Comprehensive quality of Epimedii Folium from different botanical origins
AIM To study the comprehensive quality of Epimedii Folium from different botanical origins,and to provide a basis for its quality assessment to ensure its further development and utilization.METHODS The analysis was performed on a 30℃ thermostatic Agilent ZORBAX SB-C18 column (4.6 mm×250 mm,5μm),with the mobile phase comprising of acetonitrile-0.1% phosphate flowing at 1 mL/min in a gradient elution manner,and the detection wavelength was set at 270 nm.With regard to the established HPLC fingerprints,the twenty-nine batches of samples achieved their chemical pattern recognition by using cluster analysis,principal component analysis and orthogonal partial least squares-discriminant analysis.RESULTS Among the twelve common peaks in the fingerprint of twenty-nine batches of samples,five were identified,sharing a similarity within the range of 0.235-0.999.Displaying significant content differences in epimedin A,epimedin B,epimedin C,icariin,and pogostemin I.Each batch of E.Folium of different origins categorized into 4 types was observed with peak 3,epimedin B,epimedin C,and icariin as the main components.CONCLUSION This method of strong specificity,stability and reliability can be applicable in the quick identification of E.Folium from different botanical origins and its quality assessment.