Fourier-Transform Infrared Spectroscopy for Discrimination of Cynomorium songaricum Inflorescence Samples from Different Origins

Abstract

Cynomorium songaricum Rupr. has been used as a medicinal tonic in China for thousands of years. The Fourier-transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy and second-derivative infrared (SD-IR) spectroscopy were used to study 200 samples of C. songaricum inflorescence collected at 20 sites in four different regions. A resemblance was found among the FT-IR spectra of samples from different origins and developed an IR fingerprint spectrum. The main absorption peaks in the range 1800-1200 cm-1 suggests that C. songaricum inflorescences may be rich in phenolic compounds, proteins and flavonoids. The SD-IR spectra of samples from different origins revealed an obvious intensity differences for peaks in the range 1800-1200 cm-1, especially for samples from Gansu province of China. An origin discrimination model based on principal component analysis is established. The prediction accuracy of the model is 87.25%. The results indicated that our origin discrimination model can differentiate production areas for C. songaricum.