ObjectiveTo establish an objective evaluation system based on the quality characteristics of Gardeniae Fructus without relying on the origin label according to the theory of excellent shape， high quality， and superior effect of authentic medicinal materials， thus providing a scientific basis for the standardization of Gardeniae Fructus. MethodsDifferent batches of Gardeniae Fructus samples were collected from different producing areas. Through herbal textual research and a review of modern literature， fruit length， maximum fruit diameter， and chroma were selected as quantitative indicators to characterize the traditional appearance traits of Gardeniae Fructus. The above indicators were measured by a vernier caliper and a spectrophotometer. Through classical famous prescription data and literature analysis， total iridoid glycosides， total crocus glycosides， and total flavonoids were selected as the core component indicators related to efficacy， and their content was determined. Finally， through cluster analysis， the threshold ranges of the quantitative indicators of excellent shape and high quality were determined， and the applicability of the established evaluation system was verified by the determination of the indicators for each batch of medicinal materials. ResultsThe excellent shape indicators of Gardeniae Fructus were the fruit length-to-maximum fruit diameter ratio ≤1.86， 0°≤h≤45°， and L^*≥ 37.32. The content of total iridoid glycosides， total crocus glycosides， and total flavonoids should be no less than 2.2%， 0.44%， and 0.028%， respectively. The measurement results of different batches of Gardeniae Fructus showed that the evaluation system could effectively distinguish the Gardeniae Fructus samples in line with the traditional cognition of excellent shape and high quality. ConclusionThis study preliminarily constructs an excellent shape and high quality-based quality evaluation system for Gardeniae Fructus， which links appearance traits with chemical indicators and provides a methodological basis for the quality control and scientific grading of this herbal medicine.

Fufang Shechuangzi Xiji (Lotion) is a common hospital preparation made from clinical prescriptions. Its clinical efficacy is accurate, yet its pharmacodynamic material basis has not been clarified.An ultra-high performance liquid chromatography with quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry (UPLC-QTOF-MS/MS) technique was developed to identify the chemical constituents of Fufang Shechuangzi Xiji (Lotion).The chemical constituents of Fufang Shechuangzi Xiji (Lotion) were scanned by electrospray ionization (ESI) source in positive and negative ion modes.As a result, a total of 118 compounds were identified and characterized via reference standards and by comparing mass spectrometry data with literature, including 45 alkaloids, 21 coumarins and chromones, 19 flavonoids, 14 saponins, 10 anthraquinones and 9 organic acids.As a result, UPLC-QTOF-MS/MS technology can quickly and sensitively identify the chemical constituents of Fufang Shechuangzi Xiji (Lotion), which provides a useful reference for exploring the pharmacodynamic material basis and further quality control study of the preparation.