The analytic hierarchy process (AHP) was utilized to establish a comprehensive evaluation methodology involving multiple indices,aimed at pinpointing the optimal harvest period for Eucommiae Folium (EF).An HPLC method was developed for the simultaneous determination of five components,including chlorogenic acid,geniposide acid,pinoresinol diglucoside,rutin and quercetin.The content of total flavonoids was measured using ultraviolet spectrophotometry (UV),whereas the alcoholic extract content adhered to the criteria outlined in the Chinese Pharmacopeia.It was observed that the highest levels of total flavone occurred in August,chlorogenic acid peaked in June,and pinoresinol diglucoside and rutin reached their highest levels in September.Months with high comprehensive scores were identified as June and August through November.Principal component analysis (PCA) and orthogonal partial least square discriminant analysis (OPLS-DA) were employed to compare the contents of the five components in EF,indicating substantial differences during various harvest times.In this study,an overall and comprehensive scoring model was established to optimize the harvesting time of EF.Furthermore,it was noted that weights for single or multiple chemical composition indexes could be adjusted subjectively based on specific usage needs to better guide actual production and application.Moreover,the validated HPLC fingerprint methodology coupled with the assessment of multi-component content represents a streamlined yet practicable strategy,furnishing invaluable insights for quality assurance protocols and informing the strategic exploration and utilization of EF resources.