High-Performance Liquid Chromatography Fingerprint Analysis of Smilacis Glabrae Rhizoma and Its Adulterants / 中国药学杂志

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the chemical differences between Smilacis Glabrae Rhizoma and its adulterants, and provide a basis for the identification and quality evaluation of Tufuling samples purchased from the markets. METHODS: The method of HPLC fingerprinting was used to analyze Smilacis Glabrae Rhizoma, Heterosmilacis Chinensis Rhizoma, Heterosmilacis Yunnanensis Rhizoma, and 102 Tufuling samples which were collected around China. The fingerprints were analyzed by the methods of similarity and principal component analysis (PCA). RESULTS: The analytical method of HPLC fingerprinting was established. Eleven, fifteen and eight common peaks were selected in the fingerprints of Smilacis Glabrae Rhizoma, Heterosmilacis Chinensis Rhizoma, and Heterosmilacis Yunnanensis Rhizoma, respectively. Only five common peaks were found in the fingerprints of the three species, which were No. 1, 2, 3, 13, and 14 peaks. A total of twelve peaks were characterized in the three fingerprints. Nine peaks were characterized in the fingerprint of Smilacis Glabrae Rhizoma, among which, four constituents were characterized for the first time. Six and two constituents were for the first time characterized in the fingerprints of Heterosmilacis Chinensis Rhizoma and Heterosmilacis Yunnanensis Rhizoma, respectively. The result of PCA analysis showed that the chemical differences between the three species were quite obvious and they could be distinguished from each other. The established method was used for the analysis of Tufuling samples purchased from the markets. Sixty-five samples were identified as Smilacis Glabrae Rhizoma, seventeen samples were identified as Heterosmilacis Yunnanensis Rhizoma, and twenty samples were identified as Heterosmilacis Chinensis Rhizoma. CONCLUSION: The established method is simple and reliable, and the development of fingerprint and its chemical pattern recognition provide the way and basis for identification of Smilacis Glabrae Rhizoma and its adulterants.