Semi-Preparative Separation of Ginsenoside in Ginseng

Ginseng is a natural medicine from the perennial araliaceae herbaceous which is also known as Asian ginseng or Korean ginseng. It is said that ginseng has many positive effects on recovery from fatigue, pyretolysis, blood pressure control (low- and high-blood pressure), anti-inflammatory and antibacterial action (gastric and duodenal ulcer), hemostasis, cardiotonic action, anti-tumor action (anti-cancer action), diabetes care (blood-sugar level control and insulin secretagogue). Ginseng contains a lot of ginsenosides, a type of saponin. Ginsenoside Rb1 has central depressant action and ginsenoside Rg1 has central excitatory action, and their anti-fatigue and sedative action have been reported.

Figure 1: Chromatogram of the extracts from ginseng powder.

Figure 1 shows a chromatogram and contour plot of the extracts from ginseng powder using conventional HPLC. Since the retention volumes of ginsenoside Rg1 and Rb1 are different, the separation conditions have been established using gradient elution. Using a PDA detector and comparing spectra after improving the separation of the target from other components, ginsenoside Rg1 and Rb1 were clearly separated within 16 min.

Figure 2: Fractionation result of the extracts from ginseng powder (ChromNAV display).

Figure 2 shows the chromatogram of ginseng powder obtained using semi-preparative separation HPLC scaled up from conventional HPLC. In order to obtain the separation of as much ginsenosides as possible, 5 mL of sample was injected. Figure 2 also shows the fraction display in ChromNAV, JASCO chromatography data system. For easy identification, the fractionated peaks and sample rack position for the targets are highlighted in green.

Figure 3: Chromatogram of fractionated compounds (blue: Ginsenoside Rb1, red: Ginsenoside Rg1).

Figure 3 shows a chromatogram of each fraction obtained under the same conditions as in Figure 1. Since ginsenoside Rb1 and the other components were not completely separated, as shown in Figure 2. Small peaks can be observed just after the ginsenoside Rb1, but it was confirmed that each compound was clearly isolated.

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