ORIGINAL RESEARCH article
Front. Chem.
Sec. Medicinal and Pharmaceutical Chemistry
Volume 13 - 2025 | doi: 10.3389/fchem.2025.1600769
Proposal of a new chemical marker for the quality control of the herb Scleromitrion diffusum
Provisionally accepted
Tao Zheng1
Chu-Chu Zhong2Grace Gar-Lee Yue3Dong-Min Jiang2Man-Ho Tong1Hiu-Yan Wong1Kwan-Ho Wong1
Menghua Wu2David Tai-Wai Lau1Hui Cao2
Pang-Chui Shaw1
Clara Bik-San Lau3*- 1The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, Hong Kong Region, China
- 2Jinan University, Guangzhou, Guangdong Province, China
- 3The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam, Hong Kong, SAR China
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Baihuasheshecao (Scleromitrion diffusum (Willd.) R.J. Wang), a traditional Chinese medicinal herb, is extensively used as an ingredient in herbal teas and is a well-known folk medicine in China.However, two common adulterants, Hedyotis corymbosa (L.) Lam. and Hedyotis tenelliflora (BL.) Kuntze, belonging to the same family, are frequently mistaken as S. diffusum in folk medicine. This confusion has led to a growing concern about their identification and quality evaluation. While previous studies have demonstrated over 15 various compounds as potential chemical markers for authentication and quality control for S. diffusum, considering the selection criteria for chemical markers in the Chinese Pharmacopoeia, most of these compounds do not meet the pharmacopoeial requirements. Hence, this study aims to identify an appropriate chemical marker for S. diffusum based on thin layer chromatography (TLC) identification and high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) quality control, in order to differentiate from any counterfeits such as H. corymbosa and H. tenelliflora. Our findings suggested for the first time that the compound (E)-6-O-(p-coumaroyl) scandoside methyl ester which is specific to S. diffusum, could serve as the chemical marker. Here, attempt was made to establish standardized protocols for TLC identification, HPLC analysis, and quantitative methodologies, adhering to Chinese pharmacopoeial standards, along with laboratory scale preparation procedures. In conclusion, our findings have provided valuable insights to the identification and quality control processes for S.diffusum, and anticipated with potential applications by the industry and regulatory authority.
Keywords: Hedyotis diffusa, Scleromitrion diffusum, Thin Layer Chromatography, Highperformance liquid chromatography, Pharmacopoeia chemical marker, Quality control
Received: 26 Mar 2025; Accepted: 21 Apr 2025.
Copyright: © 2025 Zheng, Zhong, Yue, Jiang, Tong, Wong, Wong, Wu, Lau, Cao, Shaw and Lau. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) or licensor are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.
* Correspondence: Clara Bik-San Lau, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam, Hong Kong, SAR China
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