Certification of a pure reference material for the ginsenoside Rg 1

A pure certified reference material (CRM) for the ginsenoside Rg (1) was prepared from roots of Panax ginseng by extraction and separation of ginsenosides. The mass fraction of the main component (ginsenoside Rg (1) ) in the reference material was determined and its uncertainty was assessed from various input quantities, such as organic impurities, residual moisture, residual solvent, ash, and insoluble matters. To measure these input quantities, HPLC/CAD, Karl Fischer (KF) coulometry, gravimetry, and GC/FID were used. Homogeneity and long-term stability of the reference material are discussed. The certified mass fraction of Rg (1) in the reference material is 0.974 +/- A 0.006 (k = 2) with a shelf life of 1 year.