Comparison of metabolites and variety authentication of Amomum tsao-ko and Amomum paratsao-ko using GC-MS and NIR spectroscopy.

Amomum tsao-ko, as an edible and medicinal variety, has been cultivated for more than 600 years in China. Recently, two cultivars, A. tsao-ko and Amomum paratsao-ko, were found in A. tsao-ko planting area. The two cultivars are often confused because of the similar phenotype and difficult to distinguish through sensory judgment. In this study, the non-targeted gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) metabolomics combined with near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) were used for dissecting the two cultivars with phenotypic differences. According to principal component analysis (PCA) loading diagram and orthogonal partial least squares discriminant analysis (OPLS-DA) S-plot of the metabolites, the accumulation of major components including 1,8-cineole, α-phellandrene, (E)-2-decenal, (-)-ß-pinene, (E)-2-octenal, 1-octanal, D-limonene, and decanal, were present differences between the two cultivars. Seven metabolites potential differentiated biomarkers as ß-selinene, decamethylcyclopentasiloxane, (E,Z)-2,6-dodecadienal, (E)-2-hexenal, (E)-2-decenal, isogeranial, 1,8-cineole and ß-cubebene were determined. Although A. tsao-ko and A. paratsao-ko belong to the same genera and are similar in plant and fruit morphology, the composition and content of the main components were exposed significant discrepancy, so it is necessary to distinguish them. In this study, the discriminant model established by GC-MS or NIRS combined with multivariate analysis has achieved a good classification effect. NIRS has the advantages of simple, fast and nondestructive and can be used for rapid identification of varieties and fruit tissues.

[Macroscopic and microscopic identification of Amomum tsao-ko and Amomum paratsao-ko fruits].

OBJECTIVE: To compare macroscopic and microscopic characteristics of the fruits of Amomum tsao-ko and Amomum paratsao-ko. METHODS: Transverse section and powder of pericarp and seeds of these two species were identified. RESULTS: The fruits of Amomum tsao-ko and Amomum paratsao-ko had similar microscopic characteristics. They could be distinguished from each other by the peri-carp color, furrows and ribs, and the shape of seeds. CONCLUSION: Above characteristics can be used as basis of pharmacognostical study of Amomum tsao-ko and Amomum paratsao-ko.

[Studied on the identification of Fructus amomi from its confusable varieties by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy].

This paper uses Fourier transform infrared spectrometer with OMNI sampler to distinguish Fructus amomi from their confusable varieties, i. e. Amomum aurantiacum H. T. Tsai et S. W. Zhao, Amomum chinense Chun ex T. L. Wu, Alpinia chinensis (Ketz.) Rosc and Alpinia japonica (Thunb.) Miq. IRs of Amomum villosum Lour., Amomum longiligulare T. L. Wu and Amomum villosum Lour. Var xanthioides T. L. Wu et Senjen are resemble, and they are markedly different from the FTIR of the confusable varieties. Repeat experiments were processed with different samples of the same set, and the probability is 1.000. The result shows that FTIR can be directly used to distinguish Fructus amomi from their confusable varieties.

[Analysis of Amomun villosum species and some adulterants of zingiberaceae by RAPD].

Different Amomum villosum Lour. species and some their adulterants of Zingiberaceae were researched using RAPD. The PCR indicates favourable differentiation of the reaction. The Amomum villosum Lour. species have the similar DNA fingerprints while it is obviously differ from adulterants. There are 12.17 percent of primers which appear polymorphism. We can identify different species according to these dissimilarity. We also construct the tree of the molecular evolution through NJ software, the hereditary distance of the graph shows different relationships between Amomum villosum Lour. species and their adulterants. The result created by software is analogous the traditional methods.

[Studies on quality standard of Fructus Amomi].

OBJECTIVE: To study the quality standard of different parts and species of Fructus Amomi from different producing. METHOD: GC method, ash determination and water determination. RESULT: The contents of bornyl acetate in different parts and species of Fructus Amomi from different producing areas were obviously different, but the traditional curative effects remained unchanged. The standards for the total ash content, acid-insoluble ash content and water content in Fructus Amomi have been set up. CONCLUSION: Bornyl acetate with a definite content limit should be chosen as the index in studying the quality standard of Fructus Amomi.