Extraction and chromatographic analysis of ginsenosides occurring in roots and leaves of Panax quinquefolium grown in Poland

A wide variety of extraction methods has been employed for the isolation of ginsenosides from plant material. They are e.g. : extraction in Soxhlet apparatus [1], ultrasound-assisted extraction (UAE) [2], microwave-assisted extraction (MAE) [3], pressurized liquid extraction (PLE, ASE) [4], and supercritical fluid extraction (SFE) [5]. In presented studies, for isolation of ginsenosides from ginseng cultivated in Poland, three different extraction methods such as: ASE, UAE and mechanical shaking assisted solvent extraction was applied. The separation of compounds was achieved with water-acetonitrile gradient system using a C 18 reversed-phase column. The highest extraction efficiency of ginsenosides in roots and leaves of Panax quinquefolium L. was observed during mechanical shaking with 50% aqueous methanol (total concentration for roots –4.3% and for leaves –9.1%). Extraction efficiency of ginsenosides by ASE is comparable to that obtained by sonication. The main compound of P. quinquefolium roots is ginsenoside Rb 1 . The amount of this compound in ginseng roots was ranged from 1.36% to 3% according to extraction method and extraction solvent used. Ginsenosides Rd, Rg 2 and Rb 2 are the main compounds occurring in American ginseng leaves. They content in raw material after mechanical shaking was 3.8%, 2.4% and 1.4% respectively. Ginseng leaves, in comparison to ginseng roots are characterized by higher concentration of ginsenosides. Therefore, based on the concentration of major saponins, leaves can by alternative to root source of ginsenosides used in herbal preparations. References : 1. Chuang, W.C., Sheu, S.J. (1994), J. Chrom. A 685: 243–251. 2. Wu, J. et al. (2001), Ultrason. Sonochem. 8: 347–352. 3. Kwon, J.-H. et al. (2003), Food Research International 36: 491–498. 4. Choi, M.P.K. et al. (2003), J. Chrom. A 983: 153–162. 5. Wang, H.-C. et al. (2001), Food Chemistry 72: 505–509.