Comparative study of roots of Angelica sinensis and related umbelliferous drugs by thin layer chromatography, high-performance liquid chromatography, and liquid chromatography mass spectrometry

Thin layer and high performance liquid chromatographic methods for a rapid and clear differentiation of morphologically similar umbelliferous drugs, namely Angelica sinensis (Oliv.) Diels, A. pubescens Maxim, f. biserrata Shan et Yuan, A. dahurica (Fisch. ex Hoffm.) Benth et Hook, Ligusticum porteri Coulter & Rose, L. chuanxiong Hort. and Levisticum officinale Koch have been developed. A. pubescens, characterized by osthol and various angelol type coumarins, and A. dahurica, containing mainly linear furanocoumarins, are very easy to distinguish from A. sinensis, which contains Z-ligustilide as a major compound. On the other hand, very similar phthalides and phthalide dimers, as well as falcarindiol and coniferyl ferulate have been found in A. sinensis, Ligusticum chuanxiong, L. porteri and Levisticum officinale, with mainly quantitative differences. A. sinensis and L. officinale differed only in the quantity of the polyacetylene falcarindiol, which was confirmed by liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry. Coniferyl ferulate is described for the first time as a constituent of A. sinensis, Ligusticum porteri and Levisticum officinale. (C) 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.