LC-MS based metabolic and metabonomic studies of Panax ginseng.

INTRODUCTION: Panax ginseng has received much attention as a valuable health supplement with medicinal potential. Its chemical diversity and multiple pharmacological properties call for comprehensive methods to better understand the effects of ginseng and ginsenosides. Liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS) based metabonomic approaches just fit the purpose.

OBJECTIVE: Aims to give a review of recent progress on LC-MS based pharmacokinetic, metabolic, and phytochemical metabolomic studies of ginseng, and metabonomic studies of ginseng intervention effects.

METHODS: The review has four sections: the first section discusses metabolic studies of ginsenosides based on LC-MS, the second focuses on ginsenoside-drug interactions and pharmacokinetic interaction between herb compounds based on LC-MS, the third is phytochemical metabolomic studies of ginseng based on LC-MS, and the fourth deals with metabonomic studies of ginseng intervention effects based on LC-MS.

RESULTS: LC-MS based metabonomic research on ginseng include analysis of single ginsenoside and total ginsenosides. The theory of multi-components and multi-targeted mechanisms helps to explain ginseng effects.

CONCLUSION: LC-MS based metabonomics is a promising way to comprehensively assess ginseng. It is valuable for quality control and mechanism studies of ginseng.