Identification of Polygonati Rhizoma in three species and from different producing areas of each species using HS-GC-IMS

Polygonati Rhizoma is extensively used as a tonic and functional food in China for centuries. It can be divided into Polygonatum kingianum Coll. et Hemsl., Polygonatum cyrtonema Hua and Polygonatum sibiricum Red., each species of it have its main producing areas. The quality and price of Polygonati Rhizoma of different species and producing areas are different. In this study, the headspace-gas chromatography-ion mobility spectrometry (HS-GC-IMS) method is used to rapidly identify the three species of Polygonati Rhizoma and Polygonati Rhizoma from different areas of each species by analyzing volatile organic compounds (VOCs). The results revealed that 87 signal peaks were detected in total, and there are 59 peaks for 43 compounds were identified, including 14 aldehydes, 9 alcohols, 8 esters, 5 ketones, 4 acids, 3 other compounds, however, 28 compounds were unknown. Subsequently, the results of principal component analysis (PCA) clearly showed that the three different species of Polygonati Rhizoma and different areas of each species of it were well differentiated by the VOCs. The research could be of great potential to differentiate the species of traditional Chinese medicine and different areas of each species of it in the future. In addition, the results of the current study provide a useful basis in Polygonati Rhizoma odor difference study.