From tradition to innovation: Systematic analysis of quality markers (Q-markers) in traditional Chinese medicine

As a cornerstone of Chinese medicine, the quality of Chinese medicinal materials is crucial for ensuring their efficacy and safety. Thus, quality control is of utmost importance in the research and application of Chinese medicine, as it directly impacts the safety and effectiveness of these remedies and the industry's growth. With the globalization of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), establishing a comprehensive and scientific quality control system has become an urgent priority. Recently, the concept of quality markers (Q-markers) has emerged as a pivotal tool for elevating the quality standards of TCM. However, current research on Q-markers is fragmented and lacks a systematic framework, highlighting the need for a more structured investigation. Through Web of Science, PubMed, CNKI, and other databases, using keywords like “traditional Chinese medicine”, “quality control”, and “quality markers”, this study extensively reviewed the recent advances and characterization methods of Q-markers. This study summarized the chemical properties of Q-markers of 40 common Chinese medicine materials, and flavonoid was ranked first. In addition, five characterization methods of Q-markers were summarized, offering new insights and a scientific foundation for enhancing the quality control of Chinese medicine resources and advancing the modernization and globalization of TCM.