A novel digital identification strategy for licorice raw materials: TCM-ID with common/exclusive ion matrices and...

Glycyrrhiza uralensis Fisch. (GUF) and Glycyrrhiza inflata Bat. (GIB) are two official botanical origins of Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma (GRR). Accurate identification of botanical origin is critical for ensuring efficacy stability and clinical medication safety.

In this study, an innovative method integrating liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS) with the TCM digital identity (TCM-ID) concept was established for rapid and precise origin authentication of GUF and GIB. Common ion matrix (CIM) and exclusive ion matrix (EIM) of GUF and GIB were systematically constructed to calculate matching confidence (MC) and confidence increment rate (CIR), and a hierarchical matching strategy (HMS) was developed to improve identification accuracy. Meanwhile, the chemometric analysis was adopted to screen differential chemical markers.

The results demonstrated that GUF and GIB could be rapidly and specifically distinguished with thresholds of MC ≥ 70% and CIR ≥ 6.00. Compared to CIM, the EIM exhibited better species specificity, and chemometric analysis identified seven differential markers: Licoricidin, Licoricone, and Glycycoumarin for GUF, and Licochalcone A, Licochalcone B, Echinatin, and Glabrol for GIB.

This study provides a novel and feasible approach for botanical origin identification of GUF and GIB, demonstrating that the TCM-ID strategy is a promising method for origin traceability and quality evaluation of GUF and GIB.