Abstract
In the present study, an ultra-high performance liquid chromatography coupled with quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry (UHPLC-QTOF-MS) method for simultaneous determination of eleven original, fourteen degraded ginsenosides and five aglycones was developed and validated to quantitatively evaluate the transformation of ginsenosides during preparation of Du-Shen-Tang, the decoction of ginseng. Both positive and negative modes as well as the step wave ion transfer optics technology were used to increase the detection sensitivity of QTOF-MS. The extracting ion mode based on the quasi-molecular ions, molecular ions and fragment ions characteristic to each analyte was used to increase the selectivity for quantitative analysis. Under the optimized UHPLC and QTOF-MS conditions, the 30 analytes with different polarities were separated (except for Re and Rg1) within 26 min. The developed method was applied for the quantitative comparison of Du-Shen-Tang and its raw materials derived from Asian ginseng (ASG) and American ginseng (AMG), respectively. It was found that the contents of the original ginsenosides decreased from 26,053.09 to 19,393.29 μg/g or 45,027.72 to 41,865.39 μg/g, whereas the degraded ginsenosides and aglycones increased from 159.72 to 685.37 μg/g or 676.54 to 1,502.26 μg/g in Du-Shen-Tang samples of ASG or AMG when compared with their raw materials, indicating that decocting could dramatically increase the proportion of the less polar degraded ginsenosides in Du-Shen-Tang. Whether these changed proportions of different polar ginsenosides could affect the bioactivities of the decoctions and their raw materials derived from ASG and AMG deserves further investigation.
Highlights
Ginseng, the root and rhizome of Panax ginseng (Asian ginseng, ASG) or P. quinquefolius (American ginseng, AMG), has been used as a tonic and panacea to promote longevity in traditionalChinese medicine (TCM) for thousands of years [1,2,3]
To develop a method for simultaneously quantifying original ginsenosides and degraded products that co-existed in Du-Shen-Tang, the chromatographic conditions were optimized based on our previous studies [13,29]
It was found that all the 30 selected analytes could be separated on ACQUITY HSS T3 (100 mm × 2.1 mm, 1.8 μm) column with better resolution within 26 min (Figure 2A1, A2) when eluted with acidic ACN and water in a gradient mode, faster than the reported LC-QTOF-MS method in which 35 min were needed for separation of mere 15 ginsensosides [26]
Summary
Chinese medicine (TCM) for thousands of years [1,2,3]. Du-Shen-Tang, the decoction of ginseng, which was firstly documented in “Shi Yao Shen Shu” (an ancient monograph on ten magic herbs published about 660 years ago in China Yuan dynasty), has been used to “invigorate qi for relieving desertion”, and was regarded as a paragon of emergency treatment in TCM practice [4]. Modern phytochemical and pharmacological studies revealed that ginsenosides which were generally classified as protopanaxadiol (PPD), protopanaxtriol (PPT) and oleanolic acid (OCO) types based on their aglycone moieties, are bioactive components that may contribute mainly to the efficacy of ginseng [2]. Our previous study found that during preparation of Du-Shen-Tang, the original ginsenosides (with relatively higher polarity) such as
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
