Analysis of Nonpolar Components from Ginseng of Different Ages

Yizhen Zhang, Xunan Lyu, Tao Liu, Jianping Luo, Wenju Zhang, Qing Mu

School of Biology and Food Engineering, Hefei University of Technology, Hefei, China.
School of Biology Science, Fudan University, Shanghai, China.
School of Pharmacy, Fudan University, Shanghai, China.

DOI: 10.4236/ajps.2013.41014                

Abstract

Nonpolar components from ginseng of different ages were extracted and analysed using a GC-MS technique to determine their chemical compositions. In total, 23 ingredients, mostly aliphatic compounds, were identified. The compounds extracted included 10,12-octadecadiynoic acid (12.81% - 36.43%), falcarinol (4.95% - 36.79%), n-hexadecanoic acid (0.60% - 9.70%), 9,12-octadecadienoic acid, ethyl ester (0.33% - 5.63%), 5,7-dodecadiyn-1,12-diol (0.97% - 3.85%), (Z)-9-octadecenamide (2.66% - 5.38%) and (Z,Z)-9,12-octadecadienoic acid (0.46% - 5.27%). The two major diyne compositions, falcarinol (8) and 10,12-octadecadiynoic acid (12), were the predominant components (over 50%) of the nonpolar extract of older ginseng. Moreover, the 10,12-octadecadiynoic acid obviously accumulated as the ginseng grew. Sitosterol, a universal metabolite in higher plants, makes up 55.80% of the content of 6-year-old ginseng, but markedly decreases in older ginseng. There was not much difference between the extracts of 8, 10, 12 and 16-year ginsengs, but the extracts of 6-year-old ginseng were distinctive.

Keywords

Ginseng; Old-Age Ginseng; Nonpolar Composition; GC-MS; Falcarinol; 10, 12-Octadecadiynoic Acid

Conflicts of Interest

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

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