HPLC fingerprints combined with principal component analysis, hierarchical cluster analysis and linear discriminant analysis for the classification and differentiation of Peganum sp. indigenous to China.
BACKGROUND
Seeds of wild Peganum harmala Linn., P. multisectum (Maxim) Bobr., P. nigellastrum Bunge and a probable indeterminate species, herein referred to as P. variety, are commonly used in Chinese medicine. These seeds cannot be differentiated based on morphology.


OBJECTIVE
Seeds of P. harmala Linn., P. multisectum (Maxim) Bobr., P. nigellastrum Bunge and P. variety were collected in different provinces in China and their HPLC profiles were recorded for statistical analysis and pattern recognition.Methodology - HPLC chromatograms of seed extracts were recorded under the same conditions. Individual HPLC chromatograms for each species were evaluated against the mean chromatogram for the same species generated using a similarity evaluation computer program. Data from chromatographic fingerprints were also processed using principal component analysis (PCA), hierarchical cluster analysis (HCA) and linear discriminant analysis (LDA).


RESULTS
The Peganum sp. seed extracts had similar HPLC fingerprints but with some inter-specific differences. The chromatographic fingerprints combined with PCA, HCA and LDA could distinguish the seeds of the different species of Peganum investigated.


CONCLUSIONS
HPLC fingerprints can be used to authenticate and differentiate the seeds of three different species of genus Peganum indigenous to China. The results indicated that the unidentified P. variety might indeed be a new species or variety.
Cheng
Xue-mei
XM
The MOE Key Laboratory for Standardisation of Chinese Medicines, Institute of Chinese Materia Medica, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, 1200 Cailun Road, Shanghai, 201210, China.
Zhao
Ting
T
Yang
Tao
T
Wang
Chang-hong
CH
Bligh
S W Annie
SW
Wang
Zheng-tao
ZT
D000470:Alkaloids / Q000032:analysis / Q000737:chemistry; D002681:China; D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid / Q000379:methods*; D016000:Cluster Analysis; D016002:Discriminant Analysis; D006247:Harmine / Q000032:analysis / Q000737:chemistry; D015394:Molecular Structure; D032443:Peganum / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000145:classification; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000032:analysis / Q000302:isolation & purification; D025341:Principal Component Analysis; D011799:Quinazolines / Q000032:analysis / Q000737:chemistry; D012639:Seeds / Q000737:chemistry; D013045:Species Specificity
D000470:Alkaloids; D010936:Plant Extracts; D011799:Quinazolines; D006247:Harmine; C019592:vasicine