Liquid chromatography-electrospray mass spectrometric identification of ginsenosides in Panax ginseng roots

A high-performance liquid chromatographic method was developed for electros pray mass spectrometric analysis of ginsenosides in Panax ginseng roots. Th e analyses were performed on a reversed-phase C-18 column using a binary el uent (aqueous 8 mM NH4OAc, buffered to pH 7 with NH4OH-acetonitrile) under gradient conditions. Twenty-five ginsenosides could be separated and detect ed. The mass spectra obtained provided information on their molecular masse s. A MS-MS experiment was undertaken in order to determine the sugar unit s equences and the aglycone moieties. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science B.V. All righ ts reserved.