Several Applications Of Near Infrared Spectroscopy In Quality Analysis Of Traditional Chinese Medicine

Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) was a complex system with multiple components. The quality of TCM products was very important to the modernization of TCM industries. In recent years, Near-infrared (NIR) Spectroscopy was grown dramatically and widely used in many areas. The quality analysis of Natural herbs, discrimination of excipients, homogeneity of herbal powders in blending process and quantitative analysis of 'Fufang dansh en' tablets using NIR technique were studied in this thesis.1. NIR spectroscopy was used to develop a fast quality assessment method of red ginseng (Panax ginseng) and ophipogonis (Ophiopogon japonicus). The sample spectrum was identified by the comparison with a standard NIR spectral library. Similarity measurement was used as the discriminating parameter. The moisture contents were quantified by Partial Least Square Regression (PLSR) calibration model. Primary reference data were obtained using traditional method (Loss On Drying, LOD). The proposed method is accurate and robust.2. NIR spectroscopy was used to develop a fast quality discrimination method of excipient (Polyethylene glycols 6000, PEG6000). Pattern recognition techniques were used to build calibration models after the pretreatment of NIR spectra. The quality of PEG6000 samples was evaluated fast and accurate.3. NIR spectroscopy was used to determinate the homogeneity of herbal powders in blending process. Three qualitative methods (Similarity, Moving Block of Standard Deviation and Mean Square) were used for the calculation. The results suggest that NIR as a simple, effective and noninvasive technique can be successfully applied to determination of homogeneity in the blendingprocess of Herbal powders.4. NIR reflectance spectroscopy and chemometrics methods were used todetermine the contents of active components (TanshinoneIIA and Protocatechuic aldehyde) in "Fufang Danshen' tablets. PLSR calibration models quantified the content of samples;HPLC analysis results were used as reference. The Calibration models of NIR spectra had high correlation coefficients and low root mean square error of prediction (RMSEP). TanshinoneIIA: R=0.9786, RMSEP=0.060;Protocatechuic aldehyde: R=0.9814, RMSEP=0.049.The NIR spectroscopy has good potentials to be used in many areas of TCM.