Quantitative analysis of eight ginsenosides in red ginseng using ginsenoside rg1 as single reference standard

Objective: To develop a reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography method for the quantification of major ginsenosides in red ginseng (RG, the steamed and dried root of the cultivar of Panax ginseng C. A. Mey). Methods: A feasible method was developed in strict accordance with chromatographic properties of eight ginsenosides. Their contents could be unveiled with conventional external standard method, or as an alternative, using ginsenoside Rg1 as the single reference standard by means of seven conversion factors. Those parameters had been validated on different chromatographic columns and instruments. Results: Twenty-one batches of RG samples were determined. In addition, the chromatograms of RG and confusing species, including Panax ginseng, Panax quinquefolium, and Panax notoginseng, were apparently different. Conclusions: The method was proved to be efficient for the quality control of RG.