HPTLC Fingerprint Analysis of Aconitum Herbals in Xinjiang

OBJECTIVE To establish the HPTLC fingerprint of Aconitum plants in Xinjiang and to carry out similarity comparison,cluster analysis and principal component analysis.METHODS Using high performance thin layer silica gel G plate,n-hexane-ethyl acetate-methanol(6.4∶3.6∶1)as developer,diluted bismuth potassium iodide solution as colour-developing agent,of the HPTLC fingerprints were obtained.The common pattern was explored by chemical fingerprint analysis system software.Similarity analysis,cluster analysis and principal component analysis were carried out.RESULTS The conditions for thin layer chromatography were optimized,the spots were clear,and the separation was good;similarity analysis showed that Xinjiang Aconitum had some differences in chemical composition between different plant species,which can be broadly divided into three categories.Aconitum leucostomum Worosch.and Aconitum apetalum(Huth) B.Fedtsch.had high similarity with Aconitum carmichaelii Debx.and Aconitum kusnezoffii Reichb..CONCLUSION The established thin-layer chromatographic fingerprints have laid the methodological foundation for the study of the fingerprint of Xinjiang Aconitum plants.Aconitum leucostomum Worosch.,which is a widely distributed and abundantly reserved Aconitum species in Xinjiang,has potential medicinal value and similarity with Aconitum carmichaelii Debx.and Aconitum kusnezoffii Reichb.Which have national quality standard,and is worthy of further studies.