Quantitative similarity assessment of non-linear chemical fingerprint of traditional Chinese medicine by similarity system theory

摘要

The similarities of the non-linear chemical (NLC) fingerprints of Radix Glycyrrhizaes from four producing areas and eight other traditional Chinese medicines (TCMs) were calculated,using a systemic similarity calculation method proposed and three other main calculation ones (Euclidean distance,correlation coefficient and included angle cosine). All of the correlation coefficient similarities of different TCMs are higher than 0.952,and the included angle cosines are all higher than 0.962. So,both the correlation coefficient and included angle cosine similarities are unable to be used as the criteria for quantitatively evaluating the similarities of NLC fingerprints of TCMs. Although all of the Euclidean distance similarities of Berry Liquorices from four producing areas are less than 73,those of the other eight TCMs are all more than 180. The Euclidean distance cannot reflect the relative magnitudes of the feature differences in the NLC fingerprints very correctly. The systemic similarity method is the best among the four ones. All of the systemic similarities of Berry Liquorices from the four producing areas are higher than 0.962,while those of the other eight TCMs are all lower than 0.805,and the systemic similarity can reflect the differences between samples most faithfully,and can be used as a quantitative one evaluating the similarities of NLC fingerprints of TCMs,by which TCM could be distinguished and evaluated quickly,simply and exactly.