Quality evaluation and chemometric discrimination of Zanthoxylum bungeanum Maxim leaves based on flavonoids profiles, bioactivity and HPLC-fingerprint in a common garden experiment

Zanthoxylum bungeanum leaves (ZBL) have rich flavonoids with a variety of bioactivities, which has great values of development and utilization. In this paper, the quality of thirteen varieties of ZBL collected from a common garden was evaluated based on flavonoids compositions, bioactivity and reversed-phase high performance liquid chromatography (RP-HPLC) fingerprint coupled with chemometrics analysis. The values revealed that You Huajiao (S13) exhibited the highest contents of flavonoids compounds and strongest bioactivity, followed by Hancheng Dangcun stingless (S1). Among different varieties HPLC-fingerprint, eight common characteristic peaks were selected and the similarity lay within the range of 0.502-0.999. Meanwhile, thirteen varieties were divided into four groups (G1-G4) and two discriminant functions with the discriminant rate of 100% were constructed. Additionally, quercitrin and afzelin were found to be key compounds of quality evaluation. In conclusion, G4 (You Huajiao, S13) was selected as the best variety, followed by G1 (S1, S3, S5, S6, S7, S10, S12) and G2 (S4, S8, S9, S11), respectively, and G3 (Fugu late-maturing, S2) was at the last level. Consequently, this study screened for fine varieties of ZBL and provided a basis for the development and utilization of high-quality resources of Z. bungeanum.