OBJECTIVECombining the quantitative physical property characteristics of the appearance with the internal quality evaluation index, its aims to provide experimental basis for the classification and quality evaluation of Coptis chinensis.

METHODFourteen batches of C. chinensis from different areas were respectively measured in size (total length, total width, root length, taproot diameter, branch number, branch length, branch diameter, length of the bridge, weight), color (external color, internal color), content (epiberberine, coptisine, palmatine, berberine). Then the determination data were evaluated by spss principal component analysis and cluster analysis.

RESULTThree principal components were extracted from the original data. The principal component analysis results showed that the characteristic elements might be the total length, main root length, taproot diameter, branch length, weight, the total color value of the appearance and content of epiberberine and berberine. The results of cluster analysis showed that 14 batches of samples could be clustered reasonably into two groups. In terms of the appearance and quality, there were some differences between in the geo-authentic and non-authentic producing areas of C. chinensis.

CONCLUSIONThe method which was combining the quantitative physical property characteristics of the appearance with the internal quality evaluation index, and through the processing of mathematical statistics, could be used for the the classification of C. chinensis.