Yao Xue Xue Bao. 2002 Sep; 37(9): 713-7.

[Vectorial angle method for evaluating the similarity between two chromatographic fingerprints of Chinese herb]

Wang LX, Xiao HB, Liang XM, Bi KS.

Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Dalian 116012, China. wanglx@ms.dicp.ac.cn

AIM: To evaluate the similarity between two chromatographic fingerprints automatically with computer. METHODS: Chromatogram can be treated as vector of hyperspace, and the similarity between them can be counted according to vectorial angle formula. This process was performed with software written in Visual Basic 6.0. The two main functions of this software are automatic peak tracking in two fingerprints under the same analytic condition and computing the similarity automatically. RESULTS: The HPLC fingerprints of eleven kinds of Evodia rutaecarpa (Juss.) Benth (a traditional Chinese herb) from different sources were obtained and the similarities were calculated with this software. This method was shown to be a good way to evaluate the similarity between two fingerprints. A sample washed seven times with hot water can be clearly discriminated from other samples of Evodia rutaecarpa (Juss.) Benth with similar results. CONCLUSION: This method is a good way to evaluate the similarity between two fingerprints and is helpful in quality control of traditional Chinese medicine.