Validation and analysis of the geographical origin of Angelica sinensis (Oliv.) Diels using multi-element and stable isotopes

Abstract

Background Place of origin is an important factor when determining the quality and authenticity of Angelica sinensis for medicinal use. It is important to trace the origin and confirm the regional characteristics of medicinal products for sustainable industrial development. Effectively tracing and confirming the material’s origin may be accomplished by detecting stable isotopes and mineral elements. Methods We studied 25 A. sinensis samples collected from three main producing areas (Linxia, Gannan, and Dingxi) in southeastern Gansu Province, China, to better identify its origin. We used inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) and stable isotope ratio mass spectrometry (IRMS) to determine eight mineral elements (K, Mg, Ca, Zn, Cu, Mn, Cr, Al) and three stable isotopes (δ13C, δ15N, δ18O). Principal component analysis (PCA), partial least square discriminant analysis (PLS-DA) and linear discriminant analysis (LDA) were used to verify the validity of its geographical origin. Results K, Ca/Al, δ13C, δ15N and δ18O are important elements to distinguish A. sinensis sampled from Linxia, Gannan and Dingxi. We used an unsupervised PCA model to determine the dimensionality reduction of mineral elements and stable isotopes, which could distinguish the A. sinensis from Linxia. However, it could not easily distinguish A. sinensis sampled from Gannan and Dingxi. The supervised PLS-DA and LDA models could effectively distinguish samples taken from all three regions and perform cross-validation. The cross-validation accuracy of PLS-DA using mineral elements and stable isotopes was 84%, which was higher than LDA using mineral elements and stable isotopes. Conclusions The PLS-DA and LDA models provide a theoretical basis for tracing the origin of A. sinensis in three regions (Linxia, Gannan and Dingxi). This is significant for protecting consumers’ health, rights and interests.

Volatile flavour identification and odour complexity of radix Angelicae sinensis by electronic nose, integrated gas chromatography–mass spectrometry/olfactometry and comprehensive two‐dimensional gas chromatography‐time‐of‐flight‐mass spectrometry

“…The second way is quality analysis, either covering the determination of organic compositional substances and inorganic elements, 24 or presenting the (phyto)chemical and medicinal aspects. However, the quality analysis requires advanced instruments and analytical techniques, such as gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC–MS), 25 high‐performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), 26 ultrahigh‐performance liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry (UPLC–MS), 27 near‐infrared spectroscopy (NIRS), 28 inductively coupled plasma‐mass spectrometry (ICP‐MS), 7 and so on. The volatiles of DG are important bioactive substances 29,30 and mainly responsible for the specific odours different to other herbs 31 .…”

“…Many studies showed that DG herb consists of a large variety of volatile substances, 2 polysaccharides, 3 organic acids, 4 amino acids, 5 vitamins, 6 and microelements, 7 among others. 8 These phytochemicals have made DG play a vital role in its applications as a health food.…”

“…This was primitively described in an ancient, authoritative Chinese medicine classic named the Shennong's Classic of Materia Medica ( ad 200–300, Han Dynasty). Many studies showed that DG herb consists of a large variety of volatile substances, 2 polysaccharides, 3 organic acids, 4 amino acids, 5 vitamins, 6 and microelements, 7 among others 8 . These phytochemicals have made DG play a vital role in its applications as a health food 6 .…”

The Dynamic Accumulation Rules of Chemical Components during the Medicine Formation Period of Angelica sinensis and Chemometric Classifying Analysis for Different Bolting Times Using ATR-FTIR

“…Diels (Umbelliferae) (A. sinensis) is a biennial medicinal plant that thrives in cold and damp hillside areas in regions at elevated altitudes between 2200 and 3000 m [1,2]. Min County in the Gansu Province of China is the largest A. sinensis production area, accounting for 70% of China's total production [3]. The dried rhizome of A. sinensis (AS) has a long history of use as a hematopoietic and anti-inflammatory agent in traditional herbal medicine.…”