ABSTRACT
<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To compare 39 root samples of Angelica sinensis and A. acutiloba from China and Japan for the quality control of Chinese Angelica.</p><p><b>METHOD</b>An HP-5 (0.32 mm x 30 m, 0.25 microm) column was used for the GC-MS analysis. The oven temperature was programmed from 120 degrees C to 280 degrees C at a rate of 5 degrees C x min(-1). Using principal component analysis, cluster analysis, and discriminant analysis on the sample fingerprints for chemical pattern recognition research.</p><p><b>RESULT</b>Z-Ligustilide was the key principle distinguishing Chin samples from Japan. Moreover, using discriminant analysis, seven samples (four of A. sinensis, three of A. acutiloba) were validated. All samples tested were successfully classified according to their species origin.</p>