Objective: To compare the differences in color, taste and odor of Baishao (Paeoniae Radix Alba) from different producing areas, and provide a reference for the quality evaluation of Paeoniae Radix Alba. Methods The chromaticity, taste and odor of Paeoniae Radix Alba from different origins were determined by spectrophotometer; electronic tongue and electronic nose. The volatile components of Paeoniae Radix Alba from different origins were identified and relatively quantified by headspace gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (HS-GC-MS), and multivariate statistical analyses were carried out to search for the differential volatile components of Paeoniae Radix Alba from different origins; and a pearson correlation analysis was conducted on the differential volatile components of Paeoniae Radix Alba from different origins and the electronic nose to find the basis of its odor substance. Results Anhui Bozhou Paeoniae Radix Alba powder has the highest L^* value, Shandong Caoxian Paeoniae Radix Alba powder has the highest a^* and b^* values, and the chromaticity value of Paeoniae Radix Alba powder from different places of origin varies significantly; the samples of Paeoniae Radix Alba from different places of origin can be clearly differentiated by the electronic tongue, and the differences in their flavour are mainly in the richness, astringency and saltiness; the differences in the odor are mainly in the W5S, W1S, W1W, W2S, W2W, W3S sensors, and the odor of the Paeoniae Radix Alba from Bozhou, Anhui Province has a unique odor which is clearly different from that of Paeoniae Radix Alba from Linan, Zhejiang Province, and Caoxian, Shandong Province. A total of 53 volatile components were identified by HS-GC-MS, and 22, 29 and 22 differential volatile components were screened between the samples of Paeoniae Radix Alba from Bozhou, Anhui and Linan, Zhejiang, Bozhou, Anhui and Caoxian, Shandong, and Linan, Zhejiang and Caoxian, Shandong, respectively, with 2-methylbutyraldehyde, 2-ethyl-5-methyltetrahydrofuran and furfural being the common differential component of Paeoniae Radix Alba in the three origins. A total of 17 components that caused differences in the odor of Paeoniae Radix Alba from different origins were identified through pearson correlation analysis. Conclusion The experiment can better distinguish the Paeoniae Radix Alba from different origins through the colourimeter, electronic nose and electronic tongue technology combined with HS-GC-MS, which can provide scientific basis for the identification and quality evaluation of Paeoniae Radix Alba from different origins.

Paeoniae Radix Alba  /  volatile components  /  chromaticity  /  electronic nose  /  electronic tongue  /  HS-GC-MS