"medicinal materials"

"This study was designed to establish reliable methods for identifying Streptocaulon griffithii (SG) and distinguishing it from its common adulterant, Cryptolepis buchnaii (CB), with the ultimate goal of developing quality criteria for the standard decoction of SG. Fifteen SG samples and five CB samples, collected from diverse geographical origins, served as the research materials. Qualitative identification of SG was conducted using thin-layer chromatography (TLC), whereas differentiation between SG and CB was accomplished through a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) specificity test. Additionally, the concentrations of three bioactive compounds-chlorogenic acid (CA), neochlorogenic acid (NCA), and cryptochlorogenic acid (CCA)\u2013in the 15 SG standard decoctions were quantified using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). The quantitative results obtained via the quantitative analysis of multi-components by a single-marker (QAMS) were compared with those derived from the external standard method (ESM). The PCR-based method developed in this study produced amplification bands specific to SG, while no bands were detected for CB. The ointment rates of the SG decoctions ranged from 10.00% to 18.58%. The transfer rates of CA, NCA, and CCA were 30.53%\u201356.69%, 44.17%\u201382.03%, and 36.43%\u201367.65%, respectively, with corresponding mean recovery rates of 97.33%, 98.54%, and 96.61%. Importantly, no statistically significant difference was observed between the QAMS and ESM results, supporting the feasibility of using QAMS for the quality assessment of SG decoction. Furthermore, the HPLC characteristic chromatogram of SG revealed seven common peaks, four of which were unequivocally identified as NCA (Peak 1), CA (Peak 2), CCA (Peak 3), and 4,5-O-dicaffeoylquinic acid (Peak 7). In conclusion, the PCR specificity test established in this work provides an effective means for differentiating SG from CB. Moreover, CA, NCA, and CCA are confirmed as characteristic marker components in the standard decoction of SG, thereby justifying the use of their content as scientifically sound criteria for quality control."