Rapid Identification of American Ginseng Originated from Varied Places Based on Heracles Ultra-fast Gas Phase Electronic Nose

Objective: Heracles ultra-fast gas phase electronic nose was applied to establish a quick and effective differentiation method for American ginseng originated from varied places on the basis of different smell. Methods: Heracles ultra-fast gas phase electronic nose was used to analyze the smell of American ginseng originated from varied places and acquired chromatographic information of smell of sample American ginseng. The chromatographic peaks with strong separation intensity and discrimination ability were screened. Based on Kovats retention index and Arochembase database, the main odorant compounds of American ginseng from different producing areas were characterized. According to the relative odor activity value (ROAV), the contribution degree of the main difference compounds to the odor of American ginseng was analyzed by the odor threshold and relative content of the main difference compounds. PCA and DFA stoichiometry models were used for analysis. Results: Thirteen major differential compounds including propanaldehyde, n-valyl aldehyde and n-hexanal were screened out from ginseng of different origin by Heracles ultra-fast gas-phase electronic nose. Through the ROAV analysis of the main difference compounds, it was determined that n-hexal, propionic aldehyde, dodecal, n-valyl aldehyde, 2,3,5-trimethylpyrazine, methyl butyrate, 2-heptanol were the odor substances that contributed more to the odor of American ginseng. Among them, n-hexal was the key odor compounds that contributed the most to the odor of American ginseng. The contents of n-hexal, n-valental, 2,3,5-trimethylpyrazine and 2-heptanol were the highest in American ginseng from American . The contents of propionic aldehyde and methyl butyrate were the highest in American ginseng from Canadian. The content of dodecal was the highest in American ginseng from Jilin . PCA and DFA stoichiometric models were established. The recognition index of PCA model was 88. The cumulative discrimination index of DFA model was 100%. It was indicated that both PCA and DFA models could distinguish the odors of American ginseng from different producing areas, which could identify and analyze the odors of American ginseng samples. Conclusion: Heracles ultra-fast gas-phase electronic nose can quickly and effectively distinguish ginseng from different origin. This provides a new scientific basis for tracing the origin of ginseng.