An application of the standardised reference extract quantification strategy in the quality control of ginseng infusions by liquid chromatography with mass spectrometric detection

Abstract

Introduction: Limited availability of individual standards is a bottleneck for quality control of functional foods and natural medicines. The use of standard mixtures or secondary standards is a possible alternative in this case. Earlier, an approach known as standardised reference extract (RE) strategy was introduced for HPLC-UV analysis of different plant materials; however, its application in HPLC-MS analysis has not been investigated. Objective: To establish an HPLC-MS-based RE method for determination of ginsenoside content in ginseng infusions using commercially available extract refer- ence material of Panax quinquefolius L. Results: The developed HPLC-MS method was validated as precise (1.1%–9.4% intra-day variation; 1.6%–12.8% inter-day variation) and highly sensitive [limit of detection (LOD): 1–40 ng/mL; limit of quantification (LOQ): 4–120 ng/mL]. The sta- bility of samples was satisfactory (5.7%–16.3%). The RE quantification method was compared with the external standard method, and the obtained difference was not significant, mostly in the range of 5%–10%. Matrix effects for the diluted samples of RE and ginseng infusions, determined via the standard addition method, were in the range of 85%–115% and 80%–126%, respectively, and were also positively corre- lated with the ginsenoside concentration. Eleven batches of ginseng infusions from different manufacturers were analysed using the established method. Conclusion: The method for HPLC-MS-based ginsenoside quantification using RE as a secondary standard was established for the first time. The results of this study dem- onstrate that the application of the standardised RE strategy in HPLC-MS can mini- mise the matrix effect-related error in addition to the cost-effective quality control of herbal products, foods, and traditional medicines.