Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 6, 2026
07:29
HPLC Coupled with Chemical Fingerprinting for Multi-Pattern Recognition for Identifying the Authenticity of Clematidis Armandii Caulis
Published on: November 11, 2022
Study on triterpenoic acids distribution in Ganoderma mushrooms by automatic multiple development high performance
Yu-Zhen Yan1, Pei-Shan Xie, Wai-Kei Lam
1Macau University of Science and Technology, Macau Institute for Applied Research in Medicine and Health, Taipa, Macau, China.
Journal of AOAC International
|December 15, 2010
Summary
Red Lingzhi (Ganoderma lucidum) shows a higher abundance of triterpenoid acids and a more consistent chemical fingerprint compared to other Ganoderma species. This suggests superior inherent quality for this popular medicinal mushroom.
Area of Science:
- Pharmacognosy
- Natural Product Chemistry
- Phytochemistry
Background:
- Ganoderma, known as Lingzhi, is a revered medicinal mushroom in East Asia.
- Two species, Ganoderma lucidum (Red Lingzhi) and G. sinense (Purple Lingzhi), are officially recognized in the Chinese Pharmacopoeia.
- Market availability includes various Ganoderma species, with claims of superior efficacy for 'Penta-colors Lingzhi' lacking scientific validation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To chemically differentiate various Ganoderma species based on their triterpenoid content.
- To establish a reliable analytical method for assessing the quality of Lingzhi mushrooms.
- To investigate the distribution consistency of triterpenoic acids in different Lingzhi samples.
Main Methods:
- High-performance thin-layer chromatography (HPTLC) fingerprint analysis was employed.
- Optimized chromatographic conditions included a silica gel 60 plate and a specific mobile phase (toluene-ethyl acetate-methanol-formic acid).
- Triple development using automatic multiple development equipment was utilized for enhanced separation and detection.
Main Results:
- The HPTLC analysis provided well-resolved chromatograms with detailed color images, offering specific fingerprints.
- Ganoderma lucidum (Red Lingzhi) exhibited a greater abundance of triterpenoic acids.
- Red Lingzhi demonstrated a more consistent triterpenoid fingerprint pattern compared to other tested Lingzhi species.
Conclusions:
- Chemical analysis, specifically HPTLC fingerprinting, is crucial for delineating the inherent quality of Ganoderma species.
- Ganoderma lucidum (Red Lingzhi) appears to possess superior quality due to its higher triterpenoid content and fingerprint consistency.
- The findings support the traditional use of Red Lingzhi as a high-quality medicinal mushroom.
