Western blotting for ginseng saponins, ginsenosides using anti-ginsenoside Rb1 monoclonal antibody.

Ginsenosides separated by silica gel TLC were blotted to a polyvinylidene difluoride (PVDF) membrane which was treated with a NaIO4 solution followed by bovine serum albumine (BSA), resulting in a ginsenoside-BSA conjugate on a PVDF membrane. The blotted bands were stained with monoclonal antibody (MAb). The newly established Western blotting method was used for the determination of ginsenosides and their distribution in various Panax species.