In this study, the multiple fingerprints, which were integrated with HPGFC-ELSD (high performance gel filtration chromatography - evaporative light scattering detector) fingerprint, PMP-HPLC-DAD (1-phenyl-3-methyl-5-pyrazolone-high performance liquid chromatography - diode array detector) fingerprint of complete acid hydrolysates and HILIC-HPLC-ELSD (hydrophilic interaction - high performance liquid chromatography - evaporative light scattering detector) fingerprint of enzyme hydrolysates, were established to evaluate the quality of polysaccharides from Poria cocos (PCPs). The similarity evaluation showed that 16 batches of PCPs from different origins had high similarity in structural characteristics based on the multiple fingerprints. The chromatographic data of multiple fingerprints of PCPs were fused, processed and analyzed by chemometric methods including HCA (hierarchical cluster analysis), PCA (principal component analysis) and PLS-DA (partial least squares discriminant analysis). The 16 batches of PCPs were divided into 3 categories in PCA, indicating a certain relationship between the structural characteristics and the origins. PLS-DA analysis indicated that Man, Glc, Gal, Fuc, the components with m/z of 2.22 × 10 4 ∼1.53 × 10 4 Da and 3.46 × 10 3 ∼2.69 × 10 3 Da, oligosaccharides with DPs of 6 and 7, respectively, could be regarded as potential chemical markers for the classification of PCPs from different origins. According to the multiple fingerprints and chemometric analysis, the two commercial samples were proved to be adulterants.
Quality analysis of edible mushrooms based on polysaccharides is generally difficult due to their complicated structures and hard separation. Here, multiple fingerprint analysis of polysaccharides based on chromatographic and spectrometric techniques were developed, and then applied in comparative analysis of Auricularia heimuer (AH), Auricularia cornea (AC), Auricularia cornea ʻYu Muerʼ (ACY) and Tremella fuciformis (TF). Firstly, polysaccharides were obtained with the molecular weights between 1.783 × 10 6 and 6.774 × 10 6 Da. Then, complete hydrolysis by TFA and enzyme digestion by cellulase were employed and subsequently analyzed by HPLC-UV, GC–MS, HILIC-HPLC-ELSD and HILIC-HPLC-ESI − -HCD-MS/MS, and ATR-FT-IR were used to characterize the functional groups of intact polysaccharides. By chemometric analysis, differential markers of d -xyl, l -fuc, l -arb, d -glc, disaccharide and hexasaccharide were selected, and AC and ACY were proved to be same species from the viewpoint of polysaccharides firstly. Furthermore, the structures of oligomers with DPs of 2–8 and →4)- β - d -Glc p -(1→ unit with different contents were inferred by combinatory analysis of ESI − -MS/MS, glycosidic linkage, monosaccharide compositions and functional groups. In conclusion, the combinatory method of multiple fingerprint and pattern recognition is powerful not only for structural elucidation of polysaccharides, but also for quality analysis and species differentiation of edible mushrooms from the perspective of biological polysaccharides.
危险品化学品经营许可证（带存储）