ABSTRACT
Objective: To investigate the HPLC fingerprint of the total organic acids in Pinelliae Rhizoma (the rhizomes of Pinelliae ternate), Pinelliae Rhizoma Praeparatum cum Alumine, Pinelliae Rhizoma Praeparatum cum Zingibere et Alumine, Pinelliae Rhizoma Praeparatum and Pinelliae Rhizoma Praeparatum cum Glycyrrhizae et Alumine, and the its relationship with antitussive effect, and to establish the spectrum-effect relationship of the total organic acids in crude and processed P. ternate and antitussive effect, so as to elucidate their material basis of antitussive effect. Methods: The gray relative analysis method was used to make correspond analysis of the HPLC fingerprints of total organic acids in Pinelliae Rhizoma and processed products related with three antitussive indexes (the latent period, coughing times in 3 min, and inhibitatory rate), establishing the spectrum-effect relationship between them. Results: The total organic acids of crude Pinelliae Rhizoma and its processed products showed the antitussive activity against the ammonium hydroxide-induced mice cough, consist with arresting cough of Pinelliae Rhizoma. The HPLC data demonstrated that the chemical composition represented by peak 4, 6 (succinic acid), and 12 had strong relevancy with anti-tussive activity and made a great contribution to this activity, especially peak 4, which had bigger area and stronger relevancy. Conclusion: This paper reveals that there exists the correlations between the HPLC fingerprints of total organic acids and antitussive effect of crude and processed Pinelliae Rhizoma, elucidating the material basis of antitussive effects in crude and processed P. ternate by the spectrum-effect study, and could provide a theory basis for the quality control and analysis of Pinelliae Rhizoma.