Quality Evaluation Of Cistanche Deserticola From Different Producing Areas in Xinjiang Based On Entropy Weight TOPSIS Model

 

Cistanche desertiola Y.C.Ma. is a perennial parasitic herb of the genus Cistanche in the family Orobanchaceae. It is mainly distributed in desert and semi-desert areas in Inner Mongolia, Xinjiang, Ningxia, Gansu and Qinghai. It is known as the "desert ginseng" [1]. It has the functions of nourishing the kidney and strengthening yang, replenishing essence and marrow, moisturizing and lubricating the intestines, and is widely used in clinical practice [2-5]. As one of the authentic medicinal materials in Xinjiang, it has high medicinal and health value. As wild resources are on the verge of depletion and domestic and foreign market demand is increasing day by day, Cistanche desertiola has been included in the "International Wild Plant Protection List" and Appendix II of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Fauna and Flora (CTTES). my country has also listed Cistanche desertiola as a national second-level protected plant and requires the implementation of a special management system for Cistanche deserticola, encouraging the development of artificial cultivation to meet domestic and foreign market demand [6].

Cistanche Base In China

 

In recent years, Xinjiang has begun to carry out artificial cultivation and planting base construction for Cistanche deserticola [7]. There are differences in growth environment, growth years, and harvesting and processing methods between cultivated and wild Cistanche deserticola, which will inevitably lead to differences in the intrinsic quality of the medicinal materials. Literature reports that phenylethanol glycosides are the main effective active ingredients in Cistanche deserticola medicinal materials and are also the main detection indicators for quality control of Cistanche deserticola. At present, the phenylethanol glycosides isolated from Cistanche deserticola are represented by verbascoside and echinacoside. In this study, 10 batches of Cistanche deserticola samples from different origins in Xinjiang were collected in the same year. Referring to the method under "Cistanche deserticola" in the 2020 edition of the "Chinese Pharmacopoeia" (Part 1), the content, moisture and total ash of echinacoside and verbascoside in the 10 batches of samples collected were determined [8], in order to provide a research basis for the quality evaluation of wild and cultivated Cistanche deserticola.

Cistanche Base In China

 

The entropy weighted approach to the ideal solution ranking method (technique for order preference by similarity to ideal solution, TOPSIS) is a multi-objective decision-making algorithm that is rapidly developing and widely used. The mathematical model it establishes realizes multi-objective decision analysis by approximating the ideal solution. It is a powerful tool for studying and solving multiple incompatible problems and methods. It can also reduce the influence of subjective factors and make the evaluation more objective and comprehensive. It has been widely used in the quality evaluation of traditional Chinese medicine [9]. Based on this, this study intends to use entropy weighted TOPSIS to conduct a comprehensive evaluation of the quality of Cistanche deserticola from different origins in Xinjiang, in order to provide new ideas for the quality evaluation and quality control of Cistanche deserticola from different origins in Xinjiang.

 

 

Number	Variety	Origin	Cultivation Method
C1	Cistanche	Turpan	Cultivated
C2	Cistanche	Ejin	Cultivated
C3	Cistanche	Grassland	Cultivated
C4	Cistanche	Mu Us	Wild
C5	Cistanche	Hetian	Cultivated
C6	Cistanche	Ruoqiang	Cultivated
C7	Cistanche	Dongdi	Cultivated
C8	Cistanche	Korla	Cultivated
C9	Cistanche	Shanshan	Wild
C10	Cistanche	Akesu	Cultivated

 

 

2 Methods and results

2.1 Content determination[9] Determined according to high performance liquid chromatography (General Rule 0512).

 

2.1.1 Chromatographic conditions and system suitability test

A Shimadzu InertSustain C18 column (2.6×256mm) was used as the chromatographic column; methanol was used as mobile phase A, and 0.1% formic acid solution was used as mobile phase B. Gradient elution was performed according to the provisions in Table 2; the detection wavelength was 330nm. Flow rate: 1.0mL·min-1, column temperature 30℃; injection volume: 10μL. The theoretical plate number calculated based on the echinacoside peak should not be less than 3000. The chromatogram is shown in Figure 1.

Cistanche Base In China 

 

2.1.2 Preparation of reference solution

Take appropriate amount of echinacoside reference and verbascoside reference, weigh accurately, add 50% methanol to make a mixed solution containing 0.2mg of each per 1mL, and obtain.

 

2.1.3 Preparation of test solution

Take about 1g of the powder of this product (passed through No. 4 sieve), weigh accurately, put it in a 100mL brown volumetric flask, add 50mL of 50% methanol accurately, seal it, shake well, weigh it, soak it for 30min, ultrasonically treat it for 40min (power 250W, frequency 35kHz), let it cool, weigh it again, add 50% methanol to make up the lost weight, shake well, let it stand, take the supernatant, filter, take the filtrate, and obtain. Determination method: Accurately aspirate 10μL of reference solution and test solution respectively, inject them into liquid chromatograph, and determine, and obtain.

 

2.1.4 Sample content determination

Take 10 batches of Cistanche deserticola respectively, prepare the test solution according to the method under "2.1.3", inject and determine, calculate the content of echinacoside and verbascoside respectively, and the results are shown in Table 3.

 

2.2 Detection methods of indicators for routine inspection items

The moisture content is determined by the "drying method" in the moisture determination method (General Rules 0832 of the Fourth Part of the 2020 Edition of the Chinese Pharmacopoeia). The total ash content is determined by the ash determination method (General Rules 2302 of the Fourth Part of the 2020 Edition of the Chinese Pharmacopoeia). The results of the moisture and total ash content determination are shown in Table 3.

Cistanche Flower

Table 3 Determination results of moisture content, total ash content and content of Cistanche deserticola

 

Number	Origin	Echinacoside (mg·g⁻¹)	Verbascoside (mg·g⁻¹)	Moisture (%)	Total Ash (%)
C1	Turpan	0.0203	0.0428	7.94	9.04
C2	Ejin	0.2643	0.1559	6.82	5.58
C3	Grassland	0.1959	0.0690	9.56	5.60
C4	Mu Us	0.2247	0.1468	7.11	8.44
C5	Hetian	0.1234	0.1147	7.84	7.98
C6	Ruoqiang	0.0450	0.0656	6.19	6.19
C7	Dongdi	0.0949	0.0691	5.04	7.73
C8	Korla	0.1292	0.0890	8.96	6.49
C9	Shanshan	0.1130	0.0800	7.26	6.98
C10	Akesu	0.1130	0.1800	6.26	6.26