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)
The respected Comrade Kim Jong Un sent a kind spread to Ri Ul Chul living in Kobu-ri, Sonchon County of North Phyongan Province on
October 15, 2025
The respected Comrade Kim Jong Un sent a kind spread to Ri Ul Chul living in Kobu-ri, Sonchon County of North Phyongan Province on
A new teachers' in-service training centre has been built in the city of Phyongsong. The city launched a project for completing
October 15, 2025
A new teachers' in-service training centre has been built in the city of Phyongsong. The city launched a project for completing
The family of Zhang Jinlu, daughter of Zhang Weihua, a Chinese related to the anti-Japanese revolution, the families of Shang Yue,
October 15, 2025
The family of Zhang Jinlu, daughter of Zhang Weihua, a Chinese related to the anti-Japanese revolution, the families of Shang Yue,
The respected Comrade Kim Jong Un received a congratulatory letter from Gennadi Andreyevich Zhuganov, Chairman of the Central
October 15, 2025
The respected Comrade Kim Jong Un received a congratulatory letter from Gennadi Andreyevich Zhuganov, Chairman of the Central
South Hamgyong Province successfully built system-parallel photovoltaic power plant on the bank of the Songchon River in the wake
October 15, 2025
South Hamgyong Province successfully built system-parallel photovoltaic power plant on the bank of the Songchon River in the wake
The grand mass gymnastics and artistic performance "Long Live the Workers' Party of Korea" was given at the May Day Stadium on the
October 15, 2025
The grand mass gymnastics and artistic performance "Long Live the Workers' Party of Korea" was given at the May Day Stadium on the
Goncalo Lopes, President of the World Federation of Democratic Youth, and his party, Lorena Pena, Chairwoman of the Women's
October 15, 2025
Goncalo Lopes, President of the World Federation of Democratic Youth, and his party, Lorena Pena, Chairwoman of the Women's
The delegation of the Asian Regional Institute of the Juche Idea, the delegation of the International Alliance of Societies for
October 15, 2025
The delegation of the Asian Regional Institute of the Juche Idea, the delegation of the International Alliance of Societies for
Matteo Carbonelli, Deputy Director General of the International Institute of the Juche Idea, left Pyongyang by air on the 14th
October 15, 2025
Matteo Carbonelli, Deputy Director General of the International Institute of the Juche Idea, left Pyongyang by air on the 14th
October 16 is the World Food Day. The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations decided to set October 16 as the
October 15, 2025
October 16 is the World Food Day. The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations decided to set October 16 as the
The respected Comrade Kim Jong Un, General Secretary of the Workers' Party of Korea and President of the State Affairs of the
October 14, 2025
The respected Comrade Kim Jong Un, General Secretary of the Workers' Party of Korea and President of the State Affairs of the
Choe Ryong Hae, Member of the Presidium of the Political Bureau of the Central Committee of the Workers' Party of Korea and First
October 14, 2025
Choe Ryong Hae, Member of the Presidium of the Political Bureau of the Central Committee of the Workers' Party of Korea and First
The embassy of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea in Russia gave a reception on the 9th on the occasion of the 80th
October 14, 2025
The embassy of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea in Russia gave a reception on the 9th on the occasion of the 80th
Kang Yun Sok, Vice-Chairman of the Standing Committee of the Supreme People's Assembly of the Democratic People's Republic of
October 14, 2025
Kang Yun Sok, Vice-Chairman of the Standing Committee of the Supreme People's Assembly of the Democratic People's Republic of
New wonderful villages are being built like mushrooms after rain in all parts of the country according to the grand blueprint of
October 14, 2025
New wonderful villages are being built like mushrooms after rain in all parts of the country according to the grand blueprint of
Talks were held at the Mansudae Assembly Hall on the 13th between Jon Hyang Sun, Chairwoman of the Central Committee of the
October 14, 2025
Talks were held at the Mansudae Assembly Hall on the 13th between Jon Hyang Sun, Chairwoman of the Central Committee of the
The delegation of the General Assembly of the Kim Il Sung-Kim Jong Il Foundation led by Johnny Hon, Co-Chairman of its Board of
October 14, 2025
The delegation of the General Assembly of the Kim Il Sung-Kim Jong Il Foundation led by Johnny Hon, Co-Chairman of its Board of
A delegation of the Ministry of Electric Power Industry of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea led by Minister Kim Yu Il
October 14, 2025
A delegation of the Ministry of Electric Power Industry of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea led by Minister Kim Yu Il
Swadesh Dev Roye, Deputy General Secretary of the World Federation of Trade Unions, on a visit to the Democratic People's Republic
October 14, 2025
Swadesh Dev Roye, Deputy General Secretary of the World Federation of Trade Unions, on a visit to the Democratic People's Republic
The respected Comrade Kim Jong Un, General Secretary of the Workers' Party of Korea, President of the State Affairs of the
October 13, 2025
The respected Comrade Kim Jong Un, General Secretary of the Workers' Party of Korea, President of the State Affairs of the
More Articles