Rapid Identification of Saponins in Panax Notoginseng Fruits by Ultra High Performance Liquid Chromatography-Orbitrap High Resolution Mass Spectrometry

Panax notoginseng (Burk.) F. H. Chen is a species of genus Panax , family Araliaceae , and has been widely used as a traditional Chinese medicine for treatment of cardiovascular diseases. Previous studies on the chemical constituents of Panax notoginseng are mainly focused on the roots and leaves parts , but there are few research on the fruits part. Panax notoginseng fruits (PNF) is a mature berry drupe of Panax notoginseng. In the interest of further exploitation and utilization of this precious medicinal plant, developing new medicinal parts of Panax notoginseng and finding new trace active components , the main chemical ingredients of saponins in PNF were rapidly analyzed and identified by ultra high performance liquid chromatography-orbitrap high resolution mass spectrometry (UPLC-Orbitrap HRMS) in this work , based on the accuracy of the relative molecular mass , fragment ions , and retention behavior compared to those of reference substances. A total of 60 kinds of triterpenoid saponins were identified from ethanol extraction of PNF, including 43 kinds of protopanaxadiol saponins, 3 kinds of protopanaxatriol saponins, 12 kinds of C-17 side chain varied saponins, and 2 kinds of oleanolic acid saponins, respectively. Among them, 3 kinds of double malonylginsenosides were first identified from PNF , namely double malonyginsenoside Rc , double malonyginsenoside Rb-2 and double malonyginsenoside Rb-3. Meanwhile, the fragmentation patterns of different saponin types were analyzed and summarized. The saponins of PNF were comprehensively clarified in this study , which could provide a theoretical basis for the identification of saponins and utilization of nonmedicinal parts of PNF.