Metabolomic approach for age discrimination of Panax ginseng using UPLC-Q-Tof MS

J Agric Food Chem. 2011 Oct 12;59(19):10435-41. doi: 10.1021/jf201718r. Epub 2011 Sep 15.

Abstract

An ultraperformance liquid chromatography-quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry (UPLC-Q-Tof MS)-based metabolomic technique was applied for metabolite profiling of 60 Panax ginseng samples aged from 1 to 6 years. Multivariate statistical methods such as principal component analysis and hierarchical clustering analysis were used to compare the derived patterns among the samples. The data set was subsequently applied to various metabolite selection methods for sophisticated classification with the optimal number of metabolites. The results showed variations in accuracy among the classification methods for the samples of different ages, especially for those aged 4, 5, and 6 years. This proposed analytical method coupled with multivariate analysis is fast, accurate, and reliable for discriminating the cultivation ages of P. ginseng samples and is a potential tool to standardize quality control in the P. ginseng industry.

Publication types

  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid / methods
  • Mass Spectrometry
  • Metabolomics*
  • Multivariate Analysis
  • Panax / chemistry*
  • Panax / classification*
  • Panax / metabolism
  • Plant Extracts / chemistry
  • Time Factors

Substances

  • Plant Extracts