Separation and detection of ginsenosides: Challenges, industrial implications, and developments

Ginsenosides, the bioactive constituents derived from Panax ginseng C.A. Meyer, have attracted increasing attention in the functional food industry owing to their diverse pharmacological activities, particularly their anticancer effects. With the growing global demand for ginsenoside-enriched food products, enhancing the efficiency, selectivity, and scalability of separation and detection techniques has become a critical challenge. Current practices in production often face challenges such as low extraction yields, complex purification processes, and insufficient product purity. Traditional separation methods, such as macroporous resin adsorption (MAR) and liquid-liquid separation (LLS), fall short of meeting the requirements for both performance and sustainability. Similarly, conventional detection approaches, such as high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), are limited by operational complexity and inadequate real-time monitoring capabilities. To overcome these constraints, advanced strategies, including molecularly imprinted polymers, biotransformation, and green solvent systems, have emerged. In parallel, non-destructive analytical platforms, such as near-infrared (NIR) spectroscopy, hyperspectral imaging (HSI), and Raman spectroscopy, are increasingly utilized for rapid, online quality control. This review provides a comprehensive analysis of recent advances in ginsenoside separation and detection technologies. It evaluates their application potential, emphasizing the key challenges and future pathways toward more efficient and large-scale production.