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Planta Med 1995; 61(5): 459-465
DOI: 10.1055/s-2006-958137
Paper

© Georg Thieme Verlag Stuttgart · New York

A Comparative Study on Commercial Samples of Ginseng Radix

Wu-Chang Chuang1 , Hsin-Kai Wu1 , Shuenn-Jyi Sheu1 , Shiow-Hua Chiou2 , Hsien-Chang Chang2 , Yuh-Pan Chen2
  • 1Department of Chemistry, National Taiwan Normal University, 88, sec. 4, Tingchow Road, Taipei, Taiwan, Republic of China
  • 2Brion Research Institute of Taiwan, Republic of China
Further Information

Publication History

1995

1995

Publication Date:
04 January 2007 (online)

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Abstract

A total of 37 commercial samples of Ginseng Radix, the origins of which belonged to Panax ginseng C. A. Meyer, P. quinquefolia Linn. (American ginseng), and P. notoginseng Burkill (sanchi-ginseng), respectively, were collected from the Taiwan herbal markets. The contents of nine ginsenosides, Rb1, Rb2, Rc, Rd, Re, Rf, Rg1, Rg2, R0, and three malonylginsenosides, mRb1, mRb2, mRc, in these samples were determined by high-performance liquid chromatography. It was found that the saponin contents in P. notoginseng and P. quinquefolia were generally higher than in P. ginseng. The ginsenosides that were of the highest contents in the white-ginseng, red-ginseng, and shihchu-ginseng samples of P. ginseng were Rb1 and Rg1; those in the root-hair of P. ginseng were Rb1 and Re, those in P. notoginseng were Rb1, Rg1 and Rd, and those in P. quinquefolia were Rb1, Re, and mRb1. Among the samples, those of P. quinquefolia did not contain Rf and Rg2, whilst those of shihehu-ginseng and red-ginseng of P. ginseng contained none or only traces of the malonylginsenosides. From the data of chemical analysis of a herb's constituents and its external appearance, we can postulate not only the quality but also the origin of the herb.

Key words

Panax species - Panax ginseng - Araliaceae - ginsenoside contents