肉苁蓉Cistanches Herba为著名补益中药，具有补肾阳、益精血、润肠通便的功效，用于肾阳不足、精血亏虚、腰膝酸软、筋骨无力、肠燥便秘等病证，被誉为“沙漠人参”。现代研究表明，肉苁蓉中主要含有苯乙醇苷类、环烯醚萜及其苷类、木脂素类、糖醇类、寡糖类、多糖类等化学成分。其中，松果菊苷和毛蕊花糖苷在《中国药典》2005～2025年版中均被列为肉苁蓉药材的质量控制指标成分。然而，仅以2种苯乙醇苷类成分作为评价指标，难以全面控制其功效相关物质并保障药材质量。因此，有必要建立一套更系统的功效关联质量评价体系。在本团队30多年来专注于肉苁蓉相关研究的基础上，进一步通过系统全面梳理肉苁蓉的化学成分与药理作用研究进展，并基于中药功效物质的“三要素”与质量标志物的“五原则”，确定松果菊苷、毛蕊花糖苷、8-表马钱子酸、甜菜碱、甘露醇等成分可作为肉苁蓉质量评价的核心功效成分群，形成更科学、全面的肉苁蓉质量控制指标。

Roucongrong (Cistanches Herba), a widely utilized tonic herbal medicine, is traditionally known for replenishing kidney yang, benefiting essence and blood, and moistening the intestines to relieve constipation. It has been used to treat kidney yang deficiency, depletion of essence and blood, soreness and weakness of the waist and knees, weakness of the bones and muscles, and constipation due to intestinal dryness, earning it the reputation of “desert ginseng.” Modern phytochemical investigations have revealed that Cistanches Herba contains a diverse array of constituents, primarily including phenylethanoid glycosides, iridoids and glycosides, lignans, alditols, oligosaccharides, and polysaccharides. Among these, echinacoside and acteoside are designated as quality control markers for Cistanches Herba in the Chinese Pharmacopoeia (2005—2025 Edition). However, relying predominantly on these two phenylethanoid glycosides as evaluation criteria is insufficient to comprehensively control the efficacious substances and ensure the quality of the medicinal materials of Cistanches Herba. Therefore, the development of a more comprehensive and efficacy-oriented quality evaluation system is warranted. In this review, on the basis of our sustainable efforts on Cistanches Herba for more than thirty years, advances in the chemical constituents and pharmacological activities of Cistanches Herba were systematically summarized. Furthermore, based on the “three elements” of efficacious substances and the “five principles” for identifying quality markers (Q-Marker) of traditional Chinese medicines, echinacoside, acteoside, 8-epiloganic acid, betaine, and mannitol and other components can be used as the core functional component group for the quality evaluation of Cistanches Herba, forming a more scientific and comprehensive quality control index for Cistanches Herba.

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内蒙古自治区科技重大专项（2026ZD0009）；新疆维吾尔自治区重点研发任务专项（2025A03008-1）；国家自然科学基金资助项目（82574705）