ABSTRACT
Objective:To establish the grade evaluation standard of Salviae Miltiorrhizae Radix et Rhizoma decoction pieces combining traditional character evaluation and modern intrinsic quality analysis. Method:The appearance character parameters （thickness and weight） and contents of internal index components （tanshinones and salvianolic acid B） of 18 batches of Salviae Miltiorrhizae Radix et Rhizoma decoction pieces were determined， and the relative quality constant was calculated. The maximum value of the percentage quality constants of the tested samples was assumed to be 100%， the value ≥80% was classified as the first-class， ≥50% and <80% as the second-class， <50% as the third-class. Result:The relative quality constants of 18 batches of Salviae Miltiorrhizae Radix et Rhizoma decoction pieces ranged from 349 to 884. According to the percentage quality constant， 18 batches of samples were successfully divided into three grades. The relative quality constant of the first-class product was ≥707， including samples ds5， ds8 and ds14， accounting for about 17% of the total number of samples. The relative quality constant of the second-class product was ≥442 and <707， accounting for about 61% of the total number of samples. the other samples were of the third-class， and their relative quality constants were all <442. Conclusion:The method of relative quality constant overcomes the one-sidedness of the single method in the grade evaluation of Salviae Miltiorrhizae Radix et Rhizoma decoction pieces， and the evaluation results can objectively， reasonably and scientifically classify the grade of the decoction pieces， which can provide reference for the establishment of the grade standard of other decoction pieces.
ABSTRACT
Objective::To establish a scientific and reasonable grade evaluation standard for Polygoni Multiflori Caulis. Method::The quality constant method was used to conduct a grade evaluation study on Polygoni Multiflori Caulis. A total of 16 batches of samples were collected from Chinese herbal slices enterprises and medicinal materials markets. By measuring its appearance traits (average quality and average thickness of the decoction pieces) and the intrinsic quality indicators (content of 2, 3, 5, 4′-tetrahydroxystilbene-2-O-β-D-glucoside), then its quality constant and percentage quality constant were calculated comprehensively, finally, the grades of Polygoni Multiflori Caulis were classified by quality constant method. Result::The quality constant of 16 batches of the decoction pieces was 0.054-0.417, and the percentage quality constant was 12.98-100.00.If these samples were divided into three grades, the quality constant shall be ≥0.334 for the first-grade decoction pieces, the quality constant shall be <0.334 and ≥0.209 for the second-grade decoction pieces, while for the third-grade decoction pieces, the quality constant shall be <0.209. Conclusion::The grade evaluation method based on quality constant can overcome the shortcomings of traditional evaluation method for decoction pieces, and can realize scientific, objective and simple classification of Polygoni Multiflori Caulis. This study enriches the research data of modern grade evaluation of Polygoni Multiflori Caulis, and provides reference for grade evaluation and market circulation of other decoction pieces.