Figures (4)  Tables (4)

    • Figure 1. 

      Character of Lonicerae japonicae flos samples from different origins.

    • Figure 2. 

      AI-assisted discrimination of Lonicerae japonicae flos geographical origins. (a) Three phases of the methodology: phase I is feature extraction and knowledge base establishment; phase II is visual trait profiling; and phase III is origin retrospection and validation. (b) Computer-visualized trait reconstruction diagrams of the eight origins samples (image generated using an AI tool [Doubao] as an auxiliary step in the methodological process).

    • Figure 3. 

      UPLC/UV chromatograms of samples and hierarchical cluster analysis of LJF from different origins. (a) UPLC/UV chromatograms of samples (A) and standard samples (B–E). Peaks 1–6 correspond to the following compounds: neochlorogenic acid; chlorogenic acid; cryptochlorogenic acid; luteoloside; 4,5-dicaffeoylepi-quinic acid and 3,5-dicaffeoylepi-quinic acid. (b) Cluster tree diagram derived based on isotopic ratios of element N. (c) Cluster tree diagram derived based on the relative contents of quality control components.

    • Figure 4. 

      Principal component analysis, orthogonal partial least squares, discriminant analysis, and discriminant analysis scatter plot of LJF from different origins. (a) PCA score plot of LJF from different origins. (b) OPLS-DA score plot of LJF from the 'Northern Geographical Area' group (NGA) and 'Other Geographical Area' (OGA); (c) Model verification diagram of 200 permutation tests. (d) VIP value. (e) Original discriminant analysis scatter plot. (f) Optimized discriminant analysis scatter plot.

    • Origin Morphology Color Size and uniformity# Pubescence and calyx Conformity to pharmacopeia*
      CQ Slender rod-shaped, curved Pale yellow-green to white-yellow, some spots, discoloration 2–4 cm, slender No significant pubescence ★☆☆☆☆
      GX Elongated strip, twisted/curved, irregular Yellow-brown to pale brown, uneven, faded 2–5 cm, variable diameter No pubescence, residual filaments/stamens present ★☆☆☆☆
      GZ Elongated strip, significantly twisted, branched, complex Pale to dark yellow-brown, uneven 2–5 cm, variable diameter No pubescence, residual calyx/stamens present ★☆☆☆☆
      HB Slender rod-shaped, slightly curved, regular, Pale yellow-white to green-yellow, uniform (apex pale brown) 2–4 cm, uniform diameter Sparse short pubescence, clear calyx ★★☆☆☆
      HEN Slender rod-shaped, slightly curved, regular, Pale yellow-white to green-yellow, uniform 2–4 cm, uniform diameter Covered with fine short pubescence (less dense), intact calyx ★★★☆☆
      HUN Elongated strip, twisted, wrinkled/curled Yellow-brown, uneven (darker apex) 2–5 cm, variable diameter No pubescence, residual calyx/stamens curled ★☆☆☆☆
      SD Slender rod-shaped, slightly curved, regular, Pale yellow-white to green-yellow, uniform, bright 2–4 cm, uniform diameter Densely covered with short pubescence, intact calyx ★★★★★
      SC Elongated strip, severely twisted, curled, wrinkled Dark yellow-brown to brown-black, uneven 2–5 cm, highly
      variable diameter      		 No pubescence, residual structures severely curled ★☆☆☆☆
      * Conformity Assessment: Based primarily on the critical pharmacopeial requirement for 'densely pubescent' surface and intact morphology. ★★★★★ = Fully conforms, ★★★☆☆ = Partially conforms, ★★☆☆☆ = Marginally conforms, ★☆☆☆☆ = Does not conform, ☆☆☆☆☆ = Strongly deviates. # Size & Uniformity: The size and uniformity data shown in this table were derived from AI-based analysis of sample images with scale bars.

      Table 1. 

      AI-assisted comparative morphological characteristics of Lonicerae japonicae flos from different geographical origins relative to pharmacopeial standards.

    • Origin n δ13C (‰) δ15N (‰)
      Max. Min. Mean SD# Max. Min. Mean SD#
      CQ 2 −29.40 −29.65 −29.53 0.46 3.03 2.48 2.76 0.39
      GX 2 −29.30 −29.53 −29.42 0.15 −2.55 −3.95 −3.25 0.99
      GZ 3 −28.09 −28.95 −28.42 0.59 0.07 −0.86 −0.49 0.49
      HB 7 −27.87 −30.00 −28.88 1.10 0.62 −0.62 0.09 0.47
      HEN 10 −26.54 −29.92 −28.21 1.19 0.87 −1.18 0.07 0.68
      HUN 4 −28.42 −30.30 −29.52 1.16 4.54 2.24 3.16 0.98
      SD* 8 −27.15 −28.50 −27.81 0.39 1.39 −0.72 0.31 0.69
      SC 4 −28.04 −28.89 −28.39 0.18 9.16 6.23 7.39 1.32
      CQ: Chongqing, GX: Guangxi, GZ: Guizhou, HB: Hebei, HEN: Henan, HUN: Hunan, SD*: Shandong, SC: Sichuan, n: Number of samples, Max.: Maximum value, Min.: Minimum value, Mean: Arithmetic mean, SD#: Standard deviation.

      Table 2. 

      Isotopic ratios of C and N in Lonicerae japonicae flos from different origins.

    • Origin Relative percentage content (%) (mean ± SD)
      Chlorogenic acid Cryptochlorogenic acid Neochlorogenic acid Luteoloside 4,5-dicaffeoylepi-quinic acid 3,5-dicaffeoylepi-quinic acid
      CQ 29.33 ± 0.59 2.52 ± 0.28 6.60 ± 2.00 0.18 ± 0.00 18.94 ± 1.42 3.60 ± 0.08
      GX 20.27 ± 9.12 0.78 ± 0.00 1.72 ± 1.63 0.15 ± 0.10 28.12 ± 6.14 2.54 ± 0.31
      GZ 31.21 ± 3.34 1.43 ± 0.16 1.41 ± 1.50 0.09 ± 0.04 14.28 ± 7.16 3.70 ± 0.95
      HB 18.51 ± 2.14 0.69 ± 0.07 0.60 ± 0.32 0.85 ± 0.09 11.24 ± 0.91 1.88 ± 0.39
      HEN 19.83 ± 2.48 0.66 ± 0.14 0.50 ± 0.06 0.87 ± 0.18 11.47 ± 2.05 2.19 ± 0.52
      HUN 27.76 ± 4.00 2.51 ± 0.69 6.00 ± 3.42 0.22 ± 0.03 18.89 ± 2.55 5.47 ± 3.52
      SD 20.54 ± 1.61 1.33 ± 0.06 0.46 ± 0.02 0.79 ± 0.10 10.11 ± 1.40 2.35 ± 0.81
      SC 36.90 ± 3.51 1.78 ± 0.74 1.37 ± 0.69 0.19 ± 0.03 15.02 ± 3.12 5.23 ± 2.86
      F 22.51 22.65 14.88 45.05 14.44 4.20
      P < 0.0001 < 0.0001 < 0.0001 < 0.001 < 0.001 0.0022
      CQ: Chongqing, GX: Guangxi, GZ: Guizhou, HB: Hebei, HEN: Henan, HUN: Hunan, SD: Shandong, SC: Sichuan.

      Table 3. 

      Marker components and relative contents in samples from different origins.

    • Classification Origin No. of samples Correctly predicted Accuracy (%)
      Training set NGA 25 25 100
      CQ 2 1 50
      GX 2 2 100
      GZ 3 3 100
      HUN 4 4 100
      SC 4 4 100
      Independent test set NGA 2 2 100
      HUN 1 1 100
      Prediction set validation NGA 10 10 100
      GZ 1 1 100
      SC 1 1 100
      Leave-one-out
      cross-validation      		 NGA 25 25 100
      CQ 2 1 50
      GX 2 2 100
      GZ 3 3 100
      HUN 4 4 100
      SC 4 4 100
      NGA: Northern Geographical Area, CQ: Chongqing, GX: Guangxi, GZ: Guizhou, HUN: Hunan, SC: Sichuan.

      Table 4. 

      Discriminant analysis results of Lonicerae japonicae flos from different origins.