Analysis of quality differences between Scutellaria baicalensis Georgi and Scutellaria rehderiana Diels based on phytochemistry and bioactivity evaluation.

Scutellaria baicalensis Georgi (SG) and Scutellaria rehderiana Diels (SD) belong to the same genus of Scutellaria in the Labiatae (Lamiaceae) family. SG is confirmed as the medicinal source according to the Chinese Pharmacopeia, but SD is often used as a substitute for SG due to its abundant plant resources. However, the current quality standards are far from sufficient to judge the quality differences between SG and SD. In this study, an integrated strategy of "biosynthetic pathway (specificity) - plant metabolomics (difference) - bioactivity evaluation (effectiveness)" was established to evaluate this quality differences. First, an ultrahigh-performance liquid chromatography-quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry (UHPLC-Q/TOF-MS/MS) method was developed for the identification of chemical components. The abundant components information was obtained and the characteristic constituents were screened according to the location in the biosynthetic pathway as well as species specificity. Then, plant metabolomics combined with multivariate statistical analysis to find differential components between SG and SD. The chemical markers for quality analysis were determined based on the differential and characteristic components, and the content of each marker was tentatively evaluated through the semi-quantitative analysis of UHPLC-Q/TOF-MS/MS. Finally, the anti-inflammatory activity of SG and SD was compared by measuring the inhibitory effect on the release of NO from lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated RAW 264.7 cells. Under this analytical strategy, a total of 113 compounds were tentatively identified in both SG and SD, among which baicalein, wogonin, chrysin, oroxylin A 7-O-ß-D-glucuronoside, pinocembrin and baicalin were selected as chemical markers due to their species characteristics and differentiation. The contents of oroxylin A 7-O-ß-D-glucuronoside and baicalin was higher in SG, and the others were higher in SD. In addition, both SG and SD exhibited prominent anti-inflammatory activity, but SD was less effective. The analysis strategy combining phytochemistry and bioactivity evaluation realized the scientific evaluation of the intrinsic quality differences between SG and SD, which provides a reference for fully utilizing and expanding the medicinal resources, and also provides a reference for the comprehensive quality control of herbal medicines.

Study on the processing chemistry of Fructus Psoraleae by a combination of untargeted and targeted metabolomics.

Fructus Psoralea is widely used to treat osteoporosis and skin inflammatory diseases. Because of the side effects on the liver, renal and cardiovascular systems, it is processed to salt-processed Fructus Psoraleae to meet the requirements of clinical use. However, the mechanisms involved in the transformation of the chemical components are unclear. In this study, ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry was used to analyze the chemical profiles of this herbal medicine and the chemical transformation mechanism involved during the salt processing was studied. A total of 83 compounds were identified. Principal component analysis and orthogonal partial least squares discriminate analysis were used to observe the distribution trend of all samples and visualize the difference. Raw and processed Fructus Psoraleae were clearly clustered into two groups. Furthermore, 17 marker compounds were identified as primary contributors to their differences based on t-test analysis (p < 0.01) and orthogonal partial least squares discriminate analysis (variable importance for the projection > 1). Finally, ultra-high performance liquid chromatography coupled with triple quadrupole tandem mass spectrometry was used to evaluate the quality of Fructus Psoraleae by simultaneous analysis of 13 components highly related to efficacy. There were variations in the contents of 13 chemicals of Fructus Psoraleae and salt-processed products. The results of untargeted and targeted metabolomics revealed that salt processing affected the chemical composition of Fructus Psoraleae.

[Rapid quality evaluation of Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma and Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma Praeparata Cum Melle based on color digitization and multi-component determination].

To explore the color value changes after processing and further explore the correlations between color values and internal components, we established a rapid evaluation method for the quality of Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma and Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma Praeparata Cum Melle. In this study, the color values of Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma and Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma Praeparata Cum Melle were digitized by a spectrophotometer, and the standard ranges of color values of the two herbal medicines were established. Further, a discriminant analysis model was established to quickly and accurately distinguish the two herbal medicines. The content of 9 flavonoids and 1 triterpene in Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma and Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma Praeparata Cum Melle were determined by HPLC, and Pearson correlation analysis was adopted to analyze the correlations between the color values and the content of 10 components. The standard ranges of L~*, a~*, and b~* values were 65.539 6-68.305 8, 7.296 3-8.467 3, and 29.998 8-32.212 8 for Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma, and 43.654 3-47.166 4, 14.050 0-15.133 8, and 16.424 6-20.984 8 for Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma Praeparata Cum Melle, respectively. Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma had higher L~* and b~* values and lower a~* value than Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma Praeparata Cum Melle, which indicated that processing with honey decreased the white and yellow values and increased the red value. The original and cross validation of the established discriminant analysis model met the requirements, and the external validation of the model showed the prediction accuracy of 100%. Pearson correlation analysis showed that the a~* value was positively correlated with the content of liquiritin apioside and isoliquiritin apioside(P<0.05), while the L~* and b~* values were negatively correlated with the content of the above two components(P<0.05). After processing with honey, L~* and b~* decreased while a~* increased, and the content of liquiritin apioside and isoliquiritin apioside increased, which was consistent with the content determination results. This study reveals the regularity of the color values of Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma after processing with honey roasting, as well as the correlations between color values and component content, which provides a basis for the rapid quality evaluation of Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma and Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma Praeparata Cum Melle.

Multi-element processed pyritum mixed to ß-tricalcium phosphate to obtain a 3D-printed porous scaffold: An option for treatment of bone defects.

Bone defects remain a challenging problem for doctors and patients in clinical practice. Processed pyritum is a traditional Chinese medicine that is often used to clinically treat bone fractures. It contains mainly Fe, Zn, Cu, Mn, and other elements. In this study, we added the extract of processed pyritum to ß-tricalcium phosphate and produced a porous composite TPP (TCP/processed pyritum) scaffold using digital light processing (DLP) 3D printing technology. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) analysis revealed that TPP scaffolds contained interconnected pore structures. When compared with TCP scaffolds (1.35 ± 0.15 MPa), TPP scaffolds (5.50 ± 0.24 MPa) have stronger mechanical strength and can effectively induce osteoblast proliferation, differentiation, and mineralization in vitro. Meanwhile, the in vivo study showed that the TPP scaffold had better osteogenic capacity than the TCP scaffold. Furthermore, the TPP scaffold had good biosafety after implantation. In summary, the TPP scaffold is a promising biomaterial for the clinical treatment of bone defects.

A new method for detecting Na+ , K+ -ATPase activity by ICP-MS: Quantitative analysis on the inhibitory effect of rhein on Na+ , K+ -ATPase activity by ICP-MS in HCT116 cells.

Rhein is an active component from Chinese herbal medicine. It can cause diarrhea by inhibiting Na+ , K+ -ATPase activity on intestinal epithelial cells, thus decreasing the re-absorption of Na+ from intestinal tract to blood. However, when this Na+ , K+ -ATPase inhibition was quantitated by a colorimetric method that measures ATPase-catalyzed release of inorganic phosphorus, the data obtained were inconsistent and showed great variation. We developed a novel method using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) to quantitate the amount of intracellular Rb+ . This method largely mimics the 86 RbCl tracer flux assay, but it uses non-radioactive RbCl as a flux substrate. The results demonstrated that this method has better precision and accuracy than the conventional colorimetric method. More importantly, this method is free from radioactive substances, which is expected to make it safer and more convenient than the radioactive 86 RbCl tracer flux method. In conclusion, the ICP-MS method for Na+ , K+ -ATPase activity determination is novel and accurate. It can also provide a reference for studying the transport of other metal ions across membranes under biological conditions.

[Study on quality identification of Curcumae Rhizoma from different origins based on quantitative analysis of appearance color and content of main components].

L~*, a~* and b~* values of prepared slices of Curcumae Rhizoma were measured by spectrophotometer. SPSS 21.0 was used for discriminant analysis to establish the color range and mathematical prediction model of prepared slices of Curcumae Rhizoma. The values of L~*, a~* and b~* of kwangsiensis ranged from 58.09-62.40, 4.53-5.66 and 23.61-24.29, while the values of L~*, a~* and b~* of phaeocaulis were between 64.02-70.71,-0.89-4.13 and 44.59-54.52, respectively. The values of L~*, a~* and b~* of wenyujin were 68.55-70.99,-0.11-1.47 and 28.26-32.19, respectively. The mathematical prediction model was proved to be able to realize 100% identification of Curcumae Rhizome of different origins through original and cross validation and external samples validation. A dual wavelength HPLC was established; the contents of 9 sesquiterpenoids and 3 Curcumae Rhizomes were determined simultaneously; and the contents of Curcumae Rhizome of different origins were determined. The results showed that kwangsiensis had higher contents of neocurdione, ß-elemene and isocurcumaenol, phaeocaulis curcumin, furadienone, demethoxycurcumin and curcumin; and wenyujin mainly contained curdione, furadienes and guimarone. Pearson correlation analysis on L~*, a~*, b~* value and content of 12 components showed that curcumin, furadienone, demethoxycurcumin and curcumin had a significant positive correlation with b~* value(P<0.01). There was a significant negative correlation between neocurdione, ß-elemene and isocurcumaenol and L~* value(P<0.01). Curdione, furadienes and guimarone were significantly correlated with L~* value(P<0.01),indicating that the appearance co-lor of Curcumae Rhizoma could reflect the change of the content of the internal components. This study provided reference for the rapid recognition of Curcumae Rhizoma and the establishment of quality evaluation system.

An E-nose and Convolution Neural Network based Recognition Method for Processed Products of Crataegi Fructus.

BACKGROUND: The manual identification of Fructus Crataegi processed products is inefficient and unreliable. Therefore, efficient identification of the Fructus Crataegis' processed products is important. OBJECTIVE: In order to efficiently identify Fructus Crataegis processed products with different odor characteristics, a new method based on an electronic nose and convolutional neural network is proposed. METHODS: First, the original smell of Fructus Crataegis processed products is obtained by using the electronic nose and then preprocessed. Next, feature extraction is carried out on the preprocessed data through convolution pooling layer LCP1, convolution pooling layer LCP2 and a full connection layer LFC. Thus, the feature vector of the processed products can be obtained. Then, the recognition model for Fructus Grataegis processed products is constructed, and the model is trained to obtain the optimized parameters: filters F1 and F2, bias vectors B1, B2, B3, and B4, matrices M1 and M2. Finally, the features of the target processed products are extracted through the trained parameters to achieve accurate prediction. RESULTS: The experimental results show that the proposed method has higher accuracy for the identification of Fructus Crataegis processed products, and is competitive with other machine learning based methods. CONCLUSION: The method proposed in this paper is effective for the identification of Fructus Crataegi processed products.

Analysis of the chemical composition changes of Gardeniae Fructus before and after processing based on ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry.

Gardeniae Fructus, the dry fruit of Gardenia jasminoides Ellis, has been widely used for the treatment of different diseases. Although four types of processed Gardeniae Fructus products, characterized by differing effects, are available for clinical use, little is known regarding the respective processing mechanisms. In this study, ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry combined with multivariate statistical analysis was applied to characterize the chemical profiles of the differently processed Gardeniae Fructus products and to determine differences in their chemical compositions, thereby enabling us to identify those active compounds associated with the observed clinical effects. A total of 125 compounds were accordingly identified, among which, 56 were established as primary contributors to the significant differences (P < 0.01) between crude and processed Gardeniae Fructus, based on t-test analysis. Furthermore, the potential mechanisms underlying the chemical transformations that occurred during processing were discussed. The findings of this study may not only contribute to the more effective quality control of Gardeniae Fructus but also provide basic information for elucidating the mechanisms underlying the changes in chemical constituents in response to processing, and provide a basis for further investigations of Gardeniae Fructus processing mechanisms.

GC-MS based metabolomics uncovers the mechanism of Curcumae rhizoma and Sparganii rhizome on blood stasis syndrome in liver dialysis.

Blood stasis syndrome (BSS) is characterized by blood retardation and is the major cause of some deadly diseases. Some factors that affect BSS have been identified. However, the small molecule that related to BSS is still largely unknown. Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), such as Sanleng and Ezhu, has been used for a long time in treating BSS and promising outcomes have been achieved. However, the mechanism of how they work is unclear. Thus, we constructed the Rat BSS model and treated them with Sanleng and Ezhu. Then, the liver dialysis of those rats was collected and the small molecule metabolites were analyzed by GC-MS based metabolomics approach. Our results showed after Sanleng and Ezhu treatment, several small molecule metabolites were significantly changed metabolites (VIP>1 and P<0.05). Pathway enrichment analysis also showed that Sanleng and Ezhu share the similar mechanism in treating BSS, such as regulating Glyoxylate and dicarboxylate metabolism pathway and energy metabolism. Besides, we also identified some key metabolites that were significantly correlated with BSS. In conclusion, those findings uncover the mechanism of Sanleng and Ezhu in treating BSS.

[Problems and solutions in modern research of traditional Chinese herbal pieces processing technology].

Chinese medicine processing is the main feature that distinguishes traditional Chinese medicine from natural medicine and plant medicine, and is the main feature in clinical medication of traditional Chinese medicine. The research of Chinese medicine processing technology is an important link to realize standardization and standardization of Chinese herbal pieces, with urgent need to attract high attention. At present, there are still many problems in the research of processing technology of Chinese herbal pieces, mainly including inconsistent processing technology, large differences in process technology parameters, and unstable production technology of Chinese herbal pieces, resulting in uncontrollable quality of Chinese herbal pieces and affecting the clinical efficacy of Chinese medicine. This paper focused on the establishment of a unified standard processing technology, and put forward the countermeasures for the processing technology of Chinese medicine based on a comprehensive analysis of the current situations of the processing technology of Chinese herbal pieces, with significance for guiding the establishment of a standardized processing technology of Chinese medicine.

Quality evaluation of raw and processed Crataegi Fructus by color measurement and fingerprint analysis.

Crataegi Fructus and its processed products have been used as a traditional medicine for a long time, and numerous active components are responsible for their curative effects. However, a comprehensive and fast method for the quality control of its processed products is still lacking. In this study, two analytical methods based on color measurements and fingerprint analysis are established. In the color measurements, the color values of the peel and flesh of Crataegi Fructus were evaluated spectrophotometrically. Based on the results, a color reference range was established using percentiles, and the standard color difference value was established using the median color values. Then, the color values of Crataegi Fructus and its processed products were analyzed using Bayes linear discriminant analysis and mathematical functions were built in order to predict the degree of processing. Moreover, high-performance liquid chromatography fingerprint analysis was performed on a Hibar C18 column, and a high-performance liquid chromatography fingerprint pattern was obtained, from which nine peaks were identified. Chemometric methods were successfully applied to differentiate raw and processed Crataegi Fructus.

Qualitative analysis of multiple compounds in raw and prepared Semen Cassiae coupled with multiple statistical strategies.

In China, Semen Cassiae is used clinically to improve eyesight, relieve constipation, and to treat headache and dizziness. Prepared Semen Cassiae is obtained by stir-frying raw Semen Cassiae until it turned dark brown, micro dilatancy, and overflow aroma. After processing, the therapeutic effects change-the purgation effect is alleviated and the hepatoprotective effect is enhanced. To explore the changes in chemical compositions of Semen Cassiae after processing and clarify the material basis of the changed therapeutic effects, an ultra-high performance liquid chromatography with quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry coupled with automated data analysis software and statistical strategy was developed. As a result, 53 compounds in raw Semen Cassiae and 43 compounds in prepared Semen Cassiae were found, a total of 55 chemical compounds were identified. Principle component analysis and t-test were processed by Markerview 1.2.1 software. Finally, 39 peaks were found to be the main contributors to the significant difference (p < 0.05) between raw and prepared Semen Cassiae. Compared with raw Semen Cassiae, 19 peaks showed a higher intensity in prepared Semen Cassiae, while the contents of 20 compounds in prepared Semen Cassiae were lower, most of which belonged to naphthopyrones glycosides and anthraquinone glycosides.

Study of organic acids in Schisandrae Chinensis Fructus after vinegar processing.

The ripened fruit of Schisandrae Chinensis Fructus has unique medical properties in Chinese medicine. It is commonly used after vinegar steaming. Vinegar steaming changes the color of Schisandrae Chinensis Fructus from red to black and enhances its acidic and astringent properties. Lignans are the well-investigated components in this herb. However, Schisandrae Chinensis Fructus is acidic in the theory of Chinese medicine, and whether vinegar processing changes its organic acid components remains largely unknown. In this study, the organic acids in this herb were derived by the method of methyl esterification, and further analyzed by gas chromatography with mass spectrometry. A total of 39 organic acid compounds were identified. Interestingly, Schisandrae Chinensis Fructus after vinegar processing showed a significant increase in the content of levulinic acid as compared to the unprocessed ones. Pharmacological experiments demonstrated that levulinic acid inhibited the contractility of isolated intestine and had an inhibitory effect on the excessive hyperfunction of small intestinal propulsion. Moreover, the extracts of vinegar-processed Schisandrae Chinensis Fructus had a stronger inhibitory on the excessive hyperfunction of small intestinal propulsion than that of unprocessed ones. Taken together, this study offers novel insight into the effect of Schisandrae Chinensis Fructus after vinegar processing.

Reversal of the Apoptotic Resistance of Non-Small-Cell Lung Carcinoma towards TRAIL by Natural Product Toosendanin.

Tumor necrosis factor-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL) selectively triggers cancer cell death via its association with death receptors on the cell membrane, but exerts negligible side effects on normal cells. However, some non-small-cell lung carcinoma (NSCLC) patients exhibited resistance to TRAIL treatment in clinical trials, and the mechanism varies. In this study, we described for the first time that toosendanin (TSN), a triterpenoid derivative used in Chinese medicine for pain management, could significantly sensitize human primary NSCLC cells or NSCLC cell lines to TRAIL-mediated apoptosis both in vitro and in vivo, while showing low toxicity against human primary cells or tissues. The underlying apoptotic mechanisms involved upregulation of death receptor 5 (DR5) and CCAAT/enhancer binding protein homologous protein, which is related to the endoplasmic reticulum stress response, and is further associated with reactive oxygen species generation and Ca2+ accumulation. Surprisingly, TSN also induced autophagy in NSCLC cells, which recruited membrane DR5, and subsequently antagonized the apoptosis-sensitizing effect of TSN. Taken together, TSN can be used to sensitize tumors and the combination of TRAIL and TSN may represent a useful strategy for NSCLC therapy; moreover, autophagy serves as an important drug resistance mechanism for TSN.

DECOCTION PROCESS OPTIMIZATION AND QUALITY EVALUATION OF YI-HUANG DECOCTION BY HPLC FINGERPRINT ANALYSIS.

Yi Huang decoction (YHD) has been used as one of famous traditional formula because of its unique effectiveness against gynecological diseases. YHD is composed of five herbs, including the rootstock of Dioscoma opposita Thunb. (Dioscoreaceae), the kernel of Etayale ferx Salisb. (Nymphaeaceae), the bark of Phellodendron chinense Schneid. (Rutaceae), the seed of Plantago asiatica L. (Plantaginaceae), and the seed of Ginkgo biloba L. (Ginkgoaceae). To effectively control the quality, the processing method for YHD was optimized by means of single factor test as well as orthogonal test in this study. A completely validated method based on HPLC coupled with diode array detector was performed on a Kromasil C(18) column at 30° with mobile phase of 0.1% aqueous phosphoric acid and acetonitrile. As a result, HPLC fingerprint on the basis of the chromatographic data from 32 batches of samples was obtained, which contained 44 common peaks. Among these common peaks, 6 peaks were identified as geniposidic acid, berberine hydrochloride, palmatine hydrochloride, phellodendrine chloride, magnoflorine, and verbascoside, respectively, based on their retention time relative to the standards. Meanwhile, the contents of these 6 compounds were also simultaneously examined. In sum, this study offered valuable information for the proper processing and quality control for YHD.

Positive skeletal effect of two ingredients of Psoralea corylifolia L. on estrogen deficiency-induced osteoporosis and the possible mechanisms of action.

Estrogen replacement therapy (ERT) is utilized as a major regime for treatment of postmenopausal osteoporosis at present. However, long-term supplement of estrogen may cause uterine hyperplasia and hypertension leading to a high risk of endometrial cancer and breast cancer. Psoralea corylifolia L. has long been used as tonic and food additives in many countries. Previous studies had found two ingredients in P. corylifolia L.: bavachin and bakuchiol exhibited osteoblastic activity. The present study was designed to investigate the protective effect of bakuchiol and bavachin on ovariectomy-induced bone loss and explore the possible mechanism. In vivo, bakuchiol and bavachin could prevented estrogen deficiency-induced bone loss in ovariectomized rats without uterotrophic activity. In vitro studies suggested that bakuchiol and bavachin induced primary human osteoblast differentiation by up-regulating the Wnt signalling pathway. This study suggests that such a bone-protective role makes them a promising and safe estrogen supplement for the ERT.

Quality control of Gardeniae Fructus by HPLC-PDA fingerprint coupled with chemometric methods.

The ripe fruits of Gardenia jasminoides Ellis have been used as traditional Chinese medicine to treat diseases for a long history. Lines of evidence demonstrate that multiple active constituents are responsible for the therapeutic effects of this herbal medicine. However, effective methods for quality control of this herbal medicine are still lacking. In this study, a high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) fingerprint analysis was performed on a SinoChrom ODS-BP C18 column (4.6 mm × 250 mm, 5 µm) at 30°C with mobile phase of aqueous solution with 0.1% formic acid and acetonitrile. On the basis of the chromatographic data from 32 batches samples, the HPLC fingerprint pattern containing 27 common peaks was obtained. Among these common peaks, seven peaks were identified by the electrospray ionization-mass spectrometry as geniposidic acid, genipin-1-ß-gentiobioside, chlorogenic acid, geniposide, rutin, crocin-1 and crocin-2 and the contents of these seven compounds were simultaneously determined. Finally, chemometric methods including hierarchical clustering analysis and principal component analysis were successfully applied to differentiate the samples from six producing regions. In sum, the data, as described in this study, offer valuable information for the quality control and proper use of Gardeniae Fructus.

Quality control of processed Crataegi Fructus and its medicinal parts by ultra high performance liquid chromatography with electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry.

Crataegi Fructus, an edible food, has been used as a traditional medicine to treat diseases for many years. There is substantial evidence that multiple constituents are responsible for the beneficial effects of Crataegi Fructus. To effectively control the quality of this herbal medicine, we developed an ultra high performance liquid chromatography with electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry protocol to simultaneously quantify ten compounds (chlorogenic acid, procyanidin B2, l-epicatechin, glucosylvitexin, vitexin-2-O-rhamnoside, vitexin, rutin, hyperoside, isoquercitrin, and quercetin) in Crataegi Fructus. Multiple-reaction monitoring was used for the quantification in the negative mode for 8 min. This proposed method is simple, reliable, sensitive, and specific. Further, the quantification parameters, including linearity, limit of detection, limit of quantification, precision, reproducibility, stability, and accuracy were optimized. The quality of the processed samples of Crataegi Fructus was evaluated using this method. Additionally, the method was successfully used to distinguish the medicinal components, including peel, kernel, and flesh. The data described in this study offer valuable information for the quality control and proper use of Crataegi Fructus.

Quality assessment of raw and processed Arctium lappa L. through multicomponent quantification, chromatographic fingerprint, and related chemometric analysis.

In traditional Chinese medicine, raw and processed herbs are used to treat different diseases. Suitable quality assessment methods are crucial for the discrimination between raw and processed herbs. The dried fruit of Arctium lappa L. and their processed products are widely used in traditional Chinese medicine, yet their therapeutic effects are different. In this study, a novel strategy using high-performance liquid chromatography and diode array detection coupled with multivariate statistical analysis to rapidly explore raw and processed Arctium lappa L. was proposed and validated. Four main components in a total of 30 batches of raw and processed Fructus Arctii samples were analyzed, and ten characteristic peaks were identified in the fingerprint common pattern. Furthermore, similarity evaluation, principal component analysis, and hierachical cluster analysis were applied to demonstrate the distinction. The results suggested that the relative amounts of the chemical components of raw and processed Fructus Arctii samples are different. This new method has been successfully applied to detect the raw and processed Fructus Arctii in marketed herbal medicinal products.

[Fingerprint of Vinegar Processed Genkwa Flos Based on Improving Euclidean Distance].

OBJECTIVE: To improve the traditional fingerprint method to distinguish vinegar processed Genkwa Flos from raw Genkwa Flos. METHODS: Ten batches of Genkwa Flos were collected, processed with vinegar through a standard method, and then analyzed under the optimum HPLC condition. Based on the chromatographic data obtained, a common model of vinegar processed Genkwa Flos fingerprints, including 11 common peaks and the components genkwanin, hydroxygenkwanin, luteolin, apigenin and yuanhuacin were identified, was established. The peak of baicalein, an exogenous component added quantitatively to the samples as an internal standard, was served as the reference peak. The similarity between the test samples and the common model was computed using the improved Euclidean distance method developed in this paper. RESULTS: The similarities between vinegar processed Genkwa Flos samples and the common model were higher than 0.9, whereas those between raw Genkwa Flos and the common model were lower than 0.9. CONCLUSION: The proposed method thus effectively provides a clear distinction between vinegar processed and raw Genkwa Flos samples. The result is helpful to ensure the safe clinical use of the plant and expand the application field of fingerprinting technology.