[High-speed identification of odor changes and substance basis of Myristicae Semen mildew by electronic nose and HS-GC-MS].

This study adopted headspace-gas chromatography-mass spectrometry(HS-GC-MS) and electronic nose to detect volatile components from Myristicae Semen samples with varying degrees of mildew, aiming at rapidly identifying odor changes and substance basis of Myristicae Semen mildew. The experimental data were analyzed by electronic nose and principal component analysis(PCA). The results showed that Myristicae Semen samples were divided into the following three categories by electronic nose and PCA: mildew-free samples, slightly mildewy samples, and mildewy samples. Myristicae Semen samples with different degrees of mildew greatly varied in volatile components. The volatile components in the samples were qualitatively and quantitatively detected by HS-GC-MS, and 59 compounds were obtained. There were significant differences in the composition and content in Myristicae Semen samples with different degrees of mildew. The PCA results were the same as those by electronic nose. Among them, 3-crene, D-limonene, and other terpenes were important indicators for the identification of mildew. Bicyclo[3.1.0]hexane, 4-methylene-1-(1-methylethyl)-, terpinen-4-ol, and other alcohols were key substances to distinguish the degree of mildew. In the later stage of mildew, Myristicae Semen produced a small amount of hydroxyl and aldehyde compounds such as acetaldehyde, 2-methyl-propionaldehyde, 2-methyl-butyraldehyde, and formic acid, which were deduced as the material basis of the mildew. The results are expected to provide a basis for the rapid identification of Myristicae Semen with different degrees of mildew, odor changes, and the substance basis of mildew.

[Change pattern and correlation analysis of macroscopic characteristics, active components and rancidness degrees of Armeniacae Semen Amarum in deterioration process].

To discuss the effect of deterioration on the quality of Armeniacae Semen Amarum by observing the changes of macroscopic characteristics, active components and rancidness degrees of Armeniacae Semen Amarum in deterioration process. The traditional macroscopic identification was used to observe, identify and classify the morphologic and organleptic characteristics of Armeniacae Semen Amarum. The contents of amygdalin and fatty oil(two representatives of active components) were detected by HPLC and general rule 0713 in Chinese Pharmacopoeia, respectively. Acid value and peroxide value of the samples were selected as the representative indices of different rancidness degrees, and the general rule 2303 was adopted as the method for quantitative analysis. Then principal component analysis(PCA), partial least square analysis discrimination analysis(PLS-DA) were further utilized to establish the discriminative models of samples with different rancidness degrees, and also to screen out the largest contribution factors. In sensory evaluation, Armeniacae Semen Amarum samples were divided into three groups: non-rancid, slightly-rancid, and noticeably-rancid. The color of seed coat, cotyledon and surface of noticeably-rancid samples was deepened, and the odor differed much from non-rancid samples. Average content of amygdalin and fatty oil in non-rancid samples was 4.12% and 67.77%, respectively, both meeting the requirements of Chinese Pharmacopoeia; and decreased to some extent in slightly-rancid samples. However, the content of amygdalin sharply dropped to 0.074% in noticeably-rancid samples. The acid value and peroxide value were increased significantly with the intensifying of the rancidness degree, from only 1.363 and 0.016 74 in non-rancid samples to 1.865 and 0.023 70 in slightly-rancid samples, even doubled in noticeably-rancid samples(2.167 and 0.033 82). The discriminative models established by PCA and PLS-DA could complete the task of distinguishing the non-rancid samples from noticeably-rancid ones. The contribution degree of amygdalin content as one of the input attributes of discriminative model was higher than 1. Rancidness affected the quality of Armeniacae Semen Amarum, resulting in appearance changes, decrease in content of active components, and increase in acid value and peroxide value. Obviously, noticeably-rancid samples were non-conforming to Chinese Pharmacopoeia and no longer suitable for medicinal use. Rancidness can significantly reduce the quality of Armeniacae Semen Amarum, and even could possibly produce toxicity, which should attach more attention.

Identification of Nutmeg With Different Mildew Degree Based on HPLC Fingerprint, GC-MS, and E-Nose.

Nutmeg (Myristicae Semen), the so-called Rou-Dou-Kou in Chinese, is one kind of Chinese herbal medicines (CHMs) as well as a globally popular spice. Hence, its stable quality and safe application attract more attention. However, it is highly prone to mildew during storage due to its rich volatile components and fatty oil. Therefore, in this study, an electronic nose (E-nose) was introduced to attempt to reliably and rapidly identify nutmeg samples with different degrees of mildew. Meanwhile, the chemical composition and volatile oil were analyzed using HPLC fingerprint and GC-MS, respectively, which could support and validate the result of E-nose. The results showed that the cluster results of HPLC fingerprint and GC-MS were generally consistent with E-nose, and they all clustered into two categories. Additionally, a discriminant model was established, which divided the samples into three categories: mildew-free, mildew-slight, and mildew, and a high DPR was obtained, which indicates that the E-nose could be a novel and promising approach for the establishment of a quality evaluation system to identify CHMs with different degrees of mildew rapidly, especially to identify early mildew.