Simultaneous quantification of 10 saponins in Chinese Shizhu Panax by UPLC-ESI-MS

A simple and rapid method was established and validated for the simultaneous quantification of 10 saponins, namely ginsenosides-Rb₁, Rb₂, Rb₃, Rc, Rd, Rg₁, Rg₂, Re, Rf and Notoginsenside R₁, in Chinese Shizhu Panax by ultra performance liquid chromatography coupled with an electrospray mass spectrometry (UPLC-ESI-MS). In addition, the contents of the analytes in different parts of Chinese Shizhu Panax were also analysed. The results showed that the concentration of saponins had a reference to the different parts of Chinese Shizhu Panax. The established method could be used as a new analytical approach for assessment of the quantity of Chinese Shizhu Panax.