Comparative Tissue Distribution and Pharmacokinetics Studies of Saponins from Six Ginseng Species in Rats: Integration of Desorption Electrospray Ionization–Mass Spectrometry Imaging and Liquid Chromatography/Mass Spectrometry Analysis

This study employed a multiplatform approach to compare in vivo exposure of saponins across six ginseng species, namely Panax ginseng (PG), red ginseng (RG), P. quinquefolius (PQ), P. notoginseng (PN), P. japonicus (PJ), and P. japonicus var. major (PJm). A strategy combining in-source fragmentation tracing with liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry was developed, facilitating characterization of 242 ginsenoside prototypes and metabolites. Tissue distribution patterns were visualized through desorption electrospray ionization mass spectrometry imaging (DESI-MSI), revealing significant accumulation of specific ginsenosides in the heart and kidney of rats. Pharmacokinetics of eight ginsenosides were analyzed by scheduled multiple reaction monitoring. PN had the highest exposure to ginsenosides Rb1 and Rd, while PQ showed high ginsenoside Rb1 but low ginsenoside Re levels. PJ and PJm had low exposure to oleanolic acid-type ginsenosides. This study elucidated the in vivo behavior of ginsenosides simultaneously across six ginseng species, providing insights for their quality control and functional application.