Discrimination of the origin of commercial red ginseng concentrates using LC-MS/MS and electronic nose analysis based on a mass spectrometer

The geographical origin of commercial red ginseng concentrates was studied using LC-MS/MS and electronic nose analysis based on mass spectrometry. For LC-MS/MS, the Ra1, Rb1, Rg2 ginsenosides showed large differences between Korean and Chinese varieties. Rh2 and F2 were found only in Chinese red ginseng concentrate. Ion fragments were obtained using an electronic nose. Discriminant function analysis of fragment patterns allowed grouping into Korean, Chinese, and suspect origin concentrates. The mixing ratios of suspect origin specimens were predicted based on analysis of different mixing ratios of known specimens of Korean and Chinese origin. LC-MS/MS and electronic nose analysis together allowed method advantages and disadvantages to complement and compensate.