Comprehensive Quality Assessment of Atractylodis macrocephalae Rhizoma Between Standardized Bases and Retail Market Samples in Pan’an County

Abstract

As a widely used herbal medicine, the quality of Atractylodis macrocephalae Rhizoma (AMR) is significantly influenced by cultivation practices. However, systematic evaluations comparing the quality of AMR derived from different supply chain sources remain insufficient. This two-year study, conducted in the Daodi region of Pan’an County, Zhejiang Province, comprehensively evaluated AMR samples from five standardized planting bases and five open market retail markets. Assessment parameters included basic quality indicators (moisture, total ash, and extractives), characteristic components (atractylenolides I, II, and III, atractylodin, and atractylon), and safety indicators (pesticide residues). The results showed that moisture (6.70%–14.94%) and total ash (3.19%–4.74%) levels in all samples met the requirements of the Chinese Pharmacopoeia (2020 edition). The extractives content ranged from 27.85% to 53.49%, with four retail batches falling below the pharmacopoeial threshold (35.0%). Comprehensive evaluation using violin plots and radar charts revealed that samples from standardized planting bases were generally superior to market samples in characteristic component contents. In terms of safety, pesticide residue levels in standardized base samples were significantly lower than those in retail market samples. These findings demonstrate that the standardized cultivation not only ensures the intrinsic quality of AMR but also reduces safety risks related to pesticide residues. This work provides a scientific basis for strengthening AMR quality control and promoting standardized farming practices, thereby supporting clinical safety and high-quality development of the traditional Chinese medicine industry. Future cost-effectiveness analyses are warranted to comprehensively evaluate the economic viability of standardized cultivation.