Subscribe to RSS
DOI: 10.1055/s-0029-1234695
Analysis of ginseng dietary supplements – content of ginsenosides
Products based on Panax ginseng are the most popular commodity of Chinese traditional herb medicine worldwide. Due to the minimal side effects ginseng is predominantly used as component of various tonic and adaptogenic dietary supplements [1]. However, because dietary supplements, despite of their increasing popularity, are not subject to the same regulations that pharmaceuticals are, there are concerns for their purity and potency [2]. Ginseng saponins (ginsenosides), which are unique for Panax species and are associated with their pharmacological activity, appear as suitable marker compounds for quality control [3].
In our work, 11 ginseng products (tablets, capsules, extracts, mixtures) commercially available on Czech market were evaluated for the presence and quantity of 12 ginsenosides (Rb1, Rb2, Rb3, Rc, Rd, Re, Rf, Rg1, Rg2, Rg3, Rh1, Rh2). Each of them were identified by comparison of retention times with standards and confirmed by LC/MS. The quantification was carried out by external standard method using UV detection (at 203nm). Ginsenosides were found in 8 products only. Three preparations contained low concentrations of total ginsenosides (from 1.0 to 2.2mg per recommended daily dose). In three other products no saponins were detected. The results suggest that not all of the products on Czech market where ginseng addition is declared contains sufficient amount of the ginsenosides.
Acknowledgement: This work was supported by KJB 400550705 project.
References: [1] Cai, Z. et al. (2002)J. Mass. Spectrom. 37:1013–1024.
[2] Harkey, M.R. et al. (2001) Am. J. Clin. Nutr. 73:1101–1106.
[3] Li, W.K. and Fitzloff, J.F. (2002)J. Liq. Chromatogr. R T 25:2485–2500.