Evaluation of Medicinal Categorization ofAtractylodes japonicaKoidz. by Using Internal Transcribed Spacer Sequencing Analysis and HPLC Fingerprinting Combined with Statistical Tools

Abstract

Atractylodesrhizomes have been used as the herbal medicine “Changchul” or “Baekchul,” according to their clinical purpose, in Korea, China, and Japan. Among theAtractylodesspecies, the medicinal use ofAtractylodes japonicahas been controversial, as it is categorized as both Changchul and Baekchul in those countries, and, moreover, parts of the rhizome have been differently used, depending on age of the plant, in Korea. Chromatographic fingerprinting by using HPLC combined with chemometric analyses and internal transcribed spacer (ITS) sequencing analysis were conducted to classify and identify 34 crude drugs derived fromAtractylodesrhizomes. The identification of the samples, authenticated by their morphological features asA. japonicaKoidz. (Changchul and Baekchul),A. chinensisKoidz., andA. macrocephalaKoidz., was confirmed asA. japonica,A. chinensis, andA. macrocephalaby ITS sequencing. The results from chemometric analyses showed that the chemical components of the crude drugs fromA. japonicawere significantly different from those fromA. macrocephalabut were similar to those fromA. chinensis. The analyses also suggested that the categorization by age ofA. japonicaas Changchul or Baekchul is not recommended. The results indicate thatA. japonicashould be categorized as “Changchul” and should not be further categorized by age.