ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: To establish a rapid approach for quality evaluation of Huoxiang Zhengqi Tincture. METHODS: Fingerprint was established by ultra performance liquid chromatography (UPLC) method and method evaluation was performed. By comparing with reference substances, reference drugs and reference extractives, the characteristic peaks and their ascriptions were investigated. Twenty-eight batches of samples from 13 manufactures were determined and their fingerprints were compared. Then two dimensional hierarchical cluster analysis (2D-HCA) and principal analysis (PCA)were applied in pattern recognition. RESULTS: Eighteen characteristic peaks were mainly related to Magnoliae Officinalis Cortex, Citri Pericarpium Reticulatae, Angelicae Dahuricae Radix, Extractum Glycyrrhizae, Atractylodis Rhizoma and patchouli oil. The UPLC fingerprints of samples from different manufacturers differed a lot. The results of 2D-HCA and PCA were consistent, which indicated that the fingerprints of the samples from the same manufacturer could cluster to their own group and the characteristic peaks of honokiol, magnolol and hesperidin showed the greatest impact on the fingerprints. CONCLUSION: UPLC fingerprinting with aid of chemometric analysis is rapid, simple, objective and easy to realize digitalization, thus providing a novel way for quality evaluation of Huoxiang Zhengqi Tincture.