Variation in ginsenoside content and composition within the American ginseng population

The contents of 57 ginsenosides were measured in American ginseng roots collected from a single population grown in Jilin. Ginsenoside contents and compositions varied significantly among the population. The most abundant ginsenoside within the American ginseng root and by population was either Rg₁ or Re, followed by Rb₁, mal-Rb₁, Rd, Rc, pseudoginsenoside F₁₁, Ro, and gypenoside XVII. According to the relative contents of Rg₁ and Re, the population was grouped into two chemotypes, and there were significant differences in ginsenoside profiles between them. The contents of protopanaxadiol-type ginsenosides were relatively stable. The rate-limiting enzymes of malonyl ginsenosides biosynthesis were located in front of their corresponding neutral ginsenosides. The regulatory sites of the oleanolic acid-type ginsenosides biosynthetic pathway were in front of the <i>β</i>-amyrin.

本研究对采自种植于吉林的单一居群的西洋参（American ginseng）根中57种人参皂苷（ginsenosides）的含量进行了测定。该居群内人参皂苷的含量与组成存在显著差异。该居群西洋参根中含量最高的人参皂苷为Rg₁或Re，其次依次为Rb₁、丙二酰化Rb₁（mal-Rb₁）、Rd、Rc、拟人参皂苷F₁₁（pseudoginsenoside F₁₁）、Ro以及绞股蓝皂苷XVII。根据Rg₁与Re的相对含量，该居群可被划分为两种化学型（chemotype），二者的人参皂苷谱存在显著差异。原人参二醇型人参皂苷（protopanaxadiol-type ginsenosides）的含量相对稳定。丙二酰化人参皂苷生物合成的限速酶位于其对应中性人参皂苷的上游。齐墩果酸型人参皂苷生物合成通路的调控位点位于β-香树素（β-amyrin）的上游。