UPLC-TOF-MS Based Profiling Approach to Evaluate Ginsenoside Composition in Combination of Ginseng and Radix Ophiopogonis

An ultra performance liquid chromatography coupled with time-of-fight mass spectrometry (UPLC-TOF-MS) based on chemical profilingapproach was used to evaluate chemical constitution between co-decoction and mixed decoction of ginseng and radix ophiopogonis. Two different kinds of decoctions, namely ginseng and radix ophiopogonis co-decoction (water extract of mixed two herbs), and ginseng and radix ophiopogonis mixed decoction (mixed water extract of each individual herbs) were prepared. The chromatography was performed using Acquity BEH C₁₈ column, the mobile phase consisted of (A) water containing 0.1% formic acid and (B) acetonitrile, mass spectrometry was performed on an electrospray ionization source operating in V mode. Batches of these two kinds of decoction samples were subjected to UPLC-TOF-MS analysis, the datasets of t_R m/z pairs, ion intensities and sample codes were processed with supervised partial least squared discriminant analysis (OPLS-DA) to holistically compare with the difference of these two kinds of decoction samples. Results show that the content of ginsenoside Rg1, ginsenoside Re, ginsenoside Rb1 and malonylginsenoside Rb1 are decreased, while the content of ginsenoside Rb3, malonylginsenoside Rb2, malonylginsenoside Rc and ginsenoside Rf are increased in samples of co-decoction of ginseng and radix ophiopogonis. The content of protopanaxatriol type ginsenoside decreased, while the content of protopanaxadiol type ginsenoside increased, which may be basis of chemical composition in combination of ginseng and radix ophiopogonis.