Abstract:

The effects of five operating parameters including extraction methods, temperature, time, entrainer amount
and the number of repeated extractions on the yield of ginsenosides from Panax ginseng by supercritical carbon dioxide
extraction were investigated. An orthogonal array design was applied to optimize these parameters. Determination of
ginsenoside Rg1, Re, Rb1, Rc, Rb2 and Rd in extracts was performed by high performance liquid chromatography
(HPLC). The results indicated that the yield of total ginsenosides from 100 g of ginseng powder by pre-soaking combined
with dynamic extraction was (1.1053 ± 0.0491)%, and the yields of ginsenoside Rg1, Re, Rb1, Rc, Rb2 and Rd were
(0.1862 ± 0.0205)%, (0.1710 ± 0.0114)%, (0.3656 ± 0.0306)%, (0.1408 ± 0.0033)%, (0.1370 ± 0.0121)%,
(0.1047 ± 0.0061)%, respectively, when 200 mL of 70% ethanol was used as the entrainer for 4 h extraction at 30 MPa
and 45 ℃ repeated twice. Although the yield of ginsenosides by supercritical carbon dioxide extraction was relatively lower
compared with the conventional solvent extraction method, the advantages including simple separation procedure, no solvent
contamination and protecting heat-sensitive components were incomparable to other extraction methods.

Key words: supercritical carbon dioxide extraction, ginsenosides, high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC)