Research on palatability evaluation technology of traditional Chinese medicine in children based on electronic tongue and oral taste test
GUO Chun-yan
QI Shu-ye
ZHANG Yi
SUN Yi-xin
YOU Long-tai
ZHANG Meng
WANG Qian
DING Qian
MEI Dong
WANG Xiao-ling
GUO Peng
Abstract：Objective:To evaluate the palatability of oral preparations of traditional Chinese medicine for clearing heat and eliminating phlegm in children by combining electronic tongue intelligent sensory technology with children's oral taste test.Methods:First,based on the electronic tongue intelligent sensory technology,two preparations with better taste response were selected from five kinds of preparations for children's lung heat,cough and asthma,and then the best preparations with palatability were selected through the children's oral taste test and the Child Facial Expression Analysis System(Child FEAS)independently developed by our hospital.The statistical analysis of the electronic tongue intelligent sensory evaluation was conducted by pairwise comparison between groups of completely randomized single factor trials.The children's oral taste trial was conducted by means of the median rank sum test of SAS 9.4 statistical software.Results:Combined with the electronic tongue intelligent sensory technology and the results of children's oral taste test,the oral preparation with better palatability was selected as Xiaoer Fere Kechuan granules(Hainan Hulu Wa Pharmaceutical Group Co.,LTD.).Conclusion:In this study,the traditional Chinese medicine commonly used in children to clear heat and reduce phlegm was taken as a demonstration variety,and the method of in vitro evaluation combined with children's oral taste test was used to obtain the true feelings of young children who could not accurately describe their objective feelings for the medicine.The self-developed facial expression analysis technology was used to conduct comprehensive evaluation combined with visual simulation scale and interview,and the consistency of evaluation results was verified.It is confirmed that the palatability evaluation of Chinese medicine for children can be effectively carried out through good research design.In the future,it is still necessary to further improve the basic data and parameters of children's facial expressions and the iteration of analysis algorithms,and continue to explore the palatability evaluation methods of Chinese medicine compound preparations.
Keywords：palatabilitychildrentraditional Chinese medicinefacial expression analysistaste test
Publication Date：2025-07-30
Online Publishing Date：2026-08-14(First online date of this platform, not the publication date of the document)
Pages：7( 1492-1498 )