Tracing the Producing Region of Angelica Sinensis by Principal Component Analysis and Hierarchical Cluster Analysis Based on Contents of 37 Inorganic Elements

The 37 inorganic elements in 26 batches of Angelica sinensis samples collected from Gansu, Qinghai, Sichuan and Yunnan were determined by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry, and the security situation of heavy metal elements and harmful elements was investigated. The differential characteristic elements in Angelica sinensis were determined by principal component analysis by using the determined values of 37 inorganic elements as variables, and then hierarchical cluster analysis was carried out with characteristic elements as variables to discuss the relationship between the contents of main inorganic elements in Angelica sinensis and their producing regions. As shown by the results, 32 kinds of 37 inorganic elements in Angelica sinensis were detected, and the contents of the elements were quite different. The contents of heavy metal elements and harmful elements including Hg, Cu, Cd and As were lower than those in other plants. Angelica sinensis in different producing regions showed certain clustering characteristics. There were differences in the inorganic elements of Angelica sinensis from Gansu and Qinghai, and 7 inorganic elements including Sm, Nd, Cu, Cr, Cd, Rb and Sr were the main index components, which could effectively trace the producing region of Angelica sinensis.