RESUMO
Objective: In this study, the wild and cultivated licorice of Gansu representative regions (Hexi, Longzhong and Longdong) were measured and analyzed by multi-index components combined with chemometrics methods, which will provide scientific basis for the evaluation of the quality of licorice and the suitable producing areas in Gansu Province. Methods: Seven main bioactive components (glycyrrhizin, liquiritin, isoliquiritin, liquiritin apioside, isoliquiritin apioside, liquiritigenin and isoliquiritigenin) in 25 batches of licorice samples were simultaneously determined by HPLC-DAD to comprehensively evaluate the quality of licorice combined with factor analysis and cluster analysis. Results: Factor analysis showed that there was a strong correlation between the first common factor and glycyrrhizin, liquiritin and isoliquiritin; and between the second common factor and liquiritigenin, isoliquiritigenin. The variance contribution rate of two common factors was 84.28%, which reflected licorice quality overall. And cluster analysis showed that the quality of 3-year-old licorice (Glycyrrhizae Radix) cultivated in Hangjinqi of Inner Mongolia was the best, followed by that cultivated in Hexi and Longxi of Gansu Province. The quality of licorice in Longzhong of Gansu Province was worse. Conclusion: These results showed that it was more suitable to develop licorice planting in Longxi and Hexi area in Gansu Province. The overall evaluation of multi-index components and chemometrics has reference value for quality control of licorice and optimization its suitable planting areas.