Analysis and Evaluation of Mineral Elements in Gastrodia elata with Different Specifications and Grades from Diverse Producing Areas / 中国实验方剂学杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective:To study the distribution characteristics of mineral elements in <italic>Gastrodia elata </italic>samples<italic> </italic>with different grades and specifications （variants） from diverse producing areas and their classification and identification evidences. Method:Fourteen mineral elements in 31 batches of <italic>Gastrodia elata</italic> samples of different grades and specifications （variants） from diverse producing areas were determined by atomic absorption spectrophotometry， Mo-Sb colorimetry， and curcumin colorimetry， and then subjected to correlation analysis （CA）， discriminant analysis （DA）， and principal component analysis （PCA）. Result:The content of K， N， and P in <italic>G. elata</italic> was the highest， enabling them to serve as the nutritional limiting factors affecting its growth. The <italic>G. elata</italic> samples could be identified by the variation trend of elements （K>N>P>Mg>Ca>Fe>B>Zn>Mn>Cu>Ni>Cr>Pb>Cd）. The comparison of <italic>G. elata</italic> samples from multiple producing areas showed that <italic>G. elata</italic> from Zhaotong has the highest P， Fe， and Cd content， that from Lijiang the highest K content， that form Luotian the highest Zn and Cr content， and that from Jinzhai the highest Cu and Pb content. The content of Mg， B， Pb， and Cr in <italic>G. elata</italic> f. <italic>elata</italic> was higher than that in <italic>G. elata </italic>f. <italic>glauca</italic>. It was found that the content of P， Cu， and Cd in commercially available <italic>G. elata </italic>products gradually increased with the decrease in the commercial grade， while that of Mg， Fe， B， and Ni mostly decreased. As revealed by CA， Fe was positively correlated with Mg， Cr， and B. The producing areas of <italic>G. elata</italic> samples could be effectively identified by DA with Cd， Pb， Cr， Cu， B， and Ni as the main variables， and the accuracy reached up to 85.71%. According to the PCA of mineral elements in <italic>G. elata</italic> f. <italic>glauca</italic> from Zhaotong， Yunnan Province， Fe， Cr， Mg， Cd， P， Mn， B， Pb， and Cu exerted a greater influence on <italic>G. elata</italic>. Conclusion:The determination of mineral elements in <italic>G. elata</italic> samples contributes to identifying their authenticity and origin due to the easy operation， accurate results， and good stability.