Table 1 Examples of studies on Q-markers of medicinal materials and decocting pieces or compound prescriptions

Periplocae Cortex

The dried root bark of Periploca sepium Bge

4-methoxybenzaldehyde-2-O-β-D-xylopyranosyl-(1 → 6)-β-D-glucopyranoside; Periplocin; Periplocoside S-4a; Periplocoside H1 etc

UPLC/Q-TOF MS;

UPLC-TQ-MS

Plant metabolomics and network pharmacology

[34]

Centipeda minima

Dried whole herb

Arnicolide D;

Brevilin A

HPLC

Chemometric analysis;

Network pharmacology and molecular docking simulations

[35]

Typhae Pollen

Carbonized

pollen

Isorhamnetin-3-O-Neohesperidoside; Isorhamnetin-3-O-Rutinoside; Kaempferol-3-O-Neohesperidoside; Naringenin; Quercetin; Isorhamnetin

UPLC-QTOF-MS;

UPLC-TQ-MS

Chemometric method; systems pharmacology and two high-throughput zebrafish models: cerebral hemorrhage model and thrombus model

[36]

Panax notoginseng

Shatter the roots

Notoginsenoside R1, Ginsenoside Rg1, Re, Rb1 and Rd

HPLC

Integrating chemical profile with pharmacological activities

[37]

Rhubarb

Rice wine

Rhein

UPLC-HRMS

Pharmacokinetic studies; efficacy experiments;

Non-targeted and targeted data mining

[38]

Burdock

Stir-fried ripe fruit

Artiin

LC–MS; UFLC-MS/MS

Combining the traditional and modern medicinal effects with the chemical composition

[39]

Ziziphi Spinosae Semen

Frying mature seeds

Spinosin; 6′″-feruloylspinosin;

Betulinic

UPLC; UPLC-Q-TOF–MS;

LC–MS/MS

The qualitative-quantitative in vitro efficacy-molecular docking method

[40]

Corni Fructus

The fruit of the plant Cornus officinalis Sieb. et Zuc

Loganin

HPLC;

HPLC-DVD

Through in vivo and in vitro pharmacological experiments

[41]

Cydonia oblonga Mill

Mature fruit of genus Rosaceae

Caffeic acid; Chlorogenic acid; Ellagic acid; Vanillic acid

UHPLC/Q-TOF–MS/MS

Network pharmacology methods

[42]

Glycyrrhiza uralensis Fisch

Dry roots and rhizome

Liquiritigenin; Liquiritin; Isoliquiritin; Isoliquiritiyenin; Licochalcone A; Glycyrrhetinic acid; Apigenin

HPLC–DAD;

HPLC-Q-Exactive /MS

A HPLC based on metabolomics for simultaneous quantitative analysis

[43]

Salvianolic acids for injection

Salvianolic acids for injection

Salvianolic acid B;

Rosmarinic acid; Lithospermic acid Salvianolic acid D;

UPLC-Q-TOF-M; LC–MS/MS

The target cell extracts and pharmacokinetic studies

[44]

Sparganii Rhizoma

Dried tubers

Protocatechuic acid;

P-coumaric acid; Ferulic acid

HPLC–UV

Anti-thrombotic effect studies

[45]

Radix Wikstroemia Indica

Sweat soaking method (Sprayed synthetic perspiration and Dried in the oven)

Daphnoretin; Emodin; Triumbelletin;

Dibutyl phthalate; Methyl Paraben;

YH-10 + OH

GC–MS; UPLC-Q-TOF/MS

Study of pharmacodynamics;

Toxicity and material basis

[46]

Codonopsis radix

Dryer drying; sun drying; shade drying

Tryptophan; Syringin; Cordifolioidyne A; Tangshenoside I; Codonopyrrolidium A; Creoside IV; Lobetyolin;

UHPLC-Diode Array Detector

Comprehensive chemical analysis; pharmacodynamics

[47]

Scutellaria barbata

Whole plant

Scutellarin; Scutellarein; Luteolin; Lpigenin; Hispidulin

UPLC/IM-QTOF-MS;

UPLC-UV

Network pharmacology

[48]

Panax ginseng

Processing and steaming

Protopanaxatriol type ginsenoside (Re, Rf, Rg1, 20(S)-Rh1, Rh4, and Rg6); Protopanaxadiol type ginsenosides (Rb1, Rb2, Rb3, Rc, Rd, 20(R)-Rg3, 20(S)-Rg3, and Rk1); Oleanolic acid type ginsenoside (Ro)

LC–MS/MS;

QqQ-MS

Chemical analysis

[49]

Schisandra chinensis

Fruit directly sun-dried or steamed and sun-dried

Schisandrol A; Schisandrin A; Schisandrin C and Gomisin N

HPLC–MS/MS;

HPLC-Q-TOF/MS

Target metabolomics; bioinformatic analysis

[50]

Alisma orientale

Dried tubers

Alisol A; Alisol B; Alisol A 23-acetate; Alisol B 23-acetate; Alisol A 24-acetate

LC–MS n -IT-TOF;

HPLC

Network pharmacology; Bioactivity analysis

[51]

Musk

The dry substance that is secreted from mature male musk deer subumbilical sac gland

Muscone; Cis-9-hexadecenal; Antioxidant 2264; Prasterone-3-sulfate; Androstan-17-one; 1,2-Benzenedicarboxylic acid

LC/MS–MS; GC/MS

Using combined metabolomic and chemometric approach

[52]

Flors Chrysanthemi

Flower head

Chlorogenic acid; 3,5-Dicaffeoylquinic acid;

1,5-dicaffeoylquinic acid;

Luteoloside; Apigenin-7-O-β-d-glucoside; Luteolin-7-O-6-Malonylglucoside

NIRS; HPLC/Q-TOF–MS

HPLC/Q-TOF–MS identification and heat map clustering

[53]

Tripterygium glycosides tablet

Triptergium wilfordii Hook

Wilforine

UPLC-MS/MS

Cytotoxicity study; Pharmacodynamics; Pharmacokinetics study

[54]

Yuanhu Zhitong tablets

Angelicaeda huricae radix and Corydalis rhizome

Tetrahydropalmatine;

α-Allocryptopine; Protopine; Corydaline; Imperatorin; Isoimperatorin;

Byakangelicin

RRLC-MS/MS; LC–MS

Integrating chemical and biosynthetic analyses, drug metabolism, and network pharmacology

[55]

Qiliqiangxin capsule

Astragali radix; Ginseng radix; Aconiti lateralis radix; Salviamiltiorrhiza radix; Semen descurainiae lepidii; Alismatis rhizome;

Polygonati odorati rhizome; Cinnamomi ramulus;

Carthami flos;

Periploca cortex and Citri reticulatae pericarpium

Songorin; Calycosin-7-O-β-D-Glucopyranoside; Astragaloside; Tanshinone IIA; Ginsenoside Re;

Hesperidin and Alisol A

UHPLC-MS/MS;

UHPLC-Q/TOF–MS/MS

The multi-dimensional “radar chart” mode

[56]

Danlou tablet

Pueraria lobata (Wild);

Salvia miltiorrhiza Bge;

Alisma Orientale;

Astragalus Membranaceus; Ligusticum chuanxiong Hort; The pericarp of Trichosanthes Kirilowii Maxim; Drynaria fortune; Paeonia lactiflora Pall; Allium macrostemon Bge.; Curcuma longa L

Puerarin;

Alisol A;

Daidzein;

Paeoniflorin;

Tanshinone IIA

UHPLC-TQ-MS;

UHPLC-Q/TOF–MS

Pharmacokinetic; Network pharmacology; Bioactivity evaluation;

Drug metabolism

[57]

Tangzhiqing tablet

Nelumbo Nucifera;

Paeonia Lactiflora;

Salvia Miltiorrhiza;

Morus alba;

Crataegus Pinnatifida

Nuciferine; Paeoniflorin

UPLC-Q-TOF/MS; LC–MS/MS; HPLC–UV

Clinical trials (dose-exposure–response in human)

[58]

Buyanghuanwu injection

Danggui;

Chuanxiong;

Chishao

Astragaloside IV; Paeonflorin; Amygdalin; TetramethylpyrAzine;

Ferulic acid

RP-HPLC

Polypharmacokinetic model and its similarity approach

[59]

Sijunzi decoction

Radix Ginseng; Macrocephala; Poria; Licorice

Liquirtin; Formononetin; Malonyl-ginsenoside Rb2;

Ginsenoside Ro; Glycyrrhetnic acid; Glycyrrhizic acid;

2-atractylenolide; Dehydrotumulosic acid; Isoglabro-lide

UPLC-Q-TOF;

UHPLC-Q-TOF

Metabolomics

[60]

Xuezhiling tablets

Radix polygonimultiflori preparate; Cassia seed; Hawthorn; Rhizoma Alismatis

Aurantio-Obtusin; Rubrofusarin Gentiobioside; Obtusinfolin; THSG; SHJ

UPLC-UV–MS;

UPLC-UV

Metabolomic study

[61]

Xuefu Zhuyu decoction

Semen Persicae; Flos Carthami; Radix Paeoniae rubra; Rhizoma Chuanxiong; Radix Achyranthis Bidentatae; Radix Bupleuri;

Radix Angelicae Sinensis; Radix Rehmanniae; Fructus Aurantii; Radix Platycodonis;

Rhizoma Glycyrrhizae

Naringin; Isoliquiritin; Paeoniflorin; Protocatechuic acid; Neohesperidin; Ferulic acid

HPLC; UPLC-PDA

A strategy based on “spider-web” mode

[62]

Wu-Wei-Wen-Tong Capsule

Scutellariae Radix; Huangqin; Yinyanghuo; Pianjianghuang; Guizhi; Fuling

Coumarin; Cinnamic Alcohol; Baicalin; Cinnamic acid; Cinnamaldehyde; Wogonoside; 2-methoxycinnamaldehyde; Epimedin C; Icariin; Baicalein; Wogonin; Baohuoside I; Anhydroicaritin; Germacrone; Pachymic acid

UHPLC-QTOF/MS;

UHPLC-UV

Pharmacokinetic study

[63]

Yinlan capsule

Exocarpium Citri Tomentosae; Folium Ginkgo; Herba Gynostemmatis; propolis

Lupeol; Ginsenoside Rb3

LC–MS-MS; UHPLC-MS–MS

Pharmacokinetics research

[64]

HuangQin decoction

Scutellaria baicalensis Georgi; Glycyrrhiza uralensis Fisch; Paeonia lactiflora Pall; Ziziphus jujuba Mill

Paeoniflorin; Baicalin; Scutellarein; Liquiritigenin; Norwogonin; Baicalein; Glycyrrhizic acid; Wogonin; Oroxylin A

HPLC/UV; LC-IT-TOF/MS

System pharmacology

[65]

Buyanghuanwu decoction

Astragali Radix; Angelicae Sinensis Radix;

Paeoniae Radix Rubra;

Pheretima;

Chuanxiong Rhizoma; Carthami Flos;

Persicae Semen

Astragaloside IV;

Laetrile; Paeonoflorin; Ferulic acid

HPLC–DAD

Chemical analysis; Calculation of Kinetic Parameters and Mathematical Equations

[66]

Qiliqiangxin capsule

Radix Astragali; Aconite Rot; Ginseng; Salvia; Miltiorrhiza; Semen Lepidii Apetali; Cortex Periplocae Sepii Radicis; Rhizoma Alismatis; CartHamus tinctorious; Polygonatum Odorati; Seasoned Orange Peel and Rumulus Ginnamomi,

Astragaloside; calycosin-7-glucoside; Sinapine; Ginsenoside Rg1

HPLC–MS/MS

Pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics

[67]

Tangzhiqing tablets

Nelumbo Nucifera;

Paeonia Lactiflora;

Salvia miltiorrhiza;

Morus alba; Crataegus Pinnatifida

Paeoniflorin and Nuciferine

LC–MS/MS; UPLC

Pharmacokinetic study in humans, in vitro dissolution and permeation studies, and in vitro and in vivo relationships between permeation profiles

[68]

Qingzao Jiufei decoction

Mori Folium; Gypsum Fibrosum; Ophiopogonis Radix; Eriobotryae Folium; Ginseng Radix Et Rhizoma; Sesami Semen Nigrum;

Asini Corii Colla;

Armeniacae Semen Amarum;

Glycyrrhizae Radix Et Rhizoma

Chlorogenic acid; Methylophiopogonanone A; Methylophiopogonanone B; Sesamin, Ursolic acid; Amygdalin; Liquiritin Apioside; Liquiritigenin; Isoliquiritin

UHPLC-ESI-Q/TOF–MS

Network pharmacology-metabolomics- pharmacokinetic (PK)/ pharmacodynamic (PD) modeling

[69]

Chaiqin chengqi decoction

Da Huang; Mang Xiao;

Hou Po; Huang Qin; Yin Chen; Zhizi

Synephrine; Geniposide; Hesperidin;

Sennoside A; Wogonoside; Physcion; Aloe; Sinensetin; Rhein;

Honokiol; Magnolol; Emodin

UHPLC; LC–MS/MS;

UHPLC-Q Orbitrap/MS; UHPLC-QqQ/MS

Network pharmacology, combining in vivo (AP murine model) and in vitro (pancreatic acinar cell) experiments

[70]