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Planta Med 2010; 76(17): 1987-1996
DOI: 10.1055/s-0030-1250520
Traditional Chinese Medicine
Reviews
© Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York

Application of Mid-Infrared Spectroscopy in the Quality Control of Traditional Chinese Medicines

Suqin Sun1 , Jianbo Chen1 , Qun Zhou1 , Guanghua Lu2 , Kelvin Chan3
  • 1Key Laboratory of the Ministry of Education in China on Bioorganic Phosphorus Chemistry & Chemical Biology, Department of Chemistry, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China
  • 2Key Laboratory of the Ministry of Education in China on the Standardization of Chinese Materia Medica, School of Pharmacy, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, China
  • 3Herbal Medicine Research & Education Centre, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Sydney and Centre for Complementary Medicine Research, College of Health & Science, University of Western Sydney, Sydney, Australia
Further Information

Publication History

received February 11, 2010 revised Sept. 29, 2010

accepted October 7, 2010

Publication Date:
03 November 2010 (online)

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Abstract

Chinese herbal medicines are often referred to as Chinese materia medica (CMM). Composite formulae containing mixtures of CMM are prescribed for treatment and prevention of diseases in the practice of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM). Some of the well-known CMM formulae (Fufang in Chinese) are manufactured and marketed as proprietary Chinese medicines (PCM). Quality assessment and assurance of these products are difficult; they are a challenging task. Mid-infrared spectroscopy, a classic molecular structure analysis method, has been innovatively applied in the quality control of TCM, and has gained significant impact and advancement in analytical fields. Infrared fingerprinting features appear particularly suitable for the identification of multicomponent matrices in samples whose chemical integrity has not been altered or destroyed because no extraction procedure is needed. This review summarizes and gives an overall view on the application of mid-infrared and two-dimensional correlation infrared (2D‐IR) spectroscopy as well as chemometric techniques in the identification of CMM, investigation of TCM processing procedures, and analysis of herb extracts and preparations.

Key words

traditional Chinese medicine - quality control - mid‐infrared spectroscopy - two‐dimensional correlation infrared spectroscopy - chemometric techniques

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Prof. Suqin Sun

Department of Chemistry
Tsinghua University

Beijing 100084

China

Phone: +86 10 62 78 76 61

Fax: +86 10 62 78 24 85

Email: sunsq@mail.chem.tsinghua.edu.cn

Prof. Guanghua Lu

School of Pharmacy
Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine

Chengdu 611137

China

Phone: +86 28 61 80 02 31

Email: luguanghua@hotmail.com

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