Comparison of chemical constituents in Glycyrrhiza uralensis from various sources using a multivariate statistical approach

Quality of Glycyyhizae Radix samples collected in China and Mongolia was evaluated by multivariate statistical analysis of liquid chromatography-ion trap-time of flight (LC-IT-TOF) mass spectrometric data. In total, 17 peaks were annotated or identified in the chromatogram obtained from the analysis of a water extract of Glycyyhizae Radix. The 10 compounds with the greatest degree of variance, (liquiritin apioside, liquiritin, glycyyhizin, licoricesaponin A3, B2, E2, G2, H2, Hcorice glycoside E, and a compound having the same composition as glycyyhizin) were selected as index compounds to create a data mafrix for principal component analysis (PCA). Thirty three cultivated or wild Glycyyhizae Radix samples, collected in China and Mongolia, were grouped characteristically by PCA. In addition, the possibility of the developing resources of Glycyyhizae Radix in the eastern region of Mongolia is indicated as an alternative to Chinese Glycyyhizae Radix.