Chinese Bulletin of Botany ›› 2015, Vol. 50 ›› Issue (6): 746-753.DOI: 10.11983/CBB15073

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A Rapid Method for Quantitative Analysis of Alkaloids in Epimedium

Chenqian Sun1, Le Chen1, Huafeng Zhang1*, Xiaohua Yang2*, Juan Yang1   

  1. 1Key Laboratory of Ministry of Education for Medicinal Resources and Natural Pharmaceutical Chemistry/National Engineering Laboratory for Resources Development of Endangered Crude Drugs in Northwest China, College of Food Engineering and Nutritional Science, Shaanxi Normal University, Xi’an 710062, China
    2Key Laboratory of Ministry of Health for Forensic Sciences, School of Medicine, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi’an 710061, China
  • Received:2015-04-22 Accepted:2015-08-10 Online:2015-11-01 Published:2015-09-06
  • Contact: Zhang Huafeng,Yang Xiaohua
  • About author:

    ? These authors contributed equally to this paper

Abstract: A novel method for quantitative analysis of alkaloids in Epimedium was developed based on near-infrared reflectance spectroscopy. Content of alkaloids in nine species of Epimedium was quantified by the technique. Principal component analysis, ‘2,4,4,1’ mathematical treatment, standard normal variant and de-trending and modified partial least-squares analyses were used to establish the near-infrared model for quantifying alkaloids in Epimedium. The developed model of Epimedium alkaloids based on near-infrared spectroscopy possessed powerful predictive ability. The coefficient of determination for calibration, 1 minus variance ratio, standard error of calibration and standard error of cross-validation of calibration equation were 0.899 7, 0.845 7, 0.168 6 and 0.085 3, respectively. Alkaloid levels did not differ on analysis by the near-infrared reflectance spectroscopy method and conventional analytical method. Content of alkaloids in Epimedium samples ranged from 6.537 to 20.586 mg·g-1 dry weight. Alkaloid content varied greatly among the different Epimedium species. The proposed method based upon near-infrared spectroscopy is a fast, convenient and nondestructive alternative to the traditional analytical method and shows great potential in research and development of alkaloids in Epimedium.