Zhao Kui J, Dong Tina T X, Tu Peng F, Song Zong H, Lo Chun K, Tsim Karl W K
Department of Biology, The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Clear Water Bay Road, Hong Kong, China.
J Agric Food Chem. 2003 Apr 23;51(9):2576-83. doi: 10.1021/jf026178h.
The roots of Angelica sinensis (Danggui), a traditional Chinese medicine, have been used for invigorating blood circulation for over 2000 years in China. Three common species of Angelica roots are found in Asia: A. sinensis from China, A. acutiloba from Japan, and A. gigas from Korea. By using a molecular genetic approach, the 5S-rRNA spacer domains of the three species of Angelica were amplified, and their nucleotide sequences were determined. Diversity in DNA sequences among various species was found in their 5S-rRNA spacer domains, which could serve as markers for authentic identification of Angelica roots. In chemical analyses, the main constituents of Angelica roots including ferulic acid and Z-ligustilide were determined by HPLC; roots of A. sinensis were clearly distinct in that they contained approximately 10-fold higher levels of ferulic acid and Z-ligustilide as compared to roots of A. acutiloba and A. gigas. In addition, the amounts of main constituents in roots of A. sinensis varied according to different regions of cultivation and different methods of preservation. The chemical profile determined by HPLC therefore could serve as a fingerprint for quality control of Angelica roots.
当归是一种传统中药，其根部在中国用于活血化瘀已有2000多年的历史。在亚洲发现了三种常见的当归根：来自中国的当归、来自日本的东当归和来自韩国的 Gigas当归。通过分子遗传学方法，扩增了这三种当归的5S-rRNA间隔区，并测定了它们的核苷酸序列。在它们的5S-rRNA间隔区发现了不同物种之间DNA序列的差异，这可以作为当归根正品鉴定的标记。在化学分析中，通过高效液相色谱法测定了当归根的主要成分，包括阿魏酸和Z-藁本内酯；当归根明显不同，因为与东当归和Gigas当归的根相比，它们所含的阿魏酸和Z-藁本内酯水平高出约10倍。此外，当归根中主要成分的含量因种植地区和保存方法的不同而有所变化。因此，通过高效液相色谱法测定的化学图谱可以作为当归根质量控制的指纹图谱。
