[Vectorial angle method for evaluating the similarity between two chromatographic fingerprints of Chinese herb].
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the similarity between two chromatographic fingerprints automatically with computer.


METHODS
Chromatogram can be treated as vector of hyperspace, and the similarity between them can be counted according to vectorial angle formula. This process was performed with software written in Visual Basic 6.0. The two main functions of this software are automatic peak tracking in two fingerprints under the same analytic condition and computing the similarity automatically.


RESULTS
The HPLC fingerprints of eleven kinds of Evodia rutaecarpa (Juss.) Benth (a traditional Chinese herb) from different sources were obtained and the similarities were calculated with this software. This method was shown to be a good way to evaluate the similarity between two fingerprints. A sample washed seven times with hot water can be clearly discriminated from other samples of Evodia rutaecarpa (Juss.) Benth with similar results.


CONCLUSIONS
This method is a good way to evaluate the similarity between two fingerprints and is helpful in quality control of traditional Chinese medicine.
Wang
Long-xing
LX
Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Dalian 116012, China. wanglx@ms.dicp.ac.cn
Xiao
Hong-bin
HB
Liang
Xin-miao
XM
Bi
Kai-shun
KS
D032086:Evodia / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000145:classification; D010946:Plants, Medicinal / Q000737:chemistry*; D011786:Quality Control; D012985:Software Design