Quality evaluation for Radix Astragali based on fingerprint, indicative components selection and QAMS

Area of Science:

• Pharmacognosy
• Analytical Chemistry
• Traditional Chinese Medicine

Background:

• Radix Astragali (RA) is a cornerstone herb in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), vital for reinforcing 'Qi' and treating energy deficiency.
• Existing quality control methods for TCM materials often require enhancement for comprehensive assessment.
• Standardization is crucial for ensuring the efficacy and safety of herbal medicines like RA.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop an improved quality control standard for Radix Astragali (RA).
• To integrate chromatographic fingerprinting with quantitative analysis of multi-components by a single marker (QAMS) for RA.
• To identify and validate characteristic active components of RA based on pharmacological activities.

Main Methods:

• Utilized Ultra-Performance Liquid Chromatography coupled with Electrospray Ionization Time-of-Flight Mass Spectrometry (UPLC-ESI-TOF-MS).
• Employed fingerprinting analysis to characterize RA profiles.
• Applied QAMS to quantify multiple active components using a single reference standard.

Main Results:

• Identified key active components including calycosin-7-O-β-d-glucoside (CG), ononin, astragaloside IV, astragaloside II, calycosin, and astragaloside I based on anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and anti-hypoxia activities.
• Established relative correction factors for these components using astragaloside I and CG as internal standards.
• Demonstrated the efficacy of the combined fingerprinting and QAMS approach for RA quality control.

Conclusions:

• The integrated approach of fingerprinting and QAMS provides a robust and improved method for RA quality control.
• Pharmacologically active components identified serve as reliable indicators for assessing RA quality.
• This study contributes to the standardization and reliable application of Radix Astragali in TCM.