ABSTRACT
Acanthopanax brachypus belonging to the genus Acanthopanax, is a peculiar folk medicinal plant, narrowly distributed in the loess plateau of the northwest of China, mainly in Liupanshan, Ziwuling and Northern Shannxi. Studies showed that its rhizome extract had been used for the treatment of neurasthenic, male sexual dysfunction, secondary hypertension, hypotension and leucopenia disease, also had the function of preventing cancer and anti-cancer (Gansu Food and Drug Administration, 2009). Previous studies revealed that A. brachypus contained essential oil, flavonoids, triterpenoids, amino acids, and so on (Hu & Fan, 2012). However, to the best of our knowledge, there are no reports on the chemical fingerprint of A. brachypus up to now. In this regard, the present study seeks to establish the characteristic GC-MS fingerprint of A. brachypus for distinguishing the substitute or adulterant, and further assessing the dierences of A. brachypus grown in various areas of China.
