Validation and Standardization of the Content of Three DCQAs (Di-caffeoylquinic acid) in Korean Ligularia fischeri by Region of Origin

Ligularia fischeri is a perennial plant in the Asteraceae family, native to Japan, China, Eastern Siberia, and Korea. In general, it is said to be good for anti-aging, bronchial diseases, anti-cancer, and constipation. In this study, we obtained five regions (Hamyang, Hoengseong, Jeongseon, Nonsan, and Yangsan) of the Korean cultivated Ligularia fischeri and analyzed its compounds by HPLC-MS/MS and chromatograms with standards to confirm the absence of interfering substances and confirmed that it contains three types of DCQA (Di-caffeoylquinic acid): 3,4-DCQA, 3,5-DCQA, and 4,5-DCQA. The linearity, precision, limit of quantification (LOQ) and limit of detection (LOD), and recovery were then measured by quantitative analysis to confirm the content of the three DCQAs. The results of the analysis of three types of DCQA content in Ligularia fischeri obtained from five regions (Hamyang, Hoengseong, Jeongseon, Nonsan, and Yangsan) using three different solvent concentrations (100% DW, 30% EtOH, and 50% EtOH) are as follows (5 g of raw material/50 mL of extraction solvent). In 100% distilled water, 3,4-DCQA was highest in Nonsan (9.29 mg/g), 3,5-DCQA was highest in Hoengseong (5.32 mg/g), and 4,5-DCQA was highest in Nonsan (3.38 mg/g). In 30% ethanol, 3,4-DCQA was highest in Nonsan (19.15 mg/g), 3,5-DCQA was highest in Hoengseong (9.98 mg/g), and 4,5-DCQA was highest in Nonsan (11.79 mg/g). In 50% ethanol, 3,4-DCQA was highest in Nonsan (21.52 mg/g), 3,5-DCQA was highest in Hoengseong (17.06 mg/g), and 4,5-DCQA was highest in Nonsan (11.25 mg/g).