Research on Material Basis and Quality Control of <i>Artemisiae argyi</i> Folium, a Traditional Medicinal and Edible Material

<i>Artemisiae argyi</i> Folium (AAF) is a traditional medicinal and edible material. However, the pharmacologically active compounds and quality control of AAF have not been fully investigated. To solve these problems, we developed a novel method based on HPLC-Q-Exactive Orbitrap-HRMS for rapid identification of chemical compounds in AAF. Forty-five compounds were identified tentatively, mostly consisting of flavonoids and phenylpropanoids, and their fragmentation pathways were elucidated. Additionally, we present the first report on the HPLC-UV fingerprints of AAF from genuine production areas, combined with chemometric analysis to elucidate the differences in the quality of AAF from different regions. Our results showed significant differences in the compounds of AAF from different production areas, and these variations could lead to inconsistencies in quality during large-scale production. To ensure quality stability during the actual production process, it is essential to establish a method for rapid quantification of markers representing the potential differences in AAF quality. In this study, we developed a novel method called quantitative analysis of multicomponents by single marker for the simultaneous measurement of six phenylpropanoids and two flavonoids. Our study provides an analytical method and scientific basis for the standardized production, component analysis, and quality control of AAF as a functional food raw material.