Quality Evaluation of Crude and Salt-Processed Cuscutae Semen through Qualitative and Quantitative Analysis of Multiple Components Using HPLC Combined with Chemometrics

Cuscutae Semen (CS; Chinese common name “Tusizi”) is one of the most traditional herbal medicines used to treat liver and kidney diseases in China. Although it commonly as a processed product, little progress has been made on quality control CS salt-processed (PCS). The purpose this study was establish comprehensive strategy integrating chromatographic analysis chemometric methods for evaluation discrimination PCS. An accurate reliable HPLC method established simultaneous quantification 12 analyte compounds results showed that exhibited desirable sensitivity, precision, stability, repeatability. Multivariate were applied analyze obtained fingerprints, including hierarchical cluster (HCA), principle component (PCA), partial least squares discriminant (PLS-DA). indicated PCS samples clear classification two groups, three chemical markers with great contributions differentiation screened out. Collectively, chemometrics combined quantitative based fingerprint salt processing may change contents types components Semen.