INTRODUCTION: Caragana jubata Poir (CJ) and Caragana changduensis Liou f. (CC) are the two main original plants of Lignum Caraganae (LIC, a clinically effective Tibetan materia medica) and the red heartwoods of CJ and CC have been used for the treatment of polycythemia, hypertension and menstrual disorders. OBJECTIVE: To establish a comprehensive method for rapid quality assessment of LIC based on revealing the characteristic components of LIC and to discriminate the plant sources and LIC from its adulterations. METHODOLOGY: A multi-index and synthetically balanced orthogonal design L9 (34 ) experiment was performed to obtain an efficient ultrasonic extraction condition of LIC sample. High-performance liquid chromatography coupled with an ultraviolet detector (HPLC-UV) techniques were developed for fingerprinting and quantitative analysis of 14 major compounds in LIC, and the main components were identified by HPLC tandem mass spectrometry (HPLC-MS/MS). HPLC fingerprint and chemometrics analysis were employed to visualise the distinction and relationship of LIC obtained from CJ and CC and to determine their potential characteristic markers. RESULTS: Fourteen compounds including a new compound were identified and quantified in LIC. The potential characteristic markers in LIC were identified based on qualitative and fingerprint analysis. The hierarchical cluster analysis (HCA) and principle component analysis (PCA) showed obvious discrimination between LIC obtained from CJ and CC. Five batches of LIC samples were authenticated, and its adulterations were successfully found. CONCLUSION: A facile HPLC combined with fingerprint and chemometrics methods could rapidly evaluate the quality of LIC and discriminate LIC obtained from CJ and CC.
INTRODUCTION:Caragana jubata Poir (CJ) and Caragana changduensis Liou f. (CC) are the two main original plants of Lignum Caraganae (LIC, a clinically effective Tibetan materia medica) and the red heartwoods of CJ and CC have been used for the treatment of polycythemia, hypertension and menstrual disorders. OBJECTIVE: To establish a comprehensive method for rapid quality assessment of LIC based on revealing the characteristic components of LIC and to discriminate the plant sources and LIC from its adulterations. METHODOLOGY: A multi-index and synthetically balanced orthogonal design L9 (34 ) experiment was performed to obtain an efficient ultrasonic extraction condition of LIC sample. High-performance liquid chromatography coupled with an ultraviolet detector (HPLC-UV) techniques were developed for fingerprinting and quantitative analysis of 14 major compounds in LIC, and the main components were identified by HPLC tandem mass spectrometry (HPLC-MS/MS). HPLC fingerprint and chemometrics analysis were employed to visualise the distinction and relationship of LIC obtained from CJ and CC and to determine their potential characteristic markers. RESULTS: Fourteen compounds including a new compound were identified and quantified in LIC. The potential characteristic markers in LIC were identified based on qualitative and fingerprint analysis. The hierarchical cluster analysis (HCA) and principle component analysis (PCA) showed obvious discrimination between LIC obtained from CJ and CC. Five batches of LIC samples were authenticated, and its adulterations were successfully found. CONCLUSION: A facile HPLC combined with fingerprint and chemometrics methods could rapidly evaluate the quality of LIC and discriminate LIC obtained from CJ and CC.