Identification of Cortex Eucommiae from different producing areas by FTIR microspectroscopy

•FTIR microspectroscopy was used to study Cortex Eucommiae from different areas.•IR spectra of Cortex Eucommiae samples were compared.•Curve fitting showed differences in the 1138–968 cm−1 region.•A1245/A1328 might be useful for discriminating the above samples.•FTIR microspectroscopy could distinguish the above samples efficiently.

In this paper, FTIR microspectroscopy was used to compare Cortex Eucommiae from Anhui Province (A), Henan Province (B) and Sichuan Province (C) of China. High-resolution spectra were obtained with good reproducibility. From IR spectra, some obvious differences in band frequency could be observed among Cortex Eucommiae A–C. Curve fitting result indicated that polysaccharides’ structures and contents were different among Cortex Eucommiae A–C. To distinguish Cortex Eucommiae from different producing areas, the A1245/A1328 ratio might be an exceptionally practical factor. Additionally, FTIR microspectroscopy could identify Cortex Eucommiae A–C with 89.5% accuracy in combination with hierarchical cluster analysis. The results suggest FTIR microspectroscopy is very easy and efficient for distinguishing Cortex Eucommiae from different areas, and also indicate FTIR microspectroscopy may be practical for TCM research.

Graphical abstractIn this paper, FTIR microspectroscopy was used to identify Cortex Eucommiae from Anhui Province (A), Henan Province (B) and Sichuan Province (C) of China.Figure optionsDownload full-size imageDownload as PowerPoint slide