Simultaneous quantification of ginsenosides in American ginseng (Panax quinquefolium) root powder by visible/near-infrared reflectance spectroscopy

Near-infrared reflectance spectroscopy (NIRS) was examined as a possible al ternative to highperformance liquid chromatography (HPLC) for the analysis of ginsenosides from American ginseng (Panax quinquefolium) root powder (n = 26). NIR spectra were collected over 400-2500 nm. For each sample and ind ividual ginsenoside quantified by HPLC, spectral data were regressed agains t the chemical data to develop prediction equations. The spectral predictio n equations produced high correlation coefficient (1-VR) values and low sta ndard errors of cross validation (SECV) values for the determination of ind ividual and total ginsenosides. The contents of individual ginsenosides, Rb -1, Rb-2, Re, Rd, Re, Rg(1), Ro, m-Rb-1, m-Rb-2, m-Rc, m-Rd, and total gins enosides (X +/- SECV) were (1.29 +/- 0.18)%, (0.273 +/- 0.096)%, (0.298 +/- 0.052)%, (0.091 +/- 0.027)%, (1.015 +/- 0.114)%, (0.116 +/- 0.018)%, (0.25 +/- 0.040)%, (0.776 +/- 0.116)%, (0.197 +/- 0.074)%, (0.239 +/- 0.083)%, ( 0.143 +/- 0.042)%, and (4.393 +/- 0.283)%, respectively. The (1-VR) values of cross validation were 0.877, 0.872, 0.955, 0.834, 0.899, 0.919, 0.325, 0 .849, 0.902, 0.877, 0.871, and 0.963, respectively. Results indicated that the NIRS method could be used for the analysis of the major ginsenosides, R bl, Re, and m-Rbl, as well as the total ginsenosides in American ginseng.