Objective To establish a fingerprint and multi-indicator component content determination method for Juemingzi (Cassiae Semen), and combine it with chemometrics to evaluate the quality of Cassiae Semen from different origins. Methods Waters HSS T3 C₁₈ (150 mm × 3.0 mm, 1.8 μm) was used as the chromatographic column, acetonitrile-methanol (3∶1) was used as mobile phase A, 0.1% phosphoric acid solution was used as mobile phase B, and gradient elution was performed. The flow rate was 0.40 mL/min, the column temperature was 40 ℃, the detection wavelength was 285 nm, and the injection volume was 2 μL. Traditional Chinese medicine fingerprint similarity evaluation software was used for similarity evaluation, chemometrics was applied to analyze Cassiae Semen from different origins, and the content of 11 indicator components in Cassiae Semen was determined. Results The established fingerprint identified a total of 26 common peaks, and 13 components were identified through reference standards. Through cluster analysis and principal component analysis (PCA), different Cassiae Semen samples can be clustered into 4 categories, and through the application of orthogonal partial least squares-discriminant analysis (OPLS-DA) method with VIP > 1 as the criterion, peaks 3 (emodin-1-O-β-D-glucoside), 6 (cassiaside), 7 (rubrofusarin-6-O-β-gentiobioside), 8 (aurantio-obtusin-6-O-D-glucoside), 9 (cassiaside C), 10, 17 (aurantio-obtusin), 21, and 23 (rubrofusarin) were selected as differential markers for distinguishing Cassiae Semen from different origins. The content ranges of isorhamnetin-3-O-β-D-glucopyranoside, cassiaflavone B2, cassiaflavone, isorhamnetin-6-O-β-D-glucopyranoside, chrysin-6-O-glucoside, cassiaflavone C, cassiaflavone B, chrysin, chrysin-3-O-β-D-glucopyranoside, isorhamnetin, and chrysophanol in 18 batches of Cassiae Semen were 0.425-1.315, 4.129-8.790, 0.453-1.849, 2.617-4.739, 0.792-2.372, 1.424-3.533, 0.496-1.439, 0.630-1.359, 0.483-2.298, 2.130-9.516, and 2.006-3.841 mg/g, respectively. According to the methodology, each component exhibited a good linear relationship. Conclusion The established fingerprint of Cassiae Semen, combined with the chemical pattern recognition, can effectively distinguish Cassiae Semen from different origins. The multi-component content determination method is stable and reliable, providing a reference for the quality evaluation and control of Cassiae Semen.

Cassiae Semen  /  fingerprint  /  isorhamnetin-6-O-β-D-glucopyranoside  /  cassiaside B2  /  cassiaside  /  rubrofusarin-6-O-β-gentiobioside  /  aurantio-obtusin-6-O-glucoside  /  cassiaside C  /  cassiaside B  /  aurantio-obtusin  /  chryso-obtusin  /  rubrofusarin  /  chrysophanol  /  chemometrics