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. 2017 Jan;41(1):10-22.
doi: 10.1016/j.jgr.2015.12.004. Epub 2015 Dec 17.

Determination of ginsenosides in Asian and American ginsengs by liquid chromatography-quadrupole/time-of-flight MS: assessing variations based on morphological characteristics

Yujie Chen  1 , Zhongzhen Zhao  2 , Hubiao Chen  2 , Eric Brand  3 , Tao Yi  3 , Minjian Qin  4 , Zhitao Liang  2
Affiliations

Determination of ginsenosides in Asian and American ginsengs by liquid chromatography-quadrupole/time-of-flight MS: assessing variations based on morphological characteristics

Yujie Chen et al. J Ginseng Res. 2017 Jan.

Abstract

Background: Asian ginseng and American ginseng are functional foods that share a close genetic relationship and are well-known worldwide. This article aims to investigate the correlation between morphological characteristics and the inherent quality of Asian and American ginsengs.

Methods: In this study, an ultra-HPLC-quadrupole/time-of-flight MS (UHPLC-Q/TOF-MS) method was established for the quantitative analysis of 45 ginseng samples. The method developed for determination was precise and accurate.

Results: The results showed that Asian ginseng samples with the same growing time (with the same or similar number of stem scars) that had a thinner main root, a longer rhizome and more branch roots contained greater amounts of ginsenosides. For American ginseng, two tendencies were observed in the relationship between the diameter of the main root and contents of ginsenosides. One tendency was that samples with thinner main roots tended to contain higher levels of ginsenosides, which was observed in the samples sold under the commercial name pao-shen. Another tendency was that samples with thicker main roots contained higher contents of ginsenosides, which was observed in the samples sold under the commercial name pao-mian, as well as in samples of American ginseng cultivated in Jilin, China.

Conclusion: An approach using ultra-HPLC-quadrupole/time-of-flight MS was successfully established to link morphology and active components for evaluating the quality of Asian and American ginsengs. Clear correlation between visible morphological features and quality of Asian and American ginsengs was found. People can see the difference; this means consumers and vendors can evaluate ginseng by themselves.

Keywords: Panax ginseng; Panax quinquefolius; determination of ginsenosides; morphological characteristics; ultra-HPLC–quadrupole/time-of-flight MS.

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Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
The representative total ions current chromatograms of (A) Asian ginseng and (B) American ginseng. (C) Extraction ion chromatogram of 20(S)-ginsenoside Rh1. G, ginsenoside.
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
Morphological characteristics and contents of ginsenosides in samples PG1 and PG2.
Fig. 3
Fig. 3
Morphological characteristics and contents of ginsenosides in samples PG5 and PG6.
Fig. 4
Fig. 4
Morphological characteristics and contents of ginsenosides in samples PG10 and PG11.
Fig. 5
Fig. 5
Morphological characteristics and contents of ginsenosides in samples PG12, PG13, and PG14.
Fig. 6
Fig. 6
Morphological characteristics and contents of ginsenosides in samples PG19 and PG20.
Fig. 7
Fig. 7
Morphological characteristics and contents of ginsenosides in samples PQ1, PQ2 and PQ3.
Fig. 8
Fig. 8
Morphological characteristics and contents of ginsenosides in samples PQ4, PQ5, and PQ6.
Fig. 9
Fig. 9
Morphological characteristics and contents of ginsenosides in samples PQ13, PQ14, and PQ15.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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