The Quality Evaluation Of Polygonum Multiflorum Based On Metabolomics Technology

Polygonum multiflorum Thunb(PM), one of the most popular Chinese traditional medicinal herbs, is composed of roots, stems and leaves of which called Heshouwu, Yejiaoteng and Shouwuye respectively. According to Chinese medicine theory, different parts of PM have corresponding properties. Currently, two strategies for quality assessment of PM are generally employed. One is to determine single or a few marker compounds may not accurately reflect the quality of PM,and the other one is based on the HPLC-UV fingerprints only can do simple chromatographic analysis. It is very important to introduce a more comprehensive analytical tool.Objective: To evaluate the metabolomic profiles of different parts of PM,providing the scientific guidance for the quality assessment and resource utilization for PM.Methods: 33 samples(roots, stems and leaves have 11 batch, respectively) were determined by UPLC-Q-TOF MS and NMR. The standard fingerprint of samples from different parts of PM were established and the similarity of each fingerprint were also calculated; The raw data collected by UPLC-Q-TOF MS and NMR were normalized, and then analysised by Chemometrics in SIMCA-P software, screened the biomarkers in different parts of PM, and selecting the biomarkers which have a great difference as the index components; Polygoacetophenoside was separated by HPLC in our laboratory, index components were detected by Quanlynx software.Combining with relative peak area quantification method, compare the differences in different parts of PM.Results: The total of 57 compounds were identified in different parts of PM, and the similarity degrees were between 0.940~0.985, 0.834~0.953, 0.893~0.951(Wherein the two groups are quite different to 0.734 and 0.765) in UPLC-Q-TOF MS. In NMR were 0.916~0.991, 0.940~0.993, 0.965~0.992; The biomarkers of different parts ofPM were 2,3,5,4’-tetrahydroxystilbene-2-O-β-D-glucopyranoside(THSG), catechin,polygoacetophenoside, Proanthocyanidin B, Emodin-1-O-β-D-glucoside, quercitrin,Hyperoside, emodin, 2,3,5,4’-tetrahydroxystilbene-2-O-β-D-(3″-O-mono galloylesters)-glucopyranoside, ferulic acid, L-phenylalanine, fructose and sucrose; The purity of Polygoacetophenoside can reach above 98%, and the content of THSG, emodin and catechin were higher in the roots than in stems /leaves, the content of catechin,quercitrin and polygoacetophenoside were larger in stems/leaves than in toots, except for the catechin, the rest two were have higher content in the leaves.Conclusion: In the paper, UPLC-Q-TOF MS and NMR plant metabolomics were established to evaluate the quality of PM with the overall concept and quantifiable characteristics. The limit of similarity degree for different parts of PM were set at 0.94, 0.83, 0.89 in UPLC-Q-TOF MS. In NMR were 0.92, 0.94, 0.96. If the similarity degree was greater than the corresponding value, it was qualified crude drug, otherwise it was unqualified. THSG, polygoacetophenoside, emodin, catechin and quercitrin were selected as the index components in different parts of PM.Shouwuye is not included in pharmacopoeia, yet its quality evaluation. Chemometric analysis and quantitative determination results indicate that it is unreasonable for Pharmacopoeia rule THSG as the index components of Caulis Ploygoni Multiflori.We proposed catechins, quercitrin and polygoacetophenoside as the index components of Caulis Ploygoni Multiflori and Shouwuye for quality evaluation.