Total detection of Tianma Toutong tablets for quality consistency by a five-wavelength fusion fingerprint and chemometrics

A fingerprint method was developed and combined with chemometrics for quality evaluation of Tianma Toutong tablets, which are herbal medicine tablets used to treat migraine. Samples were analyzed by high-performance liquid chromatography, where five single-wavelength profiles (203, 232, 254, 280 and 310 nm) were fused to generate a five-wavelength fusion fingerprint and were also used for the quantitative analysis of seven chemical markers (gastrodin, caffeic acid, hesperidin, isoimperatorin, chlorogenic acid, ferulic acid and imperatorin). A systematic quantitative fingerprint method and principal component analysis were used to analyze the generated data. Samples could be well distinguished from different manufacturers by analyzing the chromatographic data sets. In addition, the partial least squares model can serve as an antioxidant activity evaluation of Tianma Toutong tablets, as well as a reference for the selection of active constituents to analyze the spectrum-activity relationship. In summary, the integrated use of the fingerprint and chemometric analysis provides a reliable method for the identification of markers and the quality control of Tianma Toutong tablets.