[The rapid and nondestructive identification and infrared spectra visualization of Banlangen granule]

Banlangen granule is the main medicament of Banlangen, and is widely used for the prevention and cure of flu and viral infection. In the present article, Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy was used in the identification and analysis of the traditional Chinese medicine, Banlangen granule. The FTIR spectra of Banlangen granule samples coming from different companies and different batches of the same company were obtained. The curves of original absorbance and the second derivatives of the absorbance were analyzed for identification, and compared with those of indigowoad root and indigowoad leaf, which are their raw medicine materials. In addition, the infrared fingerprint spectra were visualized in the form of color bar figure. Results showed that characteristic fingerprint spectra of Banlangen Granule could be picked up effectively, and the products quality of different pharmaceutical factories and the spectra of different batch numbers from the same factory could be revealed directly by FTIR spectroscopy combined with the second derivative spectrum and fingerprint spectrum visualization of analytical data. Thus they were differentiated conveniently, accurately, quickly and directly with this method, providing a simple and effective technique in supervising and examining the quality of the traditional Chinese medicine.