OBJECTIVE To establish a more comprehensive quality evaluation method for Sophora alopecuroides L. based on multiple identification methods to comprehensively evaluate the quality of Sophora alopecuroides L..

METHODS Referring to the General Principles of the Chinese Pharmacopoeia 2020 edition, the water content, total ash content, acid insoluble ash content, water-soluble extracts, and heavy metal harmful elements of Sophora alopecuroides L. were detected. Thin layer chromatography(TLC) was used to qualitatively identify Sophora alopecuroides L. medicinal materials(matrine, oxymatrine, sophoridine as markers). Using HPLC and the Similarity Evaluation System for Traditional Chinese Medicine Chromatographic Fingerprint, the fingerprint was studied, and chemometric analysis was conducted using SPSS 26 software.

RESULTS The results of moisture, total ash, acid insoluble ash, water-soluble leachables, and harmful heavy metal elements all met the requirements. Thin layer identification of Chinese herbal medicine shown spots of the same color on the corresponding positions of the test solution and the reference sample, resulting in good separation effect. The established fingerprint spectrum calibrated a total of 13 common peaks, and identified 6 chromatographic peaks, including matrine, sophocarpine, oxysophocarpine, naringin, cucurbitine hydrochloride, and stachydrine, through comparison with the reference substance. Based on the clustering analysis and principal component analysis results of content determination, medicinal materials could be divided into 2 categories.

CONCLUSION The established comprehensive analysis method is stable and reliable, and can provide reference for the quality difference evaluation of Sophora alopecuroides L. medicinal herbs in the future.