Constructing a “Four in One” fingerprint quality evaluation system of Cistanche Herba

Cistanche Herba, known as “Desert Ginseng”, is widely sought after as a medicine and food homology. Owing to the one-sided quality control of several markers, a comprehensive “Four in One” fingerprint quality evaluation system based on HPLC, UV, FTIR and DSC was developed to ensure safety and improve quality. Except for HPLC quantitative analysis of echinacoside (1.41–60.23 mg/g) and acteoside (0.13–14.71 mg/g), UV and FTIR spectral analyses, 12 characteristic parameters of the DSC curve were first developed. Particularly, HPLC fingerprints with UV, FTIR and DSC quantum fingerprints established by merging point method were integrated to evaluate the sample quality with systematically quantified fingerprint method. 45 samples (Cistanche deserticola: 26 batches, Cistanche tubulosa: 19 batches) were evaluated separately to retain their fingerprint characteristics, whose significant inter batch differences and grade differentiation were manifested. This study can provide a comprehensive, strict and objective evaluation strategy for Cistanche Herba and even other samples.