Rapid discrimination of Citrus reticulata 'Chachi' by headspace-gas chromatography-ion mobility spectrometry fingerprints combined with principal component analysis.

Dried pericarps of Citrus reticulata 'Chachi', named Guangchenpi (GCP), have been used as both food and medicine in China for centuries. Due to its special flavour and taste, the price of GCP is much higher than those of dried pericarps from other Citrus reticulata Blanco varieties (collectively called "Chenpi", CP). Therefore, some CP have been disguised has GCP by dishonest businessmen to obtain a higher profit. In this study, a simple, rapid, effective and economic analytical method based on headspace-gas chromatography-ion mobility spectrometry (HS-GC-IMS) was established to discriminate GCP and CP by their volatile organic compounds (VOCs). Principal component analysis (PCA) was performed to extract meaningful attributes from VOCs based on the GC-IMS chromatograms and to give the analysis results. Twelve, 12 and 14 markers were identified and established as the characteristic fingerprints of GCP analysis of 45 batches of samples via SE-54, OV-1701 and Inter Cap WAX gas chromatographic columns, respectively. The PCA results indicated that GCP and CP could be effectively discriminated. This study confirmed the potential of HS-GC-IMS combined with PCA as a reliable analytical screening technique to discriminate between GCP and CP.

[Application of near infrared spectroscopy to identify authenticity of Polygonum multiflorum].

OBJECTIVE: To establish a near-infrared qualitative analysis model to identify the authenticity of Polygonum multiflo- rum and distinguish processed products Polygoni Multiflori Radix. METHOD: The NIR spectra were peformed on over 30 batches of P. multiflorum and Polygoni Multiflori Radix samples and the adulterants Cynanchum bungei, Pteroxygonum giraldii, Polygonum cillinerve to establish the qualitative discriminant model and the conformity test model of Polygonum multifiorum , and cluster analysis was used to analyze the samples from different origins. RESULT: The model is able to identify correctly P. multiflorum with its counterfeit, and distinguish between P. multiflorum and Polygoni multiflori Radix. CONCLUSION: Near-infrared spectroscopy can be applied in the identification of P. multiflorum, which could be used to screen Chinese herbal medicine preliminarily.

[Determination of eighteen elements in Serratulae Chinensis Radix by ICP-MS].

OBJECTIVE: To establish a method for the determination of eighteen elements (Be, Al, Cr, Mn, Ni, Cu, As, Se, Mo, Ag, Cd, Sn, Sb, Ba, Dy, Hg, Tl and Pb) in Serratulae Chinensis Radix by inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrography (ICP-MS). METHODS: After microwave digestion, 18 elements in the samples were determined by ICP-MS and the method was validated. RESULTS: A good linearity of calibration curves was obtained, the mean recovery met the analytical requirement. CONCLUSION: This method is simple, accurate and effective. It provides basis for the research of Serratulae Chinensis Radix.

[Analysis of cadmium in Cortex Ilicis Rotundae].

OBJECTIVE: To study the contents of cadmium in Cortex Ilicis Rotundae and provide evidence for establishing the detection limit of cadmium in its quality standard. METHODS: ICP-MS was used to determine the contents of cadmium in 18 batches of Ilex L. RESULTS: The contents of cadmium in 10 batches of Cortex Ilex Rotunda ranged from 3.4 to 10.4 mg/kg,and the contents of cadmium in Ilex asprella and Ilex pubescents were more than 0.3 mg/kg. CONCLUSION: The contents of cadmium of Cortex Ilicis Rotundae, Ilex asprella and Ilex pubescents have particular characterise, and this study provides a basic for the analysis of cadmium in Cortex Ilicis Rotundace and other plants of this genus.

[Determination of indirubin and indigo in Baphicacanthus cusia (Nees) Bremek by HPLC].

OBJECTIVE: To establish a method for content determination of indirubin and indigo in Baphicacanthus cusia (Nees) Bremek. METHOD: HPLC was used with C18 column, methanol-water (75:25) as mobile phase and detecting wavelength 289 nm. RESULTS: The range linear curve was 3.875 approximately 23.25 microg/ml (indirubin), 3.05 approximately 18.3 microg/ml (indigo). The average recovery was 96.9%, RSD =3.5%, n =5 (indirubin); 96.9% RSD = 2.8%, n = 5 (indigo). CONCLUSION: The method is proper for the quality control of Baphicacanthus cusia (Nees) Bremek.