Analysis of crude drugs using reversed-phase TLC/scanning densitometry. (II) Identification of ginseng, red ginseng, gentian, Japanese gentian, pueraria root, gardenia fruit, schisandra fruit and ginger

We performed identification tests of the main components (ginsenoside-Rg(1), gentiopicroside, puerarin, geniposide, schizandrin, and [6]-gingerol) of the following crude drugs from the Japanese Pharmacopoeia, 14th edition (JP14): ginseng, red ginseng, gentian, Japanese gentian, pueraria root, gardenia fruit, schisandra fruit, and ginger). The identification was carried out with reversed-phase thin-layer chromatography using water, acetonitrile, methanol, 2-butanone, and n-hexane as developing solvents. A single spot could be separated from other components (Rf value: 0.44-0.59). In addition, spectral information could be simultaneous]), obtained by scanning densitometry. Thus, the main components of crude drugs in the JP14 could be identified by this method simply, rapidly, and accurately.