The distinct of chemical profiles of mountainous forest cultivated ginseng and garden ginseng based on ginsenosides and oligosaccharides

Abstract

This study aimed to further analyze the chemical characteristics of mountainous forest cultivated ginseng (MFCG) and garden ginseng (GG) concerning their ginsenosides and oligosaccharides. Under our research conditions, the results demonstrated that the growth year of MFCG less than 12 years: Rg1 < 0.40 %, Re/Rg1> 1.00 and Re/Rb1 > 0.50; The growth year of MFCG over 12 years: Rg1 ≥ 0.40 %, Re/Rg1 < 1.00 and Re/Rb1 < 0.50 in most cases. In general, Rg1, Rf, Rb1, Rc, Rb2, Re and Rd, the sum of major ginsenosides, Rg1/Re, protopanaxadiol (PPD), protopanaxatriol (PPT) and PPD/PPT in commercially available MFCG were higher than those in GG (P < 0.05 or P< 0.01); The proportion of ginsenosides (with Rb1(%) as the reference) in the entire ginseng and different parts of MFCG was lower than that of GG (P < 0.01). In most cases, the highest ginsenoside content in the rhizome of GG was Ro, the highest ratio of ginsenosides in the rhizome of GG was Ro/Rb1, however, the rhizome of MFCG does not have this characteristic. Thus, it is for the first time that the ratio of ginsenoside (Rb1 as the reference) was used to explore the chemical characteristics used to distinguish MFCG from GG. Surprisingly, the study found that the Re/Rb1, Rg1/Rb1 and Ro/Rb1 in the entire ginseng and different parts of MFCG were lower than that of GG, in particular, Re/Rb1 < 1/2 in entire MFCG and Re/Rb1> 1/2 in entire GG in most cases. The Ro and Ro/Rb1 in the rhizome can be used to identify MFCG and GG in most cases. In addition, the differences in the content and proportion of ginsenosides in different parts of ginseng can provide a reference for the identification of different parts of ginseng.