Zhang Xiaotong, Ran Xiaoku, Xi Yidan, Dou Deqiang
College of Pharmacy, Liaoning University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Dalian 116600, China.
Foods. 2025 Aug 30;14(17):3073. doi: 10.3390/foods14173073.
This study aims to further analyze the chemical characteristics of mountainous forest cultivated ginseng (MFCG) and garden ginseng (GG), concerning their calcium oxalate crystals, organic acids, and ginsenosides. The results demonstrate that MFCG had higher levels of non-free oxalate, calcium oxalate crystals, and most ginsenosides, while GG had higher fumaric acid/total organic acids. The content of non-free oxalate and calcium oxalate crystals in rhizome was the highest, showing a positive correlation with the growth years (5-20 years). In most cases, in MFCG, non-free oxalic acid ≥ 0.8%, calcium oxalate ≥ 160/mg, fumaric acid/total organic acids < 9%, Rb1 ≥ 6 mg/g, PPD/PPT was close to 2, and Rb1/Ro ≥ 2.5, while in GG, non-free oxalic acid < 0.8%, calcium oxalate ≤ 60/mg, fumaric acid/total organic acids ≥ 9%, Rb1 < 6 mg/g, PPD/PPT was close to 1, and Rb1/Ro < 2.5. These results can be used as the basis for distinguishing between GG and MFCG. Chemometric analysis of non-free oxalate, calcium oxalate crystals, and ginsenosides could distinguish MFCG from GG. Chemometric analysis of succinate, citrate, and malonic acids could mostly differentiate MFCG of over 15 years from that of less than 12 years. As far as we know, the present study is the first to determine the difference in the ratio of ginsenosides (Rb1/Ro, PPD/PPT) and the ratio of organic acids, which provides an innovative method for the distinction between the two and a scientific basis for effective quality control of MFCG.
本研究旨在进一步分析山林栽培人参（MFCG）和园参（GG）的化学特征，涉及它们的草酸钙晶体、有机酸和人参皂苷。结果表明，MFCG中游离态草酸、草酸钙晶体和大多数人参皂苷的含量较高，而GG中富马酸/总有机酸的含量较高。根茎中游离态草酸和草酸钙晶体的含量最高，与生长年限（5 - 20年）呈正相关。在大多数情况下，MFCG中游离态草酸≥0.8%，草酸钙≥160/mg，富马酸/总有机酸<9%，Rb1≥6mg/g，PPD/PPT接近2，且Rb1/Ro≥2.5；而在GG中，游离态草酸<0.8%，草酸钙≤60/mg，富马酸/总有机酸≥9%，Rb1<6mg/g，PPD/PPT接近1，且Rb1/Ro<2.5。这些结果可作为区分GG和MFCG的依据。对游离态草酸、草酸钙晶体和人参皂苷进行化学计量分析可区分MFCG和GG。对琥珀酸、柠檬酸和丙二酸进行化学计量分析，大多可区分15年以上的MFCG和12年以下的MFCG。据我们所知，本研究首次确定了人参皂苷比例（Rb1/Ro、PPD/PPT）和有机酸比例的差异，为两者的区分提供了创新方法，也为MFCG的有效质量控制提供了科学依据。
