Edible Chinese medicine is a significant part of traditional Chinese medicine. With the concept of "disease prevention", it can be used in all stages of epidemic prevention and control. This paper introduced the current status of anti-epidemic applications of edible medicines in detoxifying by heat-clearing or blood-cooling, removing dampness and turbidity, Qi and Yin tonifying, etc. In addition, new suggestions and strategies were provided for the professionals in this aera.

Objective To screen the pharmacodynamic material basic components of Artemisiae Annuae Herba and study its antioxidant activity in vitro by investigating the spectrum-effect relationship between the HPLC fingerprints of 11 batches of Artemisiae Annuae Herba (dried aerial part of Artemisia annua L.). Methods The determination was performed on Aglient C₁₈ column (250 mm×4.6 mm, 5 μm) with mobile phase consisted of 0.2% phosphoric acid solution-Methanol (gradient elution) at the flow rate of 1.0 ml/min. The column temperature was indoor temperature, and detection wavelength was 220 nm, with sample size of 10 μl. Using isochlorogenic acid A as reference, HPLC fingerprints of 11 batches of samples were determined. The common peaks of 11 batches of samples were identified and recorded through TCM chromatographic fingerprint similarity evaluation system （2012 edition）. Using scavenging rate of DPPH and ABTS free radical as pharmacodynamic indicators of antioxidant effects, SIMCA 14.1 analysis software was used for PLSR to establish the spectra-effect relationship. Results There were 48 common peaks on 11 batches of sample, 11 components were identified as scopoletin, scoparone, isochlorogenic acid B, A, C, luteolin, apigenin, chrysosplenetin, artemisinin, artemisetin and artemisinic acid. The scavenging activity of 11 batches of samples to DPPH and ABTS free radicals was detected. The spectrum-effect relationship showed that isochlorogenic acid A, B, C and scoparone were positively associated with its antioxidant capacity, and variable projection value was greater than 1. It was suggested that these components were the material basis of antioxidant effect in Artemisiae Annuae Herba. Conclusion This study investigates the antioxidant capacity of different substances in Artemisiae Annuae Herba in vitro, and proves that isochlorogenic acid A,B，C and scoparone play a major role for the antioxidant capacity.