This study aims to evaluate the quality consistency of Saposhnikoviae Radix based on
carbohydrates, and explore the potential of
carbohydrates as the internal
quality control indicators of Saposhnikoviae Radix. The total
polysaccharides were quantified by UV-Vis
spectrophotometry and the
molecular weight range of the
polysaccharides was determined by high performance gel-permeation
chromatography-evaporative
light scattering
detection(HPGPC-ELSD). The
monosaccharides in
polysaccharides and the free
monosaccharides were quantified by
high performance liquid chromatography-UV
detection(
HPLC-UV), and the
oligosaccharides and
fructose were quantified by
high performance liquid chromatography-evaporative
light scattering
detection(
HPLC-ELSD). The
carbohydrate-based quality of Saposhnikoviae Radix was compared among 45 batches of commercial samples and 13 batches of
self-collected samples. The results showed that the
molecular weight distribution,
monosaccharide composition,
oligosaccharide, and free
monosaccharide composition were
similar in the 58 batches of samples. The average content of total
polysaccharides,
oligosaccharides, and total free
monosaccharides in commercial samples were 39.66, 148.79, and 68.62 mg·g~(-1), respectively. The content showed significant differences among batches, with the highest differences of 3.51, 1.75, and 2.58 times, respectively. The RSD of the relative ratios of
monosaccharides in the
polysaccharides in commercial samples reached 28%-45%. The average content of total
polysaccharides,
oligosaccharides, and total free
monosaccharides in
self-collected samples were 68.07, 145.76, and 42.04 mg·g~(-1), respectively, with the inter-region differences of 2.88, 1.88, and 1.07 times, respectively. The RSD of the relative ratios of
monosaccharides in
polysaccharides in
self-collected samples ranged from 8.2% to 59%. The total
polysaccharides and total free
monosaccharides in
self-collected samples were 1.72 times higher and 1.63 times lower, respectively, than those in commercial samples. The content of
oligosaccharides was
similar between
self-collected samples and commercial samples. To sum up,
carbohydrates are one of the material bases for the internal quality consistency of Saposhnikoviae Radix. The qualitative characteristics of
polysaccharides and the quantitative characteristics of
polysaccharides and
oligosaccharides are related to the origin of medicinal materials. Moreover, the quantitative characteristics of
polysaccharides and free
monosaccharides may be related to the storage conditions.
Carbohydrates are potential
indicators for the
quality control of Saposhnikoviae Radix and deserve
attention.