Study on Ginsenosides in Mud-Covered Processed-Ginseng by RRLC-Q-TOF MS/MS

Panax ginseng C. A. Mey (ginseng) is a traditional Chinese medicine herb, which has been widely used for the treatment of enhancing intelligence and improving immunity in China and Aisa. As a new resource food in China, ginseng has a variety of processing methods which are used for different symptoms. The major active components of ginseng are ginsenosides, which demonstrate the ability to target a number of tissues and produce an array of pharmacological responses. In this study, active components from mud-covered processed-ginseng were studied whether the chemical composition of ginseng is safety and reliable. Rapid resolution liquid chromatography coupled with quadrupole time-of-flight tandem mass spectrometry (RRLC-Q-TOF MS/MS) was used to compare the white ginseng, vinegar processed ginseng and mud-covered processed ginseng for the composition of ginsenosides. Chromatographic conditions were as follows: ZORBAX SB-C18 column (2.1 mm×100 mm×3.5 μm), column temperature of 35 ℃, mobile phase of water-acetonitrile gradient elution, flow rate of 0.3 mL/min, injection volume of 5 μL. Thirty-one ginsenosides were identified by the comparison of the retention times of the standard compounds and the accurate mass obtained from RRLC-Q-TOF MS/MS. A few minor ginsenosides, such as ginsenoside F₂ and Rg₃, were detected by the comparison of white ginseng with processed-ginseng. The method is applicable to the research of compounds in the processed Chinese herbs.