Qualitative evaluation and quantitative determination of ginsenosides in Panax ginseng C.A. Meyer root growing in Lithuania by high-performance liquid chromatography

Abstract

Panax ginseng is probably the most famous herbal medicine in the world with a long history in traditional Chinese medicine. Panax ginseng has been used against various human diseases, including increasing resistance to physical, chemical and biological stress and boosting general vitality, also root of ginseng has been used as a tonic, sedative, anti-fatigue or anti-gastric ulcer drug. It is known that ginseng has antidiabetic and antitumor activities [2]. Its natural habitat is in China and Korea, very uncommon in Lithuania. In our knowledge no study in the literature has reported about the composition of Panax ginseng root growing in Lithuania. It has been reported that the variantions of ginsenoside contens were bases on internal factors, as well as external factors including seasonal, environmental factors, harvest time and storage conditions. It is known that climatic changes cause changes in the morphological and chemical structure of herbals [1]. Therefore the aim of this study was to evaluate and determine the amount of ginsenosides in Panax ginseng root grown in Lithuania, using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Panax Ginseng Root and Extraction Method. Seven samples of different age of Panax ginseng root used in this work were obtainet from Kazlų Rūda area. Extracts of Panax ginseng root were prepared according to the recommendations of European Pharmacopoeia (Ph.Eur 01/2008;1523). High-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) analysis. In our study HPLC analysis was performed using a Waters Alliance 2695 separation module system equipped with Waters 996 PDA detectors. The best results of chromatographic separation was achieved using 4.6 x 150 mm, 3μm ACE C18 column. The mobile phase consisted of acetonitrile and water (8:2 V/V) (A), and degassed water (B). Elution flow rate-1.3ml/min and injection volume-10 μL In total, 6 ginsenosides were separated with the following retention times about: 20.14 min – Rg1, 20.85 min – Re, 41