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Distinguishing Ontario ginseng landraces and ginseng species using NMR-based metabolomics

Analytical and Bioanalytical Chemistry volume 405, pages 4499–4509 (2013)Cite this article

Abstract

The use of 1H-NMR-based metabolomics to distinguish and identify unique markers of five Ontario ginseng (Panax quinquefolius L.) landraces and two ginseng species (P. quinquefolius and P. ginseng) was evaluated. Three landraces (2, 3, and 5) were distinguished from one another in the principal component analysis (PCA) scores plot. Further analysis was conducted and specific discriminating metabolites from the PCA loadings were determined. Landraces 3 and 5 were distinguishable on the basis of a decreased NMR intensity in the methyl ginsenoside region, indicating decreased overall ginsenoside levels. In addition, landrace 5 was separated by an increased amount of sucrose relative to the rest of the landraces. Landrace 2 was separated from the rest of the landraces by the increased level of ginsenoside Rb1. The Ontario P. quinquefolius was also compared with Asian P. ginseng by PCA, and clear separation between the two groups was detected in the PCA scores plot. The PCA loadings plot and a t-test NMR difference plot were able to identify an increased level of maltose and a decreased level of sucrose in the Asian ginseng compared with the Ontario ginseng. An overall decrease of ginsenoside content, especially ginsenoside Rb1, was also detected in the Asian ginseng’s metabolic profile. This study demonstrates the potential of NMR-based metabolomics as a powerful high-throughput technique in distinguishing various closely related ginseng landraces and its ability to identify metabolic differences from Ontario and Asian ginseng. The results from this study will allow better understanding for quality assessment, species authentication, and the potential for developing a fully automated method for quality control.

Principal component analysis scores and loadings plot for differentiating between closely-related ginseng landraces in Ontario, Canada

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Acknowledgments

Part of the funding was provided by the Ontario Research Fund Re-02-049. We also thank Sarah Luchsinger and Jonathan Ferrier for technical assistance and valuable discussions.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Bruker BioSpin, Billerica, 15 Fortune Drive, Billerica, 01821, MA, USA

    Jimmy Yuk, Joshua Hicks & Kimberly L. Colson

  2. Department of Biology, University of Ottawa, 30 Marie Curie, Ottawa, ON, K1N 6N5, Canada

    Kristina L. McIntyre & John T. Arnason

  3. Bruker BioSpin GmbH, Silberstreifen 4, 76287, Rheinstetten, Germany

    Christian Fischer

  4. Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Western University, London, ON, N6A 5C1, Canada

    Ed Lui

  5. Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, London, ON, N6A 5C1, Canada

    Dan Brown

  6. Ontario Ginseng Innovation Research Consortium, London, ON, N6A 5C1, Canada

    Kristina L. McIntyre, Ed Lui & Dan Brown

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  1. Jimmy Yuk
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  2. Kristina L. McIntyre
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  3. Christian Fischer
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  4. Joshua Hicks
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  7. Dan Brown
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Kimberly L. Colson.

Additional information

Published in the topical collection Functional Foods and Dietary Supplements with guest editors Melissa M. Phillips and Catherine A. Rimmer.

Jimmy Yuk and Kristina L. McIntyre contributed equally to this work.

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Yuk, J., McIntyre, K.L., Fischer, C. et al. Distinguishing Ontario ginseng landraces and ginseng species using NMR-based metabolomics. Anal Bioanal Chem 405, 4499–4509 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00216-012-6582-6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00216-012-6582-6

Keywords

  • Metabonomics
  • Metabolite profiling
  • Quality control
  • Botanicals
  • Nuclear Magnetic Resonance and authenticity