What is Fingerprinting?

Like the fingerprints of an individual human being, each herb used in TCM has its own unique fingerprints, characteristics and active components.

By using modern technology and skills, Eu Yan Sang has been able to identify the individual chromatographic fingerprints of our herbs and preparations.

Why use Fingerprinting?

It is an objectively verifiable procedure close to the research techniques of botanical herbs in the West and as such, is capable of building customer confidence in the quality and efficacy of TCM.

This scientific and systematic approach of fingerprinting enables precise quantification of the ingredients and properties of Chinese Medicine. It also ensures the stability and consistency of quality between products of different batches.

This enables us to label each of the herbs with a "chemical barcode" and in turn creates a unique quality control system for our Chinese herbs and Proprietary Chinese Medicines.

What are the techniques for Fingerprinting?

Fingerprints can be identified by means of a variety of analytical chemistry techniques, including Spectroscopy and Chromatography. Spectroscopy uses peak values, while Chromatography uses the integration of peak areas as the basis for identification.

Some common examples of these methods are, High Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC), Thin Layer Chromatography (TLC), Gas Chromatography (GC), Liquid Chromatography/Mass Spectroscopy (LC/MS), Gas Chromatography/Mass Spectroscopy (GC/MS), Infrared (IR) and Ultraviolet (UV) Spectroscopy, etc.

An in-depth fingerprint analysis can be used for the following research purposes:

• Source Identification
• Regional Species
• Collection Period
• Processing
• Toxicity Identification

Benefiting the TCM industry

Fingerprinting technology enhances the manufacturing standards in the TCM industry. The application of fingerprinting technologies is critical to the increased dissemination of TCM producers in the international marketplace. It is also vital in the worldwide recognition of TCM product and their extensive natural benefits.