Objective To evaluate the quality and differences among different varieties of Mume Flos by analyzing their fingerprints using chemical pattern recognition techniques, combined with quantitative analysis of characteristic components and antioxidant activity assays. Methods Ultra-high performance liquid chromatography (UPLC) was used to establish the fingerprints of different varieties of Mume Flos, combined with the chemical pattern recognition technology to explore the differences between different varieties of Mume Flos, screened for the characteristic chemical components that lead to the differences between different varieties of Mume Flos, and quantitatively analyzed them. The antioxidant activity of different varieties of Mume Flos was detected by DPPH free radical scavenging method. Results A total of 22 common peaks were identified in the fingerprints of 33 batches of Mume Flos.The similarity within the varietal group was above 0.869, while the similarity between the varietal groups was relatively low. Hierarchical cluster analysis (HCA), principal component analysis (PCA) and orthogonal partial least squares discriminant analysis (OPLS-DA) were used to classify the 33 batches of Mume Flos into two major groups and three subgroups, among which the green calyx group could be distinguished from the rest of the samples. The combination of OPLS-DA indicated that 12 components, including chlorogenic acid, rutin, hyperoside, isoquercitrin, isochlorogenic acid B, quercitrin, and naringenin, might be the characteristic markers leading to the differences in different varieties of Mume Flos. The results of the content determination showed that the samples from the green calyx variety group were dominant in the content of the components except naringenin. The results of antioxidant activity showed that the antioxidant capacity of green calyx variety group, the vermilion variety group, and DHH were relatively higher, and the antioxidant activities of various varieties of Mume Flos had strong correlations with chlorogenic acid, hyperoside, isoquercitrin, isochlorogenic acid B. Conclusion The content of components and antioxidant activity of different varieties of Mume Flos have some variability, among which the green calyx variety group is relatively stable. These results provide data support for exploring the variability of different Mume Flos varieties and the preference of “green calyx” for Mume Flos.

Prunus mume(Sieb.) Sieb.et Zucc.  /  Mume Flos  /  fingerprint  /  differential markers  /  antioxidant activity  /  difference  /  chlorogenic acid  /  rutin  /  hyperoside  /  isoquercitrin  /  isochlorogenic acid B  /  quercitrin  /  naringenin