High-Performance Thin-Layer Chromatography: A Fast and Efficient Fingerprint Analysis Method for Medicinal Plants

Moreover, several rare ginsenosides, such as the ocotillol saponin F11 (24-R-pseudoginsenoside) and the pentacyclic oleanane saponin Ro (3,28-o-bisdesmoside) have also been identified. Asian ginseng (Panax ginseng) is commonly known as the true ginseng.

In this article, HPTLC methods suitable for the analysis of ginsenosides are presented, using CAMAG equipment, MilliporeSigma TLC plates, analytical standards and extract reference materials. The extract reference materials are manufactured by HWI Analytik and exclusively distributed by MilliporeSigma.

Detection of ginsenosides in the HPTLC fingerprint of different Panax species (roots and root extracts) is obtained by following the HPTLC methods of the Ph. Eur. monograph,¹ USP DSC 2015 monograph² and the method of the HPTLC Association (International Association for the Advancement of HPTLC)³ by comparison of the RF values and colors of reference substances and matching zones in the root extract. Depending on the regulation followed, one of the three methods of identification can be used.

Recommended CAMAG Devices:

Automatic TLC Sampler (ATS 4), Automatic Developing Chamber (ADC 2), TLC Visualizer 2, Chromatogram Immersion Device 3, TLC Plate Heater 3, and visionCATS

Derivatization Reagent:

Anisaldehyde¹ or sulfuric acid reagent^2,3

Sample:

0.015 g/mL extract (HWI extract) in 70%  methanol1  Note: Deviation from methods 2 and 3 for the sample preparation

Standards:

Standard solutions of ginsenosides were prepared in a concentration of 0.5 mg/mL in methanol.

Note: Deviation from method 3 for the application volumes

Chromatography Following USP <203> ⁴:

Stationary phase: HPTLC Si 60 F254 20 x 10 cm (MilliporeSigma)

Sample application: 4 µL each of test solution and 2 µL of standards are applied as 8 mm bands, 8 mm from lower edge, 20 mm from the left edge^{1, 3}

Note: Deviation from method 3 for the sample preparation and the application volume of reference and test solutions

4 µL each of test solution and 4 µL of standards are applied as 8 mm bands, 8 mm from lower edge, 20 mm from the left edge²

Note: Deviation from method 2 for the sample preparation

Developing solvent: Ethyl acetate – water – butanol 25:50:100 (v/v/v) - upper layer¹

Dichloromethane – ethanol – water 70:45:6.5 (v/v/v)²

Chloroform – ethyl acetate – methanol – water 15:40:22:9 (v/v/v/v)³

Development: In the ADC 2 with an unsaturated chamber and after conditioning at 33% relative humidity for 10 min using a saturated solution of magnesium chloride¹

Development is performed with ADC 2, saturated for 20 minutes with the developing solvent (filter paper). Prior to the development the plate is conditioned for 10 min to a relative humidity of 33% (with a saturated solution of MgCl2).^{2, 3}

Developing distance: 70 mm (from lower edge)^{1, 2}; 80 mm (from lower edge)³

Plate drying: 5 min in a stream of cold air

Derivatization: The plate is immersed (immersion speed: 3 cm/s, immersion time: 0 s) into anisaldehyde reagent (mixture of 0.5 mL of p-anisaldehyde, 10 mL of glacial acetic acid, 85 mL of methanol, and 5 mL of sulfuric acid) with the Chromatogram Immersion Device 3 and heated for 5 min at 105°C.¹

The plate is immersed (immersion speed: 3 cm/s, immersion time: 0 s) into sulfuric acid reagent (10% in methanol) with the Chromatogram Immersion Device 3 and heated for 5 min at 100 °C.^{2, 3}

Evaluation: Documentation under method 3 is with 100 °C white light^{1, 2, 3} and UV 366 nm^{2, 3} after derivatization with the TLC Visualizer 2

Results and Discussion:

HPTLC chromatograms of ginsenoside standards and a Panax ginseng root extract

HPTLC chromatograms after derivatization. Tracks

1-17: ginsenosides, track 18: protopanaxadiol, track 19: Panax ginseng root extract (article no.: 05115001 batch: HWI01294)

HPTLC chromatograms under white light after derivatization

HPTLC chromatograms under UV 366 nm and under white light after derivatization

HPTLC chromatograms under UV 366 nm and under white light after derivatization.

HPTLC chromatograms of plants containing ginsenosides (different Panax species)

P. ginseng, P. quinquefolium, P. notoginseng, P. japonicus, P. vietnamensis roots and root extracts were collected and analyzed. The P. ginseng root  extract (article no.: 0511-50-01 batch: HWI01294) was used as botanical reference material to identify Asian ginseng (the ginsenoside Rf should be present and F11 absent).

HPTLC chromatogram under white light after derivatization.

Track 1: ginsenoside Rf (green arrow); 2: ginsenoside F11 (red arrow); 3: P. ginseng root extract (article  no.: 0511-50-01 batch: HWI01294, ginsenoside Rf highlighted with the green arrow); 4: P. ginseng root (ginsenoside Rf highlighted with the green arrow); 5: P. quinquefolium root extract (American ginseng, ginsenoside F11 highlighted with the red arrow);
6: P quinquefolium root (American ginseng, ginsenoside F11 highlighted with the red arrow);  7: P. notoginseng root extract;
8: P. notoginseng root; 9: P. japonicas root; 10: P. vietnamensis root; 11: wild Vietnamese ginseng root.

HPTLC chromatograms under UV 366 nm and under white light after derivatization

HPTLC chromatograms under UV 366 nm and under white light after derivatization.

Method 2 & 3 Parameter:

HPTLC chromatograms under white light and UV 366 nm after derivatization with ginsenoside Rf (green arrows) and ginsenoside F11 (red arrows).

Track 1: P. ginseng root extract (article no.: 05115001 batch: HWI01294, ginsenoside Rf highlighted with the green arrows); 2: P. ginseng root (ginsenoside Rf highlighted with the green arrows); 3: P. quinquefolium root extract (American ginseng, ginsenoside F11 highlighted with the red arrows); 4: P quinquefolium root (American ginseng, ginsenoside F11  highlighted with the red arrows); 5: P.  notoginseng root  extract; 6: P. notoginseng root; 7: P. japonicas root; 8: P. vietnamensis root;
9: wild Vietnamese ginseng root.

All shown methodologies are suitable for detection of ginsenosides in different Panax species. Ginsenoside Rf is unique to Asian ginseng while F11 is found exclusively in American ginseng. Thus the Rf/F11 ratio is used as a phytochemical marker to distinguish American ginseng from Asian ginseng. In the botanical reference material used (Panax ginseng root extract, article no.: 0511-50-01) the presence of Rf and absence of F11 could be confirmed with all methods and it is therefore suited for identification of Asian ginseng.

Methods 1 and 2 have the  advantage  in  that  they are in accordance with official monographs in the pharmacopoeias (Ph. Eur. resp. USP). Method 3 is an alternative method provided by the HPTLC Association. The method is improved for the separation of Rf and F11 to better distinguish American and Asian ginseng. The derivatization with sulfuric acid reagent (methods 2 and 3) leads to different colored zones under UV 366 nm, useful for identification.