Species discrimination of multiple botanical origins of Fritillaria species based on infrared spectroscopy, thin layer chromatography-image analysis and untargeted metabolomics

Ya-Ling An; Yun Li; Wen-Long Wei; Zhen-Wei Li; Jian-Qing Zhang; Chang-Liang Yao; Jia-Yuan Li; Qi-Rui Bi; Hua Qu; Huiqin Pan; Heng Zhou; Shen Ji; De-An Guo

doi:10.1016/j.phymed.2023.155228

Species discrimination of multiple botanical origins of Fritillaria species based on infrared spectroscopy, thin layer chromatography-image analysis and untargeted metabolomics

Phytomedicine. 2024 Jan:123:155228. doi: 10.1016/j.phymed.2023.155228. Epub 2023 Nov 19.

Authors

Ya-Ling An¹, Yun Li², Wen-Long Wei², Zhen-Wei Li², Jian-Qing Zhang², Chang-Liang Yao², Jia-Yuan Li², Qi-Rui Bi², Hua Qu², Huiqin Pan³, Heng Zhou³, Shen Ji³, De-An Guo⁴

Affiliations

¹ Shanghai Research Center for Modernization of Traditional Chinese Medicine, National Engineering Research Center for TCM Standardization Technology, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Haike Road 501, Shanghai 201203, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, No.19A Yuquan Road, Beijing 100049, China.
² Shanghai Research Center for Modernization of Traditional Chinese Medicine, National Engineering Research Center for TCM Standardization Technology, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Haike Road 501, Shanghai 201203, China.
³ Shanghai Institute for Food and Drug Control, Zhangheng RD1500, Shanghai 201112, China.
⁴ Shanghai Research Center for Modernization of Traditional Chinese Medicine, National Engineering Research Center for TCM Standardization Technology, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Haike Road 501, Shanghai 201203, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, No.19A Yuquan Road, Beijing 100049, China. Electronic address: daguo@simm.ac.cn.

PMID: 38006808
DOI: 10.1016/j.phymed.2023.155228

Abstract

Background: Fritillaria Bulbus (FB), a precious medicinal herb renowned for its heat-clearing, lung-moistening, cough-relieving and phlegm-eliminating effects. In pursuit of profits, unscrupulous merchants have engaged in the substitution or adulteration of valuable varieties with cheaper alternatives. It is, therefore, urgent to develop effective technical approaches to identify FBs from adulterants.

Methods: This paper employed infrared spectroscopy (IR), thin layer chromatography-image analysis (TLC-IA), and untargeted metabolomics techniques to discriminate ten species of FBs.

Results: Five species of FBs were successfully differentiated using mid-infrared spectroscopy. Furthermore, the power of TLC-IA technology allowed the differentiation of five species of FBs and two origins of FCBs (Fritillariae Cirrhosae Bulbus). Remarkably, through the application of untargeted metabolomics technique, the precise discrimination of five species of FBs, as well as three origins of FCBs were accomplished. Moreover, a comprehensive identification of 101 markers that reliably distinguished diverse FBs was achieved through the employment of untargeted metabolomics technique.

Conclusion: The investigation presented powerful means of detection for assuring the quality control of Fritillaria herbs.

Keywords: Fritillaria species; Infrared spectroscopy; Species discrimination; Thin layer chromatography-image analysis; Untargeted metabolomics.

MeSH terms

Chromatography, Thin Layer
Fritillaria* / chemistry
Metabolomics
Plants, Medicinal* / chemistry
Quality Control
Spectrum Analysis