Discovery of antitussive material basis and mechanisms in Citri Sarcodactylis Fructus by coupling UHPLC-Q/Orbitrap HRMS combined spectrum-effect relationship and metabolomics analyses

•The 70% ethanol elution fraction can be used as the active part of the antitussive effect of Citri Sarcodactylis Fructus (CSF).•Combining three statistical methods (GRA, Person’s and OPLS-DA) for spectrum-effect relationship analysis.•The antitussive active ingredients of CSF extract were preliminarily analyzed and identified by spectrum-effect relationship analysis.•The antitussive mechanism of the extract was determined by metabolomic technology: glycerol phospholipid metabolism and sphingolipid metabolism.