Quantitative analysis of ginsenoside composition in flower buds of Korean (Panax ginseng) and Chinese (Panax notoginseng) ginseng

Abstract

Korean (Panax ginseng) and Chinese (Panax notoginseng) ginseng are widely used in traditional oriental medicine with ginsenosides as the main active components. The chemical characteristics of ginsenosides are known to differ based on the parts, including root, leaf and flower buds. Moreover, the content of ginsenosides in the flower buds of Korean and Chinese ginseng may be influenced by soil type and geographic location. The objective of this study was to obtain basic information that can be used to index the ginsenoside composition of the flower buds of the Panax species cultivated in Korea and China. The composition of ginsenosides in flower buds (Panax ginseng) cultivated in Korea and China, and the Sanchi flower bud (Panax notoginseng) cultivated in China at 3 years old were measured by HPLC analysis. Ginseng flower buds cultivated in Korea and China contained the highest amount of ginsenoside Re (3.455%, 2.727%). In contrast, Sanchi flower bud cultivated in China contained the highest amount of ginsenoside Rb1 (3.738%). Interestingly, the PD/PT ratio of the Sanchi flower bud cultivated in China (1.98) was about 2.5 and 4 times higher than that of Panax ginseng flower buds (0.82, 0.47) cultivated in Korea and China.