Discrimination of white ginseng origins using multivariate statistical analysis of data sets.
BACKGROUND
White ginseng (Panax ginseng Meyer) is commonly distributed as a health food in food markets. However, there is no practical method for distinguishing Korean white ginseng (KWG) from Chinese white ginseng (CWG), except for relying on the traceability system in the market.


METHODS
Ultra-performance liquid chromatography quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry combined with orthogonal partial least squares discrimination analysis (OPLS-DA) was employed to discriminate between KWG and CWG.


RESULTS
The origins of white ginsengs in two test sets (1.0 μL and 0.2 μL injections) could be successfully discriminated by the OPLS-DA analysis. From OPLS-DA S-plots, KWG exhibited tentative markers derived from ginsenoside Rf and notoginsenoside R3 isomer, whereas CWG exhibited tentative markers derived from ginsenoside Ro and chikusetsusaponin Iva.


CONCLUSIONS
Results suggest that ultra-performance liquid chromatography quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry coupled with OPLS-DA is an efficient tool for identifying the difference between the geographical origins of white ginsengs.
Natural Medicine Research Center, Korea Research Institute of Bioscience and Biotechnology, Ochang, Korea.
Hyuk-Hwan
HH
Song
Experiment Research Institute of National Agricultural Products Quality Management Service, Gimcheon, Korea.
Ji Young
JY
Moon
Natural Medicine Research Center, Korea Research Institute of Bioscience and Biotechnology, Ochang, Korea.
Hyung Won
HW
Ryu
Department of Food Science and Technology, Seoul Women's University, Seoul, Korea.
Bong-Soo
BS
Noh
Department of Agricultural Biotechnology, Seoul National University, Seoul, Korea.
Jeong-Han
JH
Kim
Natural Medicine Research Center, Korea Research Institute of Bioscience and Biotechnology, Ochang, Korea.
Hyeong-Kyu
HK
Lee
Natural Medicine Research Center, Korea Research Institute of Bioscience and Biotechnology, Ochang, Korea.
Sei-Ryang
SR
Oh
Panax ginseng Meyer; ginsenoside; metabolomics; white ginseng