Exploring the phytochemical variation of non-volatile metabolites within three South African Salvia species using UPLC-MS fingerprinting and chemometric analysis

The South African Salvia species, Salvia africana-lutea, S. lanceolata and S. chamelaeagnea, are widely used to treat fever and inflammation associated with skin and lung infections. The aim of this study was to explore the non-volatile secondary metabolites and the phytochemical variation within these lesser known species, to support product development and commercialisation. Chemical profiles of the methanol extracts of 81 wild-harvested samples were obtained using ultra performance-quadrupole-Time-of-Flight-mass spectrometry (UPLC-qToF-MS). Forty-one compounds, including caffeic acid, rosmarinic acid, carnosol, carnosic acid and ursolic acid, were detected and confirmed across the three species. Nineteen compounds were tentatively identified of which 14 have not been reported in these species. Principal component analysis revealed distinct clusters corresponding to the three species, confirming chemical differences. Marker compounds for each species were revealed using orthogonal projection to latent structures-discriminant analysis. Further chemometric analysis reflected a degree of intraspecies variation, although the chemistry within populations was mostly conserved. Potential chemotypes for each species were identified through unique compounds associated with each group. The concentrations of medicinally important metabolites, namely, rosmarinic acid, carnosol, carnosic acid and ursolic acid, were determined, using validated UPLC-PDA methods. Ursolic acid was present at levels up to 38.2 mg/g, confirming that these species are a rich source of this compound. No similar studies combining liquid chromatography with chemometric analysis, and utilising a large sample size from various habitats, have been reported for these three Salvia species. The results will guide selection of cultivars with the best attributes for the intended therapeutic application, thereby protecting wild populations from over-exploitation.

Identification of Salvia species using high-performance liquid chromatography combined with chemical pattern recognition analysis

Salvia miltiorrhiza, also known as Danshen, is a widely used traditional Chinese medicine for the treatment of cardiovascular diseases and hematological abnormalities. The root and rhizome of Salvia przewalskii and Salvia yunnanensis have been found as substitutes for Salvia miltiorrhiza in the market. In this study, the chemical information of 14 major compounds in Salvia miltiorrhiza and its substitutes were determined using a high-performance liquid chromatography method. Stepwise discriminant analysis was adopted to select the characteristic variables. Partial least squares discriminant and hierarchical cluster analysis were performed to classify Salvia miltiorrhiza and its substitutes. The results showed that all of the samples were correctly classified both in partial least squares discriminant analysis and hierarchical cluster analysis based on the four compounds (caffeic acid, rosmarinic acid, salvianolic acid B, and salvianolic acid A). This method can not only distinguish Salvia miltiorrhiza and its substitutes, but also classify Salvia przewalskii and Salvia yunnanensis. The method can be applied for the quality assessment of Salvia miltiorrhiza and identification of unknown samples.

Rapid Species-level Identification of Salvias by Chemometric Processing of Ambient Ionisation Mass Spectrometry-derived Chemical Profiles

INTRODUCTION

The Salvia genus contains numerous economically important plants that have horticultural, culinary and nutraceutical uses. They are often similar in appearance, making species determination difficult. Species identification of dried Salvia products is also challenging since distinguishing plant morphological features are no longer present.

OBJECTIVE

The development of a simple high-throughput method of analysis of fresh and dried Salvia leaves that would permit rapid species-level identification and detection of diagnostic biomarkers.

METHODOLOGY

Plant leaves were analysed in their native form by DART-MS without the need for any sample preparation steps. This furnished chemical fingerprints characteristic of each species. In the same experiment, in-source collision-induced dissociation was used to identify biomarkers. Biomarker presence was also independently confirmed by GC-MS. Chemometric processing of DART-MS profiles was performed by kernel discriminant analysis (KDA) and soft independent modelling of class analogy (SIMCA) to classify the fingerprints according to species.

RESULTS

The approach was successful despite the occurrence of diurnal cycle and plant-age related chemical profile variations within species. In a single rapid experiment, the presence of essential oil biomarkers such as 3-carene, α-pinene, β-pinene, β-thujone, β-caryophyllene, camphor and borneol could be confirmed. The method was applied to rapid identification and differentiation of Salvia apiana, S. dominica, S. elegans, S. officinalis, S. farinacea and S. patens.

CONCLUSION

Species-level identification of Salvia plant material could be accomplished by chemometric processing of DART-HRMS-derived chemical profiles of both fresh and dried Salvia material. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

[Anatomical characteristics of laminae and petioles of 11 species of Salvia and their taxonomic significance]

Anatomical features of the lamina and petiole of 11 species of Salvia had been compared. The microstructures of 11 species of Salvia were observed by paraffin method, and indexes such as the epidermis, xylems and phloems were measured. The data set was analyzed by principal components analysis method and cluster analysis method. The results indicated that the laminae of 11 species of Salvia were bifacial leaf, and the surface of laminae and petioles were covered with villous. The upper epidermis and lower epidermis of the laminae of 11 species of Salvia were constituted by a dense cuticular layer without stratum corneum. Differences existed in the structure of cross sectio mn of laminae and petioles of 11 species of Salvia. Among them, upper epidermal thickness of nine different micromorphological characters could serve as one of the criteria to identify species of taxonomic Salvia. The identification of genetic relationship of these characters in Salvia were discussed in the paper to provide an evidence of anatomy in Salvia.

[Identification of Salvia shandongensis new species based on sequences of the plastid psbA-trnH intergenic region]

To identify Salvia shandongensis and its relatives at molecular level, the psbA-trnH intergenic region of three species including Salvia shandongensis, Salvia miltiorrhiza and S. miltiorrhiza f. alba were amplified and sequenced. Sequences were assembled with CodonCode Aligner. The K2P genetic distances between Salvia shandongensis and its relatives were calculated and UPGMA tree was performed by MEGA5.0. The results indicated that the lengths of psbA-trnH regions of Salvia shandongensis were about 391 bp, while the lengths of psbA-trnH regions of Salvia miltiorrhiza and S. miltiorrhiza f. alba were about 386 bp. The psbA-trnH sequences showed considerable variations between species and thus were revealed as a promising candidate for barcoding of Salvia shandongensis and its relatives. The intra-specific genetic distances of Salvia shandongensis were 0, while the intra-specific genetic distances of Salvia miltiorrhiza and S. miltiorrhiza f. alba were 0.002 and 0.001 respectively. Additionally, the genetic distance of Salvia shandongensis and Salvia miltiorrhiza ranged from 0.034 to 0.04, and the genetic distance of Salvia shandongensis and S. miltiorrhiza f. alba ranged from 0.005 to 0.008, the intra-specific genetic distances of Salvia shandongensis were much smaller than that of Salvia miltiorrhiza and S. miltiorrhiza f. alba; clustering results showed that there were obvious differences between Salvia shandongensis, Salvia miltiorrhiza and S. miltiorrhiza f. alba, which was consistent with morphological characteristics. This study not only firstly provides the scientific basis for establishing the taxonomy position in molecular level and revealing their genetic relationships of S. shandongensis, S. miltiorrhiza and S. miltiorrhiza f. alba; but also provides DNA molecular identification scientific basis for the development of new medicinal plant resources of Salvia shandongensis. Our results suggest that the psbA-trnH intergenic spacer region can be used as a barcoding to identify Salvia shandongensis, Salvia miltiorrhiza and S. miltiorrhiza f. alba.

Phylogeny of New World Salvia subgenus Calosphace (Lamiaceae) based on cpDNA (psbA-trnH) and nrDNA (ITS) sequence data

Salvia subgenus Calosphace (Lamiaceae) is economically and ethnomedicinally significant and comprised of more than 500 species. Although strongly supported as monophyletic, it has received no comprehensive systematic research since the initial establishment of 91 taxonomic sections in 1939. Representative taxa of 73 sections of Calosphace were sampled to investigate the phylogenetic relationships and identify major lineages using chloroplast (intergenic spacer psbA-trnH) and nuclear ribosomal DNA (internal transcribed spacer). Phylogenetic analysis of the combined data sets established monophyly of seven sections (Blakea, Corrugatae, Erythrostachys, Hastatae, Incarnatae, Microsphace, and Sigmoideae) and four major lineages (S. axillaris, "Hastatae clade", "Uliginosae clade", and "core Calosphace"). Sections spanning two or more centers of diversity are not supported by our results; rather, supported relationships exhibit significant geographic structure. Mexico is supported as the geographic origin of Calosphace, and no more than seven dispersal events to South America are required to account for current disjunct distributions.

Vegetative anatomy and micromorphology of Salvia divinorum (Lamiaceae) from Mexico, combined with chromatographic analysis of salvinorin A

Salvia divinorum--a species traditionally cultivated in Oaxaca, Mexico--possesses hallucinogenic properties. It is legally recognized as a controlled substance and prohibited in many countries. The proper identification of the plant, both in fresh and dried forms, is an important issue in crime-prevention campaigns. This paper provides a thorough anatomical description of leaves, petioles, and stems of S. divinorum. Detailed investigation of foliar trichomes was performed and illustrated. In addition, chromatographic analyses, including TLC and HPLC, were applied to fresh and dried plant material, together with the standard reference salvinorin A. A comprehensive identification method for S. divinorum based on a thorough anatomical examination is proposed, combined with chemical analysis for proper plant recognition.

Chemical constituents of two sages with free radical scavenging activity

From the aerial parts of Salvia trichoclada Bentham and S. verticillata L. one new and two known phenolic acids, 3-(3',4'-dihydroxyphenyl)-2-hydroxymethyl propionic acid (1), 3-(3',4'-dihydroxyphenyl) lactic acid (2), and rosmarinic acid (3); two flavonoids, apigenin 4'-methyl ether 7-O-glucuronide (4), and luteolin 7-O-beta glucuronide (5); two lupan type triterpene aglycones, lupeol (6), and 30-hydroxylup-20 (29)-en-3-on (7); an oleanane-type triterpene acid, oleanolic acid (8); and an ursan-type triterpene acid, ursolic acid (9) were isolated. The structures of the compounds were elucidated by spectroscopic analysis. Different extracts of the plants were examined for their free radical scavenging activities by DPPH (2,2-Diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl) assay. Some of the polar extracts showed high free radical scavenging activity.

Evolution and origins of the Mazatec hallucinogenic sage, Salvia divinorum (Lamiaceae): a molecular phylogenetic approach

Salvia divinorum Epl. & Játiva-M. (Lamiaceae) is a potent hallucinogenic plant that is classified within Salvia subgenus Calosphace, section Dusenostachys, and hypothesized to be an interspecific hybrid. It is of ethnobotanical significance due to its employment in traditional healing ceremonies by the Mazatecs of Oaxaca, Mexico, and due to its unique pharmacology-a highly selective, non-nitrogenous, κ-opioid receptor agonist. In order to test its phylogenetic position and putative hybridity, we sequenced multiple DNA regions (ITS, trnL-trnF, and psbA-trnH) of 52 species-representing the major lineages of subgenus Calosphace-and six accessions of S. divinorum. Our molecular phylogenetic results suggest that S. divinorum should not be classified within Dusenostachys and that it is not a hybrid. Additionally, we determine that the closest known relative of this psychoactive Mexican sage is S. venulosa, a rare endemic of Colombia.

Biological activity of bicyclic and tricyclic diterpenoids from Salvia species of immediate pharmacological and pharmaceutical interest

Diterpenoids are a class of compounds that derive from the condensation of four isoprene units that leads to a wide variety of complex chemical structures, including acyclic bi-, tri-and tetra-cyclic compounds; in Salvia species, only bi-, tri-and tetra-cyclic compounds have been found. This review covers a wide range of biological activities and mode of action of diterpenoids isolated from Salvia species that might raise some pharmacological and pharmaceutical interest. We have produced a synoptic table where the biological activities of the main active principles are summarized. Our analysis emphasizes that diterpenoids from Salvia species continue to be a plant defence system since their antimicrobic activity. Experimental studies show that most of diterpenoids considered have cytotoxic and/or antiproliferative activity. Some of them have also cardiovascular and central effects. In a less extended manner, diterpenoids from Salvia species show gastrointestinal, urinary, antinflammatory, antidiabetic, ipolipidemic and antiaggregating effects. In the last decade, several clinical trials have been developed in order to investigate the real value of Salvia extracts treatment; results obtained are promising and confer scientific basis in the use of medicinal plants from folk medicine.

Phylogenetic relationships among subgenera, species, and varieties of Japanese Salvia L. (Lamiaceae)

To determine evolutionary relationships among all Japanese members of the genus Salvia (Lamiaceae), we conducted molecular phylogenetic analyses of two chloroplast DNA (cpDNA) regions (rbcL and the intergenic spacer region of trnL-trnF:trnL-trnF) and one nuclear DNA (nrDNA) region (internal transcribed spacer, ITS). In cpDNA, nrDNA, and cpDNA+nrDNA trees, we found evidence that all Japanese and two Taiwanese Salvia species are included in a clade with other Asian Salvia, and Japanese Salvia species were distributed among three subclades: (1) S. plebeia (subgenus Sclarea), (2) species belonging to subg. Salvia, and (3) species belonging to subg. Allagospadonopsis. At the specific level our findings suggest: a close relationship between S. nipponica and S. glabrescens, no support for monophyly of S. lutescens and its varieties in cpDNA, nrDNA and cpDNA+nrDNA trees, and that S. pygmaea var. simplicior may be more closely related to S. japonica than to other varieties of S. pygmaea.

Development of chromatographic and free radical scavenging activity fingerprints by thin-layer chromatography for selected Salvia species

INTRODUCTION

Plant-derived free radical scavengers have become the subject of intensive scientific interest. Recently, the concept of coupling chromatographic fingerprints with biological fingerprinting analysis has gained much attention for the quality control of plant extracts. However, identification of free radical scavenging activity of each single compound in a complex mixture is a difficult task. Thin-layer chromatography with post-chromatographic derivatisation with the methanol solution of DPPH can be a valuable tool in such analyses.

OBJECTIVE

Development of chromatographic and free radical scavenging fingerprints of nineteen Salvia species grown and cultivated in Poland.

METHODOLOGY

Chromatography was performed on the silica gel layers with use of two eluents, one for the resolution of the less polar compounds, and the other one for the resolution of the medium and highly polar ones. The plates were sprayed with the vanillin-sulfuric acid reagent to produce chemical fingerprints, and with DPPH solution to generate free radical scavenging fingerprints.

RESULTS

With four Salvia species, it was revealed that their strong free radical scavenging properties are not only due to the presence of polar flavonoids and phenolic acids, but also due to the presence of several free radical scavengers in the less polar fraction. Because of the similarities in both the chromatographic and the free radical scavenging fingerprints, S. triloba can be introduced as a possible equivalent of the pharmacopoeial species, S. officinalis.

CONCLUSION

Fingerprints developed in the experiments proved useful for the analysis of complex extracts of the different Salvia species.

Analysis of chemical constituents and taxonomic similarity of Salvia species in China using LC/MS

Salvia species have an extensive distribution and a long history of medical use in China. In this study, chemical differences between different Salvia species were thoroughly investigated, and 86 constituents were characterized through a sensitive HPLC-DAD-ESI-MS (n) method. In total, 19 Salvia species were screened. Our study suggested that Ser. Brachylomae, Ser. Digitaloidites, Ser. Castaneae, and Ser. Miltiorrhizae were the sibling series (Ser. is short for series) and that Ser. Brachylomae, Ser. Maximowicziana, and Ser. Campanulatae were unique with regard to their constituents in addition to having componential affinity. This study offered a simple chemotaxonomy approach and a reasonable bioactivity interpretation of Salvia species.

Antioxidant properties and total phenolic content of eight Salvia species from Turkey

Methanolic extracts of eight Salvia species, namely S. aethiopis, S. candidissima, S. limbata, S. microstegia, S. nemorosa, S. pachystachys, S. verticillata, and S. virgata, sampled from Eastern Anatolia in Turkey, were screened for their possible antioxidant activities by two complementary test systems, namely DPPH free radical scavenging and beta-carotene/linoleic acid. Total phenolic content of the extracts of Salvia species were performed Folin-Ciocalteu reagent and gallic acid used as standard. A wide variation has been observed among species in terms of antioxidant activity and total phenolic content. In both DPPH and beta-carotene system, the most active plant was Salvia verticillata with a value of IC50=18.3 microg/ml and 75.8%, respectively. This species also has the highest total phenolic content (167.1 mgGAE/g DW). The total amount of phenolics was between 50.3 to 167.1 mgGAE/g DW among species. A positive linear correlation was observed between total phenolic content and antioxidant activity of the extracts. The results suggest that the extract of Salvia species, notably Salvia verticillata with the highest antioxidant activity, can be used as natural antioxidants in the food industry.

[Preliminary exploration of inhibitory activities of Salvia species on PTP1B]

An in vitro screening model was applied to test the inhibitory activities of 17 Salvia species on protein tyrosine phosphatase 1B (PTP1B). Root methanol extracts from wild-collected Salvia species were analyzed using this model. Most of the samples tested showed positive activities on human PTP1B. The inhibition rates of Salvia crude extracts varied from 9.76% to 100% at 30 microg x mL(-1), with the most convincing effects coming from Salvia evansiana and Salvia castanea. HPLC analysis revealed seven components shared by Salvia samples could be related to the inhibitory activities.

Investigation of Danshen and related medicinal plants in China

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

In China, over 20 Salvia species have been used as Danshen in traditional folk medicine for the treatment of coronary heart diseases and strokes.

AIM OF THE STUDY

In order to gain a better understanding of the plants used in this formula, where the plants originate and how the plants are traditionally processed and handled.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A field investigation on traditional functions and folk therapeutic uses of these plants was conducted. Based upon interviewing and working with traditional healers, we present the information recorded in detail upon these medicinal plants including the local name, collecting location, growing environment, distribution and therapeutic effects. The current survey revealed 17 original plants used as folk medicine of Danshen in different regions of China. Additionally, HPLC coupled with DAD detection was applied to study the quality of different Danshen samples.

RESULTS

The results indicated that the official species of Salvia miltiorrhiza Bunge recorded in Chinese Pharmacopoeia (2005) is the unique species of Danshen that meets all the requirements as described. However, a total of 18 Salvia spp. are collected, used and traded under this same name.

CONCLUSIONS

In different regions of China, many species in Salvia genus are collected, traded and used as the traditional medicinal plant, Danshen. Based upon this investigation including both the botanical authentication and the chemical characterization of all the collected species. We found that only S. miltiorrhiza meet the requirements set forth and ascribed as the formal Danshen in the Chinese Pharmacopoeia (2005).

South African Salvia species: a review of biological activities and phytochemistry

The genus Salvia (sage) belongs to the Lamiaceae and encompasses 900 species worldwide of which ca. 26 indigenous species are found in southern Africa. Salvia is the largest genus in this family and constitutes almost one quarter of the Lamiaceae. In South Africa, the majority of Salvia species are distributed predominantly in the Cape region. Salvia species are used in many parts of the world to treat various conditions. Many sages, if not all, form an integral part of traditional healing in South Africa particularly in regions where they occur in abundance. Several species are used to treat microbial infections, cancer, malaria, inflammation, loss of memory and to disinfect homes after sickness. Despite the extensive traditional use and the general interest in phytoconstituents of Salvia it remains ironic that research on the South African counterparts has until recently been neglected. The review aims to collate recent research results on the phytochemistry and pharmacological properties of indigenous species. Bio-active compounds with antiplasmodial and antibacterial activities have been isolated and structurally elucidated from Salvia chamelaegnea, Salvia radula and Salvia verbenaca. The essential oil composition of Salvia showed the dominance of monoterpene hydrocarbons, oxygen-containing monoterpenes and oxygen- containing sesquiterpenes. Salvia runcinata is identified as an alternative source of natural alpha-bisabolol. Many pharmacological activities are summarised (anti-oxidant, antimicrobial, antiplasmodial, analgesic, antipyretic, anticancer, anti-inflammatory and antinociceptive) as a first attempt to provide scientific support for past and present local traditional uses.

[Analysis of ITS sequences of some medicinal plants and their related species in Salvia]

Molecular systematic techniques were applied to reveal the genetic diversity of medicinal plants and their related species in Salvia. The internal transcribed spacer (ITS) as well as 5.8S rDNA sequences of 27 samples of Salvia were amplified using PCR method and sequenced. Mega 3.1 was used to analyze the genetic diversity within genus. The complete sequences of ITS plus 5.8S rDNA are about 612-617 bp. A phylogenetic tree generated by Neighbor-Joining method partly supported the morphological classification within Salvia, but incompatible results were also obtained in the treatment of phylogenetic positions of some species such as Salvia trijuga, Salvia flava var. flava and Salvia flava var. megalentha. The ITS regions of present Salria species showed considerable variation between subgenera in contrast with the conservative 5.8S rDNA sequences. The native Salvia species might have a different origin from the foreign species. The phylogenetic positions of subgenera and sections inferred by ITS analysis were comparable with that of traditional classification, while the phylogeny within sections is still doubtful due to limited information in ITS sequence and need to be further proved by other evidence. ITS analysis in this study supports the rationality of using species from Drymosphace section as substitute drug resources of Dan shen, but also reveals significant genetic differences between high mountain Dan shen species such as Salvia przewalskii with traditional Dan shen origins.

Speciation process of Salvia isensis (Lamiaceae), a species endemic to serpentine areas in the Ise-Tokai district, Japan, from the viewpoint of the contradictory phylogenetic trees generated from chloroplast and nuclear DNA

To understand the speciation process of Salvia isensis (Lamiaceae), a species endemic to a special environment (serpentine areas in the Ise-Tokai district, central Honshu, Japan), chloroplast DNA (cpDNA) and nuclear ribosomal DNA (nrDNA) were employed to analyze the phylogenetic relationships of S. isensis with related species in Japan. Allozymic polymorphisms were also used to analyze genetic relationships among Salvia species. A contradiction in the phylogenetic positions of species studied was detected when phylogenetic trees were constructed using cpDNA or nrDNA, i.e., S. isensis was a sister to the other species in phylogenetic trees generated from cpDNA, while S. japonica was a sister to the other species in the case of nrDNA. Genetic relationships between Salvia species estimated from allozymic polymorphisms did not contradict to the topology for nrDNA. Using the present results, the speciation process of S. isensis is discussed with regard to introgressive gene exchanges between related species.

[Chemical diversity of the biological active ingredients of salvia officinalis and some closely related species]

Comparative studies on the volatile and non-volatile fractions of 6 species. i.e. Salvia officinalis, S. tomentosa, S. fruticosa, S. candelabrum, S. ringens, S. lavandulifolia of the Section Salvia (Lamiaceae) have been carried out. Both fractions provide the chemical pattern matches to the chemotaxonomic character of Subfamily Nepetoideae in Erdtmanr two subfamiliar system. S. lavandulifolia had the highest essential oil content, followed by S. fruticosa, S. tomentosa, S. officinalis and S. candelabrum. S. ringens contains volatile oil only in traces. The neurotoxin thujone content was the highest in the S. officinalis oils and in that of S. fruticosa. No thujone was detected in S. lavandulifolia. The other species, e.g.: S. tomentosa contain this compound only in moderate concentrations (less than 10%). Among the non-volatile fractions of the plant ingredients the triterpene ursolic and oleanolic acids had the highest concentration in the leaves. Despite some rare cases, ursolic acid dominates the tritepene fraction. Rosmarinic and caffeic acids were measured in similar concentrations, in all species. As the case of S. officinalis shows, these compounds vary significantly in all organs during the vegetation period. Caffeic acid is also ubiquitous in the genus Salvia but as our data suggest it occurs in an order of magnitude lower concentration than rosmarinic acid. The isolation of phenylethanolid martynoside, though obtained in a rather small concentration, is of great chemotaxonomic significance, as this is the first phenylethanolid type glycoside isolated not only from the Salvia genus but also from the entire Subfamily Nepetoideae. As pheylethanolids are rather common and accumulate in significant concentrations in plants of the Subfamily Lamioideae, our opinion that the chemical differences between the two subfamilies are less qualititative than quantitative, is confirmed. This holds true of other chemical markers like monoterpenes, ursolic and oleanolic acids, caffeic acid and now phenylethanolids. Diterpenes i.e. 7-methyl carnosoate, rosmanol 7- methylether, sageon from S. officinalis, 7alpha-acetoyroyleanone, 7alpha-hydroxyroyleanone, royleanone, 6,7-dehydroroyleanone from S. tomentosa and candesalvoquinone, candelabroquinone, 12-O-methylcandesalvone, candesalvone B methyl ester and candelabrone have been isolated from Salvia candelabrum. All of the compounds belong to the abietane type of diterpenoids and have pronounced antioxidant effect.

[Use of FTIR and pattern recognition to determine geographical origins of Chinese medical herbs]

Geographical origin of medical herbs is an important factor of the quality of many traditional Chinese herbal medicines. The objective of this study is to investigate whether FTIR spectroscopy coupled with pattern recognition techniques could effectively discriminate geographical origins of medical herbs. Nearest neighbor method (NNM) and a SVM-based multiclass classifier were employed to discriminate 269 angelicae dahuricae radix (ADR) samples from 4 provinces in China and 380 salviae miltiorrhizae radix (SMR) samples from 6 provinces. A leave-one-out cross-validation accuracy of 99% was achieved by the multiclass classifier. The study shows this classification scheme can be a highly accurate approach for the discrimination of medical herbs of different origins.

[Review of germplasm resources studies on Salvia miltiorrhiza]

Research development of germplasm resources of Salvia miltiorrhiza was reviewed in the aspects of species resource, geographic distribution and varieties, biological characters and culture varieties, and cell and tissue culture. It was suggested that more attention be paid to waters-soluble constituents when evaluating the quality of the medicine, and much more basic studies be done in the course of establishing standard plant base for high quality herb and in the aspect of new variety selection.