Abstract: A rapid approach to detect ginsenosides has been developed based on nano electrospray extractive ionization (NanoEESI) tandem mass spectrometry. The raw extract of ginseng roots were directly introduced to the gasless nanoEESI source for production of sodiated ions of ginsenosides, without any chromatographic separation. The signals of sinsenosides [M+Na]+ were identified by tandem mass spectrometry. The characteristic fragmentation patterns were therefore used as the molecular markers to differentiate ginseng roots from platycodon grandiflorum and phytolacca acinosa rox, where are two typical plant roots illicitly used as ginseng roots on the herb medicine market. Acceptable sensitivity, reproducibility and fast speed were obtained for the samples tested, showing that nano extractive electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry is a useful technique for fast screening ginseng products or other traditional Chinese medicinal materials.

Key words: NanoEESI, mass spectrometry, ginsenosides, rapid analysis