LAUSR

Present study provides a comparison of two LC-MS/MS methods for ginsenosides analysis. The two methods have the same LC separation procedure, and both use MS/MS detection. However, one method uses multiple reaction monitoring (MRM) transitions commonly recommended in the literature starting with [M + Na]+ as the molecular ions and with detection of specific fragment ions from the molecules M, while the other is an original method using as molecular ions [M + Cs]+ and Cs+ as fragment ion. The method using [M + Cs]+ as molecular ion has a very high sensitivity allowing the measurement of concentrations in the injecting solutions as low as 4 ng/mL with peaks at this concentration showing signal to noise ratios of 20 or higher. The procedures were utilized for the measurement of eight ginsenosides (Rb1, Rb2, Rc, Rd, Re, Rf (S), Rg1, and Rg2), although the method using [M + Cs]+ has the potential for measuring other ginsenosides. As an application, the ginsenosides were measured in several types of ginseng root, in several dietary supplements containing ginseng extracts, in four energy drinks, and in a sample of ashwagandha. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.