the Vanguard of State Building

In the Vanguard of State Building

In the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, the demand for coal gets more urgent with the acceleration of the progress of the

April 10, 2026

In the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, the demand for coal gets more urgent with the acceleration of the progress of the

Successes made in field of electric power industry

Successes made in field of electric power industry

Successes are registered in the field of electric power industry. Workers of the Pukchang Thermal Power Complex are carrying out

April 10, 2026

Successes are registered in the field of electric power industry. Workers of the Pukchang Thermal Power Complex are carrying out

Chinese FM arrives in Pyongyang

Chinese FM arrives in Pyongyang

Wang Yi, Member of the Political Bureau of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China and Foreign Minister of the

April 10, 2026

Wang Yi, Member of the Political Bureau of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China and Foreign Minister of the

Talks held between Foreign Ministers of DPRK and China

Talks held between Foreign Ministers of DPRK and China

Choe Son Hui, Member of the Political Bureau of the Central Committee of the Workers' Party of Korea and Foreign Minister of the

April 10, 2026

Choe Son Hui, Member of the Political Bureau of the Central Committee of the Workers' Party of Korea and Foreign Minister of the

Greetings to DPRK Premier from Lao PM

Greetings to DPRK Premier from Lao PM

Pak Thae Song, Premier of the Cabinet of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, received a message of greetings from Sonexay

April 09, 2026

Pak Thae Song, Premier of the Cabinet of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, received a message of greetings from Sonexay

Greetings to respected Comrade Kim Jong Un from Cuban President

Greetings to respected Comrade Kim Jong Un from Cuban President

The respected Comrade Kim Jong Un received a message of greetings from the President of the Republic of Cuba. Pyongyang Comrade

April 09, 2026

The respected Comrade Kim Jong Un received a message of greetings from the President of the Republic of Cuba. Pyongyang Comrade

Greetings to DPRK FM from Lao FM

Greetings to DPRK FM from Lao FM

Choe Son Hui, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, received a message of greetings from

April 09, 2026

Choe Son Hui, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, received a message of greetings from

More Articles