Two-Dimensional High-Performance Thin-Layer Chromatography with Bioautography for Distinguishing Angelicae Dahuricae Radix Varieties: Chemical Fingerprinting and Antioxidant Profiling

Angelicae Dahuricae Radix (ADR) holds a prominent place in traditional medicine for its remarkable antioxidative, anti-allergic, and antiproliferative capabilities. Recognized within the Korean Pharmacopoeia (KP 12th), Angelica dahurica (Hoffm.) Benth. and Hook.f. ex Franch. and Sav. (AD) and Angelica dahurica var. formosana (H. Boissieu) Yen (ADF) serve as the botanical origins for ADR. Differentiating these two varieties is crucial for the formulation and quality control of botanical drugs, as they are categorized under the same medicinal label. This research utilized two-dimensional high-performance thin-layer chromatography (2D-HPTLC) to effectively distinguish AD from ADF. Additionally, a quantitative analysis reveals significant differences in the concentrations of key active constituents such as oxypeucedanin, imperatorin, and isoimperatorin, with AD showing higher total coumarin levels. We further enhanced our investigative depth by incorporating a DPPH bioautography, which confirmed known antioxidant coumarins and unearthed previously undetected antioxidant profiles, including byakangelicin, byakangelicol, falcarindiol in both AD and ADF, and notably, 2-linoleoyl glycerol detected only in AD as an antioxidant spot. This comprehensive approach affords a valuable tool set for botanical drug development, emphasizing the critical need for accurate source plant identification and differentiation in ensuring the efficacy and safety of herbal medicine products.