Objective: To establish a method to evaluate the quality of Tinosporae Radix. Method: By using the HPLC method

the Agilent ZORBXSB-C18 column (4.6 mm×150 mm

5 μm) was adopted and eluted in gradient with the mobile phase of acetonitrile-water (0.5% phosphoricacid). The flow rate was 1 mL · min-1

the detection wave length was 280 nm

and the injection volume was 10 μL. HPLC fingerprints of different varieties of Tinosporae Radix from different producing areas were established to determine the content of jatrorrhizine hydrochloride and martin hydrochloride in different varieties. Result: There were significant differences between different varieties of Tinosporae Radix in their HPLC fingerprints and contents of jatrorrhizine hydrochloride and martin hydrochloride. The fingerprints for alkaloid constituents in Tinosporae Radix showed eight common peaks

with differences in the alkaloid components in Tinosporae Radix from different producing areas. The index R indicating the content may not high in fingerprints with a high similarity.The index R may not low in fingerprints with a low similarity. The index R changed with the index component content determination results. Conclusion: The index component content determination method and fingerprint established in this study was highly precision

stable and repeatable

and can be used to represent the differences in the quality of Tinosporae Radix and provide a reference basis for the quality study on Tinosporae Radix.