[Identification of Ginseng and its counterfeit by laser Raman spectroscopy].

The objective of the present study is to identify Ginseng and its false sample: Anthriscus sylvestris, Radix glehniae and balloonflower root by Laser Raman spectroscopy, second derivative Raman spectroscopy. The structural information of the samples indicated that Ginseng and its false samples contains a large amount of carbohydrates, since some characteristic vibration peaks of the carbohydrates, such 1 640, 1 432, 1 130, 1 086, 942, 483 cm(-'1) can be observed. The characteristic vibration peak of Radix glehniae which arouse at 2 206 cm(-1) in the aman spectra, totally different from the other three kinds of traditional Chinese medicines. Anthriscus sylvestris appeare the characteristic vibration peak in 1 050 cm(-1) and the corresponding 1 869 cm(-1) because of the chain ester compounds. The characteristic vibration peak of balloonflower root, such as 1 227, 691, 600 cm(-1) can be observed, significantly different from the other three herbs in the Raman spectra. Further more, the previous identification results can be verified again with second derivative Raman spectroscopy. This identification method is more fast, convenient, and keeping the integrity of the samples than the routine spectroscopic method.