Quality evaluation of Salvia miltiorrhiza from different geographical origins in China based on qualitative and quantitative saccharide mapping and chemometrics

Comparison of Salvia miltiorrhiza polysaccharides (SMPs) from different geographical origins in China (Henan, Hebei, Shandong, Sichuan, Shaanxi) was performed using high performance size exclusion chromatography coupled with multi-angle laser light scattering and refractive index detector (HPSEC-MALLS-RID), saccharide mapping based on polysaccharide analysis by using carbohydrate gel electrophoresis (PACE) and combined with principal component analysis (PCA) and orthogonal partial least squares discriminant analysis (OPLS-DA). Based on the results of HPSEC-MALLS/RI, the relative content of SMPs showed a significant difference between different geographical origins, however, the molecular weight of SMPs showed almost no significance. SMPs can be discriminated as five regions after PACE coupled with OPLS-DA models analysis of endo-1,5-α-arabinanase hydrolysates. Moreover, all the PACE fingerprint indicated that 1,4-β-D-Galp, 1,5-α-Araf, 1,4-α-D-GalAp and 1,4-β-D-Glcp linkages existed in SMPs.