A novel evaluation mode of Nao An Capsules using multi-wavelength fusion fingerprint combined with quantitative analysis of multi-components by a single marker method and antioxidant activity

Nao An Capsules (NAC) are utilized in the acute phase of cerebral thrombosis and are appropriate for patients in the recovery stage exhibiting symptoms of qi deficiency and blood stasis. Nevertheless, there has been a lack of recent research on the overall quality control of NAC. The objective of this study is to establish a comprehensive quality control strategy for NAC. This article presents a methodology based on the average linear quantitative fingerprinting method (ALQFM) in conjunction with multi-wavelength high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) fusion fingerprinting, quantized Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy and ultraviolet (UV) spectral techniques to comprehensively evaluate NAC from both qualitative and quantitative perspectives. Subsequently, quantitative analysis of multi-components by a single marker (QAMS) method and the Standard Curve Method (SCM) were used to quantitatively determine 10 quality markers (Q-markers) in 22 batches of samples, with the results indicating that QAMS is a reliable method for quantifying active ingredients. Chemometrics methods such as principal component analysis (PCA) and principal component analysis (HCA) were also used to analyze the quality of samples. To achieve a thorough and methodical evaluation, a combined assessment of the three fingerprints was executed. Subsequently, an in vitro antioxidant activity experiment was performed utilizing the 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical-scavenging technique. By employing a partial least squares (PLS) model, the correlation between HPLC fingerprint chromatography and antioxidant activity was investigated. The study found that out of the 59 common peaks in the five-wavelength fusion fingerprint spectra of NAC, 33 peaks exhibit antioxidant activity. In this study, multi-wavelength fusion HPLC, quantized FT-IR and UV were jointly used to effectively identify functional groups and fingerprint information in compounds. It can fully and quickly obtain the fingerprint information of the compounds in the sample. NAC multi-components quantification and overall quality evaluation were performed using ALQFM and QAMS and chemometrics methods. We have developed a new approach for comprehensive, rapid, and cost-effective quality control of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) compound preparations.