Abstract:

High performance liquid chromatography coupled with quadrupole-time-of-flight tandem mass spectrometry(HPLC-Q-TOF MS/MS) were used for the comparative analysis of the content of ginsenosides in the decoction of Panax ginseng with hawthorn and hydrolysis of ginsenosides in compatibility of ginsenosides Re, Rg1, Rb1, Rd with hawthorn, single decoction and simulated pH value decoction. The results show that the contents of ginsenosides Rg1 and Rb1 decrease, while the contents of ginsenosides Re, Rd, Rg2, Rg3, F2, Rh1 increase in ginseng-hawthorn combined decoction. Ginsenosides 20(R)-Rg2, 20(S)-Rg2 are the hydrolysates when ginsenoside Re and hawthorn are boiled together, while others are ginsenosides 20(R)-Rg2, 20(S)-Rg2, Rg4 and Rg6 when ginsenoside Re is boiled in the same pH value without hawthorn. In addition, the hydrolysates are ginsenosides 20(S)-Rh1 and 20(R)-Rh1 in ginsenoside Rg1-hawthorn combined decoction, but ginsenosides 20(S)-Rh1, 20(R)-Rh1, Rh4, Rk3 are determined in the simulated pH value decoction. Ginsenosides Rd, 20(S)-Rg3 are the major hydrolysates in co-decoction of ginsenoside Rb1 and hawthorn, while ginsenosides F2, 20(S)-Rg3 are the major hydrolysates from the simulated pH value decoction. Ginsenosides F2, 20(R)-Rg3, 20(S)-Rg3 are hydrolysates in ginsenoside Rd-hawthorn combined decoction, but ginsenosides 20(R)-Rg3, 20(S)-Rg3 are hydrolysates in the simulated pH value decoction. The hydrolysis of ginsenosides is different in the processes of co-decoction with hawthorn and the simulated pH value decoction, which may be the basis of chemical composition in combination of Panax ginseng and hawthorn. It provides the material bases for combination of Panax ginseng and hawthorn in prescriptions of traditional Chinese medicine.

Key words: HPLC-Q-TOF MS/MS, ginsenoside, combination, hydrolysis