Ultra-performance convergence chromatography (UPC2), which combines the advantages of both reversed phase liquid chromatography (RPLC) and gas chromatograph (GC), is a novel, eco-friendly analytical method and could be a powerful supplement for RPLC and GC. Based on these characteristics, an UPC2 method was developed for the chemical analysis of Gaoben medicinal materials including six batches of Ligusticum sinense, six batches of Ligusticum jeholense and six batches of Conioselinum vaginatum and compared with the results by ultra-performance liquid chromatography (UPLC) method at the same time. Six compounds were determined by UPC2 method, and eight compounds were quantitatively analyzed by UPLC method. Hierarchical cluster analysis (HCA) and principle component analysis (PCA) methods were used to elucidate the resemblance relationship among these 18 samples. The results showed the samples from same species analyzed by UPC2 method were grouped together respectively. However, UPLC method could not distinguish these three kinds of Gaoben medicinal materials effectively. The compounds determined by UPC2 method showed the chemical taxonomic significance than those of UPLC method, and were more suitable for chemical quality evaluation of Gaoben medicinal materials from different regions. This showed good complementarity between UPC2 and UPLC methods. And the UPC2 method might provide a more efficient analytical method for the chemical quality evaluation of medicinal materials rich in volatile oils, which would be a powerful supplement to the current quality evaluation.
Keywords: Chemical quality evaluation; Gaoben medicinal materials; UPC2; UPLC.
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