Section: Chemistry of natural environments and objects
Ginsenosides/panaxosides are glycosides of triterpenoids, active components of Panax plants. They have anti-oxidant, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, antidiabetic, and antitumor effects. The chemical profile of ginsenosides in supercritical carbonic acid (SC-CO2), aqueous alcohol (70 %), and acetic acid (5 %) extracts of white ginseng cultivated in China was studied using HPLC-MS/MS. The mass fraction of ginsenosides in white ginseng CO2-extract is higher than in aqueous alcohol and acetic acid extracts, respectively 3.5 %, 2.1 % and 1.1 % dry matter. 23 compounds were identified, including the main polar ginsenosides – Rb1, Rb2, Rc, Rd (PPD-type) and Re, Rf, Rg1 (PPT-type), as well as minor nonpolar ones – F2, Rg3, Rh2 (PPD-type) and Rg2, Rh1 (PPT-type). The instability of oleanane saponins (Ro) upon heating is explained by their absence in the studied extracts and the appearance of zingibroside R1 (Ro adduct) in the aqueous alcohol extract. Minor nonpolar ginsenosides and adducts accounted for the majority of acetic acid and SC-CO2 extracts; the aqueous alcohol extract contained approximately equal amounts of major and minor ginsenosides. The highest content of adducts with antioxidant effect – ginsenosides Rg3, Rh1, Rh2, Rk1, СK, Rg1, Rb1, Rb2, Re – was noted in SC-CO2 extract (67.7 %), the lowest – in alcohol extract (29.7 %). A product with the desired metabolic profile can be obtained by varying the extraction conditions.
ISSN 1995-4301
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