High Speed, High Resolution Analysis (Part 33) Analysis of Gingerol and Shogaol in Ginger

Importance of the Topic

Ginger (Zingiber officinale) contains bioactive phenolic compounds such as 6-gingerol and 6-shogaol, valued for their antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and therapeutic properties. Accurate determination of these constituents is critical in quality control of herbal medicines, dietary supplements, and food products.

Objectives and Study Overview

This application note presents a rapid, high-resolution ultra-fast liquid chromatography (UFLC) method for simultaneous quantification of 6-gingerol and 6-shogaol in ginger. Using a Prominence UFLC system coupled with a photodiode array detector (SPD-M20A), the study evaluates method performance in terms of linearity, repeatability, and suitability for real samples.

Methodology and Instrumentation

Sample Preparation:

• Weigh 1 g of fresh or dried ginger and homogenize with 3 mL of methanol.
• Centrifuge at 5 000 rpm for 5 min and collect the supernatant.
• Extract the residue with an additional 2 mL of methanol, combine extracts, and filter before injection.

Chromatographic Conditions:

• Column: Shim-pack XR-ODS (75 mm × 3.0 mm I.D., 2.2 µm particle size).
• Mobile Phase: A = water; B = acetonitrile with a gradient from 30 % to 90 % B in 2.10 min, hold at 90 % to 2.50 min, ramp to 100 % at 2.51 min, hold to 3.50 min, then re-equilibrate to 30 % B at 3.51 min.
• Flow Rate: 1.0 mL/min; Injection Volume: 2 µL; Column Temperature: 40 °C.
• Detection: Photodiode array at 280 nm (slit width 8 nm), semi-micro flow cell.

Main Results and Discussion

The method achieved baseline separation of 6-gingerol (peak 1) and 6-shogaol (peak 2) within a total run time of 3.5 min. Calibration curves were linear over 1.0–250 mg/L with correlation coefficients (R2) exceeding 0.9999 for both analytes. Repeatability (n = 6) showed RSD values of 0.19 % for 6-gingerol and 0.41 % for 6-shogaol. Chromatograms of ginger extract demonstrated matching retention times and spectral profiles when overlaid with standards, confirming method specificity.

Benefits and Practical Applications

• High throughput analysis enabling rapid screening of ginger-based products.
• Excellent resolution and sensitivity for trace-level detection.
• Reduced solvent consumption and short analysis time increase laboratory efficiency.
• Method robustness supports routine quality control in research, pharmaceutical, and food laboratories.

Future Trends and Applications

Ongoing developments may integrate mass spectrometric detection for structural confirmation of gingerol homologs, miniaturized sample preparation for on-site testing, and adaptation of the protocol to other botanicals. Coupling with automated data processing and digital quality assurance platforms can further enhance throughput and reproducibility.

Conclusion

A rapid UFLC method has been validated for simultaneous quantification of 6-gingerol and 6-shogaol in ginger. The approach delivers high resolution, excellent linearity, and repeatability, making it suitable for routine quality assurance of herbal and nutraceutical products.