Species classification and quality assessment of Chaihu (Radix Bupleuri) based on high-performance liquid chromatographic fingerprint and combined chemometrics methods

Abstract

A high-performance liquid chromatographic (HPLC) method was established to analyze 36 Chaihu (Radix Bupleuri) samples collected from three species (Bupleurum chinense DC., B. scorzonerifolium Willd. and B. smithii Wolff.). Addition of trifluoroacetic acid into the mobile phase resulted in fingerprint chromatograms with stable baselines. There were thirty-two characteristic peaks in the standard fingerprint of B. chinense DC. Different recognition pattern methods, including similarity analysis (SA), hierarchical cluster analysis (HCA), principal component analysis (PCA) and partial least squares-discrimination analysis (PLS-DA) were utilized to analyze the 36 samples based on the contents of chemical constituents. Consistent results from SA, HCA and PCA analysis illustrated the rationalisation for why B. smithii Wolff. was not quoted in the Chinese Pharmacopoeia and classified samples were in agreement with their species. PLS-DA loading plots showed the chemical markers which had the most influences on the separation among different species. However, SA, HCA and PCA could not differentiate between wild and cultivated B. chinense DC. as well as between samples from different provinces. HPLC fingerprint in combination with chemometric techniques provided a very flexible and reliable method for homogeneity evaluation and quality assessment of traditional Chinese medicine.

Comparative Analysis of the Complete Plastid Genome of Five Bupleurum Species and New Insights into DNA Barcoding and Phylogenetic Relationship

“…There are many studies focused on chemical components [4,5] and pharmacognosy [6,7], but those involved in the systematics analyses are relatively few. Meanwhile, the mixed usage of different Bupleurum species may bring adverse reactions due to the unawareness of the chemical component [8,9]. Molecular phylogenetic studies based on nuclear ribosomal internal transcribed spacer (nrITS) and plastid DNA introns (rpl16 and rps16) supported a basal position of the genus Bupleurum within subfamily Apioideae, and considered this genus a distinct tribe [10,11].…”

Comparison of chemical profiles between the root and aerial parts from three Bupleurum species based on a UHPLC-QTOF-MS metabolomics approach

“…Today, Chaihu from the species of B. yinchowense Shan et Y. Li has become mainstream in the market. [2] The species of B. yinchowense is abundantly distributed in the Northwest of China and is widely used in folk medicine for relieving fever, soothing liver and improving the symptoms of emotional instability such as depression, anxiety and phobia [3–5]. Additionally, in the Japanese Pharmacopoeia (16th edition), the official botanical origin of Bupleuri Radix (pronounced “saiko” in Japanese) is the roots of B. falcatum L [6].…”

Multi-component analysis in sun-dried and sulfur-fumigated Angelicae Sinensis Radix by single marker quantitation and chemometric discrimination

“…[10] With regard to the ability to identify a particular herb from related species, fingerprint analysis methods have gained more attention than QAMS. Chemical pattern recognition is acknowledged as a more objective and effective quality evaluation method compared with determination of single or multiple markers in medicinal herbs.…”