Chemical profiling and quality marker constituents screening of Bupleurum scorzonerifolium based on GC-MS and UPLC-Q-TOF/MS analysis.

The root of Bupleurum scorzonerifolium (BSR) is a commonly used traditional Chinese medicine for treating fever, hepatitis, depression, etc. Currently, cultivated BSR has been widely used in clinical practice. However, its chemical components have not been systematically studied, and quality indicators remain unclear. In this study, the chemical composition of 13 batches of cultivated BSR was analysed using GC-MS and UPLC-Q-TOF/MS. A total of 89 volatile components and 68 non-volatile components were identified. Through multivariate statistical analysis, 11 chemical components with VIP > 1, p < 0.05, FC > 1 or FC < 0.5 were selected as potential markers. The quantitative methods for 3 volatile components (decyl acetate, dodecanal, and 1-dodecanol) and 3 saikosaponins (saikosaponins a, b2, and c) were established using GC-MS and HPLC, respectively. These six components can serve as indicators for assessing the quality of cultivated BSR. These findings provide a theoretical basis for establishing a quality evaluation system for cultivated BSR and guiding its clinical application.