The antioxidant-activity-integrated fingerprint: an advantageous tool for the evaluation of quality of herbal medicines

J Chromatogr A. 2008 Oct 24;1208(1-2):76-82. doi: 10.1016/j.chroma.2008.08.054. Epub 2008 Aug 20.

Abstract

The activity-integrated fingerprints of Danshen injections have been established by high-performance liquid chromatography coupled with chemiluminescence detection (HPLC-CL) according to their antioxidants activity scavenging hydrogen peroxide. The authentication and validation of the activity-integrated fingerprints were performed. Then, a data-level information fusion method was employed to capture the chemical and antioxidant information encoded in HPLC-CL fingerprints. Finally, based on the fusion results, the quality of different batches of Danshen injections samples were further evaluated by similarity measure. In comparison with conventional fingerprints, the activity-integrated fingerprints, which simultaneously contained the chemical characteristics and antioxidant activities of constitutions could comprehensively and properly reveal the quality characteristics of the Danshen injections. In conclusion, the antioxidant-activity-integrated fingerprints were suitable for quality control of Danshen injections. This study could clearly demonstrate that the activity-integrated fingerprint was a powerful and meaningful tool to comprehensively improve the quality control of complex herbal medicines.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Antioxidants / analysis*
  • Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid / methods*
  • Drugs, Chinese Herbal / analysis*
  • Drugs, Chinese Herbal / chemistry
  • Plants, Medicinal / chemistry
  • Salvia miltiorrhiza / chemistry*

Substances

  • Antioxidants
  • Drugs, Chinese Herbal