Quantitative Analysis of Ginseng Saponins

Abstract

A new method for quantitative analysis of ginseng saponins, ginsenoside-Ro, -Rb1, -Rb2, -Rc, -Rd, -Re, -Rf, -Rg1 and -Rg2, was developed by the combination TLC and spectrometry. The 90% methanol extract of ginseng and pure standard ginsenosides were spotted on the same 2 TLC plates; 1 plate was developed with chloroform- methanol-water (65: 35: 10, lower phase) and the other with chloroform-butanol-methanol-water (20: 40: 15: 20, lower phase). After drying, both plates were sprayed with 10% sulfuric acid solution followed by heating, and each ginsenoside spot was measured by TLC densitometer using dual-wave length TLC scanner. Reasonable recovery and standard deviation were found in this procedure and the contents of each ginsenoside in ginseng and its congeners, American ginseng and San-chi ginseng, were determined.