Fig. 5

The differences of DL properties between authentic and dyeing herbal materials. a1 Cinnabaris (powder materials) and dyeing samples (unknown powder materials); a2 DL decay curves. Data are plotted as the mean ± SEM. Note that the data are plotted on a log–log scale; a3 Histograms comparing the DL properties between cinnabaris and its dyeing samples. Mean ± SD, *p < 0.05, ns, no significant difference; b1 Croci stigma (stigma materials) and dyeing samples (unknown stigma materials); b2 DL decay curves. Data are plotted as the mean ± SEM. Note that the data are plotted on a log–log scale; b3 Histograms comparing the DL properties between Croci stigma and its dyeing samples. Mean ± SD, *p < 0.05, ns, no significant difference