ABSTRACT
Objective: To establish a method of UPLC-UV-ELSD fingerprint and chemical pattern recognition which could provide a reliable evidence for the scientific evaluation and quality control for the roots of Panax quinquefolius, based on clustering analysis, principal component analysis, and similarity assessment techniques. Methods: The chromatographic separation was achieved on Waters Acquity UPLC system, TUV detector, and ELSD detector, performed on Acquity UPLC™ BEH C18 column (50 mm × 2.1 mm, 1.7 μm) and gradient eluted with acetonitrile-water, and the column temperature was maintained at 30℃; The detection wavelength was set at 203 nm; The temperature of drift tube was maintained at 50℃, sprayer parameter was 50%, and nitrogen pressure was 275.8 kPa The common mode of UPLC fingerprint for the roots of P. quinquefolius was set up. There were 12 common peaks in the fingerprints, with 10 reference substance identified ten common peaks, the PCA analysis showed that ginsenosides Rg1, Re, Rc, Rb2, and Rb3 in the roots of P. quinquefolius in Beijing, Jilin, and Heilongjiang regions distinguish from the United States, Shandong and Shaanxi, while ginsenosides Rg2, Rb1, and Rd conversely. Conclusion: This method has the advantages of high reproducibility and stability, and it can be used to control the quality of the roots in P. quinquefolius.