Reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatographic determination of ginsenosides of Panax quinquefolium

A reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatographic determination of ginsenosides Rb-1, Rb-2, Re, Rd, Re, Rg(1), Ro, gypenoside XVII, pseudoginsenoside-F-11, and an indirect determination of the malonyl-ginsenosides Rb-1, Rb-2, Re and Rd in Panax quinquefolium was developed. Ground ginseng samples were extracted with aqueous methanol in an ultrasonic bath. The neutral triterpene saponins were determined directly by liquid chromatography on the extract. The acidic ginsenosides were determined indirectly following the hydrolysis with aqueous potassium hydroxide. Separations were achieved with a phosphate buffer-acetonitrile gradient system using a C-18 reversed-phase column.