HELP applied to traditional Chinese medicine analysis - Determination of components of Cordyceps sinensis

The multicomponent qualitative and quantitative analysis of Stroma and Cate rpillar body of Cordyceps sinensis were carried out by Heuristic Evolving L atent Projection(HELP) method. The procedure for resolving the two-way chro matogram/spetrum data obtained from the hyphenated instruments with HELP wa s developed in detail. It showed that HELP method could be used to examine the purity of chromatographic peaks, resolve overlapping peaks and finally obtain the pure chromatographic profiles and spectra for all the chemical c omponents in the studied system, The separation ability of chromatography c an be greatly improved. Moreover, the accuracy of qualitative and quantitat ive results could also be enhanced by means of this method. HELP method cou ld be a promising method to the simultaneous multicomponent analysis for tr aditional chinese medicine.