Comparison and Characterization of the Glycome of Panax Species by High-Performance Thin-Layer Chromatography

Multiple species of ginseng are well-known Chinese medicinal herbs. The glycome of Panax species has various beneficial effects; however, studies related to their systematic profiling are very limited. Therefore, the systematic profiling of the glycome of Panax species was investigated in this study. The sugars from different locations and different species of Panax (Panax ginseng, Panax quinquefolium, and Panax notoginseng) were prepared by microwave-assisted extraction. Free mono- and oligo-saccharides were identified by high-performance thin-layer chromatography (HPTLC). Furthermore, polysaccharides were compared and characterized by using saccharide mapping based on HPTLC analysis. The results showed that the mono- and oligo-saccharide in Panax species were similar, including the glucan and pectin type of poly-saccharides in different locations and different species of Panax, respectively. The data are helpful to better understand the glycome of different species of Panax and may contribute to rational usage of polysaccharides from Panax species.