Spatiotemporal and methodological influences on Astragali Radix active ingredients: a comprehensive study of geographical, aging, cultivation, and sampling factors

Astragali Radix, known as a commonly used traditional Chinese medicine, is highly valued for its diverse pharmacologically active compounds. The concentrations of polysaccharides, saponins, and flavonoids serve as critical determinants of product quality. Emerging evidence underscores the pressing need for systematic analysis to elucidate the influence of price-related factors (including growth areas, years, patterns, collected parts, and sampling modes) on the quality of Astragali Radix. In our study, a total of 115 batch samples were collected and the contents of polysaccharides, saponins and flavonoids were determined by spectrophotometry. Comprehensive statistical analyses were performed by the R programming language for three active ingredients across price-influencing factors, and the PCA-based quality evaluation model has been conducted. The findings elucidated the complex interplay among geographic environment, growth years, cultivation modes, and market distribution factors in shaping the quality of Astragali Radix products. Cultivated taproot products from specific geographic regions demonstrated superior polysaccharides accumulation. Shorter-cycle plants exhibited significantly higher polysaccharides levels compared to older plants. Saponins content peaked in imitated-wild cultivation systems. The taproot, traditionally regarded as the superior part, exhibited lower saponin accumulation compared to branches. The content of polysaccharides and flavonoids showed a significant negative correlation. Three active compounds showed the heterogeneity of the accumulation in different plant parts. A significant regional-component interaction emerged in distribution channels analysis. This study provides a data-driven foundation for developing a quality evaluation system for Astragali Radix products. The interpretation of the relationship between various growth and production factors also guides the direction for future research in environmental omics and metabolomics.