Abstract Quality evaluation of herbal drugs requires the assessment of identity and possible adulterations, as well as the determination of the content of active principles or markers. For that, normally, different methods, using different chromatographic techniques are prescribed in the Pharmacopeia monographs. The goal of this work is to propose a new method for evaluation, based on “comprehensive high-performance thin layer chromatography (HPTLC) fingerprinting.” A single HPTLC analysis, which combines identification of Ganoderma lucidum fruiting body with a test for adulteration and quantitative determination of the content of total triterpene acids is proposed. Parameters of the HPTLC method were optimized for simplicity, and robustness. Then, 50 samples of G. lucidum fruiting body, plus samples of possible adulterating species were evaluated, proving specificity of the method for the targeted species. Triterpene acids were assayed by integrating the peaks of ganoderic acids in the fingerprint, summing their areas, and quantifying them against a single level calibration point of ganoderic acid A. The presented HPTLC method offers an economic yet powerful alternative to the current USP monograph on G. lucidum fruiting body. It combines identification and quantitative assessment in a single, low-cost test, eliminating the UHPLC assay of total triterpene acids. This way the samples’ quality can be comprehensively described. Graphical Abstract

中文翻译：

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综合HPTLC指纹图谱：一种评价灵芝子实体质量的新经济方法

摘要 中药材的质量评价需要对药性和可能掺假的评价，以及有效成分或标志物含量的测定。为此，通常，药典专论中规定了使用不同色谱技术的不同方法。这项工作的目标是提出一种基于“全面高效薄层色谱 (HPTLC) 指纹识别”的新评估方法。提出了将灵芝子实体鉴定与掺假测试和总三萜酸含量定量测定相结合的单一HPTLC分析。HPTLC 方法的参数为简单性和稳健性进行了优化。然后，对 50 个灵芝子实体样品以及可能掺假的样品进行了评估，证明该方法对目标物种的特异性。通过对指纹中灵芝酸的峰进行积分、求和它们的面积并根据灵芝酸 A 的单一水平校准点对其进行量化，对三萜酸进行了测定。所提出的 HPTLC 方法为当前 USP 的 G 专着提供了一种经济而强大的替代方法灵芝子实体。它在单一、低成本的测试中结合了鉴定和定量评估，消除了总三萜酸的 UHPLC 分析。这样就可以全面描述样品的质量。图形概要 并针对灵芝酸 A 的单一水平校准点对它们进行量化。所提出的 HPTLC 方法为目前关于灵芝子实体的 USP 专着提供了一种经济而强大的替代方法。它在单一、低成本的测试中结合了鉴定和定量评估，消除了总三萜酸的 UHPLC 分析。这样就可以全面描述样品的质量。图形概要 并针对灵芝酸 A 的单一水平校准点对它们进行量化。所提出的 HPTLC 方法为目前关于灵芝子实体的 USP 专着提供了一种经济而强大的替代方法。它在单一、低成本的测试中结合了鉴定和定量评估，消除了总三萜酸的 UHPLC 分析。这样就可以全面描述样品的质量。图形概要