ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: To improve the quality evaluation method of Fritillariae Cirrhosae Bulbus by the means of objective quantization of appearance character. METHODS: The height and diameter were measured by a vernier caliper. The color of powder was determined by a colorimeter based on the human eye observation. The content of total alkaloids was measured by the ultraviolet spectroscopy. Some correlation analysis between the content of total alkaloids and height, diameter, and △E value were evaluated by a SPSS software, respectively. RESULTS: There were a very significant negative correlation (P0.01) between height and the total alkaloids, a negative correlation between diameter and the total alkaloids, and no significant correlation between △E value and the total alkaloids. CONCLUSION: Because the content of total alkaloids could reflect the quality of Fritillariae Cirrhosae Bulbus objectively, these RESULTS: of this study provide a scientific basis for the traditional ideas of “the smaller the best” and “the broken Fritillariae Cirrhosae Bulbus could not be used as medicine” and affirm the traditional processing technology that “should not be washed by water”. Songbei was the best Fritillariae Cirrhosae Bulbus of them all.
ABSTRACT
Objective:Fresh tubers of Gastrodiae Rhizoma were harvested at the right time. A saline water salting and drying technology was developed for obtaining the medicinal materials of Gastrodiae Rhizoma in the place of origin and avoiding rot and mildew. Method:Fresh tubers of Gastrodiae Rhizoma were dug in Yiliang,Yunnan,Dejiang,Guizhou,and Chenggu,Shaanxi,the experiments of natural drying,and saline water salting and drying were carried out in the place of origin and Beijing. After the dirt was removed,the samples were tiled in a container immediately,added with varied proportions of saline water (0.03-0.10 g·mL-1 NaCl in water),hermetically pickled for 6-15 d. after being soaked and rinsed with water,the samples were put in a cool ventilated place or under sunshine to prepare dried medicinal materials of Gastrodiae Rhizoma. We described the appearance characteristics,measured the moisture content,gastrodin and nitrite. And the appearance was observed after storage in a simple warehouse for one year later. Result:Fresh tubers of Gastrodiae Rhizoma from three origins were naturally dried,the surface of gastrodia tubers became black,decayed and moldy,then we could not get dried medicinal materials. The appearance and the content of gastrodins in the medicinal materials of Gastrodiae Rhizoma processed by saline water salting and drying technology met the requirements for Gastrodiae Rhizoma in the Pharmacopoeia of the People's Republic of China 2015 and relevant standards of nitrite in salted food in National Food Safety Standard Determination of Nitrite and Nitrate in Foods,Hygienic Standard for Preserved Vegetables,Green Food-Soybean Paste and Salted Vegetable. Conclusion:The saline water salting and drying technology is developed to make medicinal materials of Gastrodiae Rhizoma quickly from fresh tubers of Gastrodia elata in the place of origin and Beijing. The metamorphism had not been observed after being stored in simple warehouses for one year. This technology can guarantee the quality of Gastrodiae Rhizoma, and provide a new method for the filed processing of Gastrodiae Rhizoma.
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Objective:To explore the correlation between colors and contents of water and 5-hydroxymethylfurfural (5-HMF) in Ginseng Radix et Rhizoma Rubra (GRRR). Method:The colors were observed under sunlight on a sheet of white paper. The chroma value and color difference were determined and calculated by a colorimeter. Water content was determined by the oven-drying method. An HPLC method was established and used to determine the content of 5-HMF. The correlation was analyzed by the Spearman and Pearson analysis. Result:The colors of GRRR were yellowish-white,ocher-yellow,and yellowish-brown. The values of L*,a*,b*,and ΔE* had a certain range, and could reflect the colors of GRRR. The content of water ranged from 4.01%to 8.31%and was in accordance with the requirement the Chinese Pharmacopoeia. The content of 5-HMF ranged from below the limit of detection (1.985×10-4 μg) to 78.97 μg·g-1. The results of correlation analysis shows significant correlations between L*,a*,b*, ΔE* values and water content, that is to say,the deeper the color was, the higher the content of water was,but with no significant correlation with 5-HMF content. Conclusion:The color of processed GRRR was related to water content but not related to 5-HMF content,which was not consistent with the correlation between color and 5-HMF content that generally existed in a series of raw Chinese medicinal materials. It indicated an essential difference between the color shade of processed Chinese medicinal materials and the cause of color change of raw Chinese medicinal materials. Therefore,it was significant to control water content for ensuring the stability of GRRR. This study determined the colors of GRRR by a colorimeter, systematically determined 5-HMF content,and proposed the effect of water contents on the color of GRRR.
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Objective: To investigate the current harvest,processing,packaging and storage of Lilii Bulbus due to the great difference in quality of commercially available products,in order to realize the factors affecting the quality after harvest and provide reference for the standardized production. Method: A series of factors affecting Lilii Bulbus quality were analyzed comprehensively on the basis of both field survey in main producing areas and medicinal material markets and literature retrieval. Result: The current situation and problems in harvest,initial processing,drying technologies,packaging,and storage were summarized. Conclusion: The harvest link of Lilii Bulbus involves growing years,harvesting time,and collecting methods. The initial processing link involves stripping,cleaning,sulfur fumigation,and many cooking and drying methods. The hot-air,vacuum-freeze,far-infrared,and microwave methods are applied in drying Lilii Bulbus. The main metamorphic phenomena are brown staining,moth biting,and decay in the packaging and storage links. Lilii Bulbus are packed mainly in bulk,and a few of them are packed in plastic bags or vacuum bags for fresh bulbus. Because the operation process is not standard,the cooking and drying methods are the key factors affecting the quality of Lilli Bulbus. It is necessary to establish a scientific and unified standard operating procedure (SOP) for controlling the whole process of Lilii Bulbus in multiple links.
ABSTRACT
Some samples of Asparagi Radix were collected from medical markets.Colors of Asparagi Radix were observed by human vision and recorded to judge whether samples were degenerative.Water content of Asparagi Radix was determined by a drying method.The chroma value and color difference were determined and calculated by a colorimeter.With the deepening of color,the L*value was decreased and a*and ΔE*values were increased.It showed that the results determined by colorimeter can replace the results of visual observation.An HPLC method was established and used to determine the contents of 5-hydroxymethylfurfural(5-HMF) in Asparagi Radix.The results showed the 5-HMF contents were from 0.002 255 to 0.049 14 mg·g-1 in some samples with yellowish-white or yellowish-brown color,significantly increased from 0.080 80 to 0.105 1 mg·g-1 in some samples with brown color,and up to 1.033 mg·g-1 in an oil-spilling sample with dark brown color.This result demonstrated that the 5-HMF contents were significantly increased by accompanied with the deepening of color.There were the significant negatively correlation between the 5-HMF content and the L*value(P<0.01) and positively correlation between the 5-HMF content and the a*or ΔE*value(P<0.01) by the spearman analysis.The oil-spilling and qualified samples were clustered into two alone categories by the cluster analysis.That the limited standards of the 5-HMF content is not higher than 0.02% by HPLC method and of the L*value is not less than 50 by colorimeter method were suggested for Asparagi Radix.It is firstly reported the multiple-factor analysis about oil-spilling and discoloration and the establishment of limited standard of Asparagi Radix.