Identification and differentiation of Panax ginseng, Panax quinquefolium, and Panax notoginseng by monitoring multiple diagnostic chemical markers

Abstract

To differentiate traditional Chinese medicines (TCM) derived from congeneric species in TCM compound preparations is usually challenging. The roots of Panax ginseng (PG), Panax quinquefolium (PQ) and Panax notoginseng (PN) are used as popular TCM. They contain similar triterpenoid saponins (ginsenosides) as the major bioactive constituents. Thus far, only a few chemical markers have been discovered to differentiate these three species. Herein we present a multiple marker detection approach to effectively differentiate the three Panax species, and to identify them in compound preparations. Firstly, 85 batches of crude drug samples (including 32 PG, 30 PQ, and 23 PN) were analyzed by monitoring 40 major ginsenosides in the extracted ion chromatograms (EICs) using a validated LC–MS fingerprinting method. Secondly, the samples were clustered into different groups by pattern recognition chemometric approaches using PLS-DA and OPLS-DA models, and 17 diagnostic chemical markers were discovered. Aside from the previously known Rf and p-F ₁₁, ginsenoside Rs ₁ could be a new marker to differentiate PG from PQ. Finally, the above multiple chemical markers were used to identify the Panax species in 60 batches of TCM compound preparations.

Graphical abstract

The roots of Panax ginseng (PG), Panax quinquefolium (PQ) and Panax notoginseng (PN) derive from congeneric species, and are used as different herbal medicines. In this study, we employed LC–MS analyses and chemometric approaches to discover 17 marker ginsenosides to differentiate these three species. These markers were further used to identify PG, PQ, and PN in 60 batches of traditional Chinese medicine compound preparations.