Journal of AOAC International · 2019 · 20 citations · 0 references
<i>Background: Huangqi</i> is a famous Chinese medicinal material whose <i>Dao-di</i> producing area is Hunyuan, Shanxi. <i>Huangqi</i> produced in Hunyuan, Shanxi, were divided into several different specifications and grades according to the diameters and different positions of root system. <i>Objective:</i> This article investigates the quantitative characteristics of chemical compositions in different specifications and grades of <i>Astragalus membranaceus</i> var. <i>mongholicus</i> roots, aiming to elucidate the correlation between specifications and/or grades and chemical compositions in <i>Huangqi. Methods:</i> Based on the field investigation, samples of <i>Huangqi</i> collected from Hunyuan, Shanxi, were divided into different specifications and grades. The content of seven flavonoids and five saponins in <i>Astragalus membranaceus</i> var. <i>mongholicus</i> roots of different specifications and grades were determined simultaneously by HPLC-diode-array detection-evaporative light-scattering detection (HPLC-DAD-ELSD). <i>Results: Huangqi</i> was processed by traditional methods, and its commercial specification was classified by different parts of the root system, such as <i>ge-da-tou</i>, <i>hong-lan-qi</i>, <i>zheng-bai-qi</i>, <i>fu-bai-qi</i>, <i>mao-wei-zi</i>, and <i>qi-jian</i>. The total content of seven flavonoids and five saponins in <i>ge-da-tou, qi-jian</i> were lower. The total content of seven flavonoids in <i>hong-lan-qi</i> was much higher, while that of five saponins was much lower. The total content of seven flavonoids in lateral roots or fibrous roots were higher, and that of five saponins was lower, such as <i>zheng-bai-qi, fu-bai-qi,</i> and <i>mao-wei-zi.</i> According to the root diameters, <i>Huangqi</i> was classified to special grade, grade I, grade II, grade III, grade IV, or grade V. Among six grades of <i>Huangqi,</i> the total content of seven flavonoids in grade III, grade IV, and grade V were lower, while the total content of five saponins in them were much higher. <i>Conclusions:</i> There is an obvious difference on the distribution pattern of contents of seven flavonoids and five saponins in <i>Huangqi</i> of different specifications and grades, which provide a certain scientific basis for the quality evaluation of <i>Huangqi</i>. <i>Highlights:</i> The content of seven flavonoids and five saponins in <i>Huangqi</i> were determined by HPLC-DAD-ELSD. The relationship between the commercial specification grades and chemical components of Dao-di herbs <i>Astragalus membranaceus</i> var. <i>mongholicus</i> (<i>Huangqi</i> ) from Hunyuan, Shanxi were revealed, which provided a chemical basis for the classification of commercial specification grades of dao-herbs <i>Astragalus membranaceus</i> var. <i>mongholicus</i> (<i>Huangqi</i> ) from Hunyuan, Shanxi.