To comprehensively evaluate the quality of Centella asiatica by combining the sensory characteristics and gray relational analysis to improve the reliability and scientificity of the quality evaluation of Centella asiatica.
The characteristics, microscopic structure and thin layer chromatography of Centella asiatica were identified by pharmacognosy methods; the impurity, moisture, total ash and extract content were determined with reference to the fourth general rule of the Chinese Pharmacopoeia; HPLC method was used to determine the contents of impurities, moisture, total ash and extracts of Centella asiatica. The contents of asiaticoside and madecassoside were determined; the gray relational analysis was used to construct the quality evaluation model of Centella asiatica, and the relative degree of correlation was calculated.
There were no significant differences in the characteristics and microscopic structure of Centella asiatica from different producing areas; thin layer chromatography could detect both asiaticoside and madecassoside; the impurity content was 0.500%~8.837%; the moisture content was 4.899%~6.423%; the total ash content was 10.103%~16.368%; the extract content was 28.100%~38.311%; the asiaticoside content was 0.383%~1.019%; the madecassoside content was 0.541%~1.915%. Combined with various factors such as impurities, moisture, total ash, extract, asiaticoside and madecassoside, it was indicated that the 29 batches of Centella asiatica from different producing areas had quality differences and their relative correlations degree values were in the range of 0.437~0.556. The top 3 samples are S15, S8, and S9, Centella asiatica produced in Xiajiang county, Ji'an city, Jiangxi province, the measured relative degree of correlation is larger, and the quality ranking is higher, indicating that the quality of Centella asiatica produced in Xiajiang county, Ji'an city, Jiangxi province is better.
The quality evaluation model established by the sensory characteristics combined with gray relational analysis can be used for the quality evaluation of Centella asiatica from different producing areas.
| 科 Family | 属数 Number of genus | 种数 Number of species | 占总种数比例 Percentage of total species (%) | 属 Genus | 种数 Number of species | 占总种数比例 Percentage of total species (%) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 鹅膏菌科Amanitaceae | 2 | 11 | 5.26 | 鹅膏菌属 Amanita | 10 | 4.78 |
| 小菇科 Mycenaceae | 2 | 12 | 5.74 | 丝盖伞属 Inocybe | 5 | 2.39 |
| 多孔菌科 Polyporaceae | 8 | 14 | 6.70 | 蜡蘑属 Laccaria | 5 | 2.39 |
| 红菇科 Russulaceae | 3 | 23 | 11.00 | 小皮伞属 Marasmius | 6 | 2.87 |
| 小菇属 Mycena | 11 | 5.26 | ||||
| 光柄菇属 Pluteus | 5 | 2.39 | ||||
| 红菇属 Russula | 17 | 8.13 | ||||
| 栓菌属 Trametes | 5 | 2.39 |