Multi‑component analysis in sun‑dried and sulfur‑fumigated Angelicae Sinensis Radix by single marker quantitation and chemometric discrimination

Background: A new method has been developed for the simultaneous determination of ferulic acid, senkyunolide A, and Z‑ligustilide in Angelicae Sinensis Radix before and after sulfur‑fumigation using quantitative analysis of multi‑components by a single marker (QAMS). Materials and Methods: The feasibility and accuracy of QAMS were checked by the external standard method, and various high‑performance liquid chromatographic instruments and chromatographic conditions were investigated to verify its applicability. Using ferulic acid as the internal reference substance, and the contents of senkyunolide A and Z‑ligustilide were calculated according to relative correction factors by high‑performance liquid chromatography. Meanwhile, the influence of sulfur‑fumigation on these chemical components in Angelicae Sinensis Radix were evaluated and discriminated by chromatographic fingerprint and chemometrics. Results: There was no significant difference observed between the QAMS method and the external standard method. Furthermore, sulfur‑fumigation reduced the contents of ferulic acid, senkyunolide A, and Z‑ligustilide in Angelicae Sinensis Radix by some degree, and the sun‑drying and sulfur‑fumigation processing could be easily discriminated by chromatographic fingerprint and chemometrics. Conclusion: QAMS is a convenient and accurate approach to analyzing multi‑component when reference substances are unavailable, simultaneously, chemometrics is an effective way to discriminate sun‑dried and sulfur‑fumigated Angelicae Sinensis Radix.