title: Integrated evaluation of malonyl ginsenosides, amino acids and polysaccharides in fresh and processed ginseng.
abstract: Many analytical methods have been developed to characterize ginsenosides in ginseng. Relatively less attention has been paid to the malonyl ginsenosides, amino acids and polysaccharides in various processing ginsengs. In this study, malonyl ginsenosides were characterized by LC-Q-TOF/MS. In positive mode, the most abundant ions at m/z 425.38 were observed corresponding to the protopanoxadiol-type ginsenosides. A rich diagnostic ion at 835.48 was shown representing the malonyl ginsenosides with at least two glucosides. Twelve malonyl ginsenosides were rapidly screened using 835.48-835.49 to restructure ion chromatograms. In negative mode, besides the high deprotonated ion, a neutral loss of 44 Da (CO2) was found. High-energy collision-induced dissociation at 50 V produced the most abundant product ion [M-H-malonyl](-) by a neutral loss of 86 Da. Determination of 17 common amino acids was performed on an automatic amino acid analyzer. Arginine, glutamic acid, and aspartic acid were abundant. The contents of amino acids were 9.1% in fresh ginseng and 3.1% in black ginseng. Phenol-sulfuric acid method was applied to analysis of polysaccharides. The contents of polysaccharides were 29.1% in fresh ginseng and 11.1% in black ginseng. The optimal growth age for the accumulation of constituents was supposed to be 5-6 years. In conclusion, the contents of malonyl ginsenosides, amino acids, and polysaccharides, based on decreasing order, ranked as follows: fresh ginseng>frozen ginseng>white ginseng>stoved ginseng>red ginseng>black ginseng. Processing should be paid more attention for the quality control of ginseng products.
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Natural Medicines, China Pharmaceutical University, No. 24 Tongjia Lane, Nanjing 210009, China; School of Pharmacy, Jiangsu University, 301 Xuefu Road, Zhenjiang 212013, China.
authors.forename: Jin-Yi
authors.initials: JY
authors.lastname: Wan
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Natural Medicines, China Pharmaceutical University, No. 24 Tongjia Lane, Nanjing 210009, China.
authors.forename: Yong
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Fan
authors.affiliation: Research & Development Centre, Infinitus (China) Company Ltd, Guangzhou 510665, China.
authors.forename: Qing-Tao
authors.initials: QT
authors.lastname: Yu
authors.affiliation: Research & Development Centre, Infinitus (China) Company Ltd, Guangzhou 510665, China.
authors.forename: Ya-Zhong
authors.initials: YZ
authors.lastname: Ge
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Natural Medicines, China Pharmaceutical University, No. 24 Tongjia Lane, Nanjing 210009, China.
authors.forename: Chen-Pu
authors.initials: CP
authors.lastname: Yan
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Natural Medicines, China Pharmaceutical University, No. 24 Tongjia Lane, Nanjing 210009, China.
authors.forename: Raphael N
authors.initials: RN
authors.lastname: Alolga
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Natural Medicines, China Pharmaceutical University, No. 24 Tongjia Lane, Nanjing 210009, China. Electronic address: Liping2004@126.com.
authors.forename: Ping
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Research & Development Centre, Infinitus (China) Company Ltd, Guangzhou 510665, China.
authors.forename: Zhong-Hua
authors.initials: ZH
authors.lastname: Ma
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Natural Medicines, China Pharmaceutical University, No. 24 Tongjia Lane, Nanjing 210009, China. Electronic address: Qilw@cpu.edu.cn.
authors.forename: Lian-Wen
authors.initials: LW
authors.lastname: Qi
mesh_terms: D000596:Amino Acids / Q000737:chemistry*; D002853:Chromatography, Liquid / Q000379:methods; D036145:Ginsenosides / Q000737:chemistry*; D013058:Mass Spectrometry / Q000379:methods; D005894:Panax / Q000737:chemistry*; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000737:chemistry*; D010946:Plants, Medicinal / Q000737:chemistry*; D011134:Polysaccharides / Q000737:chemistry*; D011786:Quality Control
chemical_list: D000596:Amino Acids; D036145:Ginsenosides; D010936:Plant Extracts; D011134:Polysaccharides
keywords: Amino acids; Growth age; Malonyl ginsenosides; Polysaccharides; Processed ginseng