Objective To explore the optimal processing method for Dusuanlan (Pleione bulbocodioides) pseudobulbs, this study investigated the effects of scalding method and duration, and drying technique on their morphologies, microstructures, and chemical composition contents. Methods Pseudobulbs of P. bulbocodioides were processed using eight methods: oven direct drying (OD), boiling for 10, 20, 30 min and then drying (B10D, B20D, B30D), steaming for 10, 20, 30 min and then drying (S10D, S20D, S30D), and freeze drying (FD). The contents of 2-O-glucosylbulleyanolide (dactylorhin A), militarine, and batatasin III were quantified by HPLC. By constructing HPLC fingerprints and performing similarity analysis (SA), hierarchical cluster analysis (HCA), and principal component analysis (PCA), the impact of processing methods on the quality of pseudobulbs was evaluated. Structural changes were assessed through examination of macroscopic features, tissue organization, and powdered microscopic characteristics. Using dactylorhin A content, militarine content, batatasin III content, alcohol-soluble extractives, water-soluble extractives, drying rate, moisture content, total ash content, and acid-insoluble ash content as indicators, the effects of eight processing methods on the quality of pseudobulbs were comprehensively evaluated by entropy weight method, analytic hierarchy process (AHP), and technique for order preference by similarity to ideal solution (TOPSIS). Results The values for HPLC fingerprint similarity of the samples obtained from eight methods ranged from 0.681 to 0.994. The freeze-dried (FD) samples exhibited the lowest similarity and were segregated as a distinct cluster in both hierarchical cluster analysis (HCA) and principal component analysis (PCA), while the samples from other seven methods formed a separate cluster. Three common peaks were identified among the 24 common peaks in the HPLC fingerprints: dactylorhin A (peak 7), militarine (peak 9), and batatasin III (peak 15). According to TOPSIS-based comprehensive evaluation, samples steamed for 10 min followed by oven drying (S10D) showed both the highest relative closeness coefficient and the greatest total content of dactylorhin A, militarine, and batatasin III. Conclusion Based on comprehensive multi-index evaluation, steaming for 10 min followed by oven drying (S10D) was identified as an optimal primary processing method for P. bulbocodioides pseudobulbs. This method enhanced the retention of active compounds while being technically straightforward. The study establishes a critical foundation for standardizing processing of P. bulbocodioides pseudobulbs and refining quality standards of Shancigu (Cremastrae Pseudobulbus Pleiones Pseudobulbus) in pharmacopeial monographs.

Pleione bulbocodioides (Franch.) Rolfe  /  pseudobulb  /  origin processing  /  quality evaluation  /  fingerprint  /  entropy weight method-AHP-TOPSIS  /  dactylorhin A  /  militarine  /  batatasin III  /  hierarchical cluster analysis  /  principal component analysis