Regional differences analysis of Alismatis Rhizoma based on UPLC characteristic chromatogram and determination of eight terpenoids

An ultra-performance liquid chromatography(UPLC) method integrating characteristic chromatogram and eight terpenoids determination has been established for comparing the differences of Alismatis Rhizoma(Zexie) from different product areas. Thirty-seven batches of crude drugs and thirty batches of prepared slices of Alismatis Rhizoma were analyzed. The obtained data were analyzed by similarity evaluation, principal components analysis(PCA) and partial least squares discriminant analysis(PLS-DA). There were three main characteristic peaks in the characteristic chromatograms, and alisol B 23-acetate(S) was selected as the reference. Compared with the S peak, the relative retention times of the other two characteristic peaks were 0.55(alisol) and 0.77(alisol B), respectively. Peak areas and the ratio of alisol B to alisol B 23-acetate could be used to distinguish Alismatis Rhizoma from different geographical origins. The samples were divided into three groups by PCA and PLS-DA based on the content determination results, and they were "Jian Zexie"(Fujian and Jiangxi provinces), "Chuan Zexie"(Sichuan and Hubei provinces), and "Guang Zexie"(Guangxi province). The contents of chemical components in samples from different producing areas were notably different. For example, the contents of alisol A and alisol A 24-acetate were significantly higher in "Guang Zexie" compared with "Jian Zexie" and "Chuan Zexie"(P<0.000 1). The contents of alisol B and alisol C were significantly higher in "Chuan Zexie" compared with "Jian Zexie"(P<0.000 1). Combining the characteristic chromatograms and quantitative analysis of eight terpenoids, this study showed that the relative contents of components and their ratios were notable different in samples from different regions, but types and numbers of chemical compositions were basically similar. The results of this study illustrated the regional differences of Alismatis Rhizoma and their components characteristics, and provided references for authentication and quality control of Alismatis Rhizoma.