Retention behavior of ginsenosides in a sulfo-based high performance liquid chromatography column.

We herein report the use of a sulfo-based column and hydrophilic interaction chromatography (HILIC) to separate 14 ginsenosides, namely Rb1, Rb2, Rb3, Rc, Rd, Rf, Re, Rg1, Rg2, Rg3, Rh1, Rh2, F2, and C-K. In addition to its rapid and efficient ability to separate these ginsenosides, the sulfo-based column exhibited a good relationship between the ginsenoside capacity factor (k') and molecular weight (Mw) and a strict elution order corresponding to the polarity (P) of the ginsenosides, as confirmed by thin layer chromatography.