PURIFICATION OF THE MAIN GINSENOSIDES FROM A FRENCH CROP OF PANAX-QUINQUEFOLIUM L

Active components of Panax quinquefolium L. roots (French growing) have been separated by centrifugal partition chromatography (CPC). Five pure ginsenosides, namely Rb1, Re, Rd, Gypenoside XVII, and F11, have been isolated in one step. using a biphasic mixture of ethyl acetate / 1-butanol / water and gradient elution. Part of the effluent was monitored with an evaporative light scattering detector (ELSD), for direct control of the collected fractions, allowing an easy detection of these molecules with low or no absorbance in the UV. Isolated ginsenosides have been identified by comparison with standards and by H-1 and C-13 NMR studies.