Objective: To establish HPLC fingerprints of Liparis nervosa and provide the basis for scientific evaluation and quality control of L. nervosa. Method: HPLC method was used on Welchrom-C18(4.6 mm×250 mm

5 μm) chromatographic column

with Acetonitrile-0.2% triethylamine solution (10% phosphoric acid solution

pH adjusted to 2.5) as gradient elution. The wavelength was detected as 254 nm;the flow rate was 1.0 mL · min-1

and the column temperature was 30 ℃. The HPLC fingerprints were established for the L. nervosa from 10 different origins. At the same time

the similarity evaluation system for chromatographic fingerprint of TCM (2004A version) was applied for similarity evaluation. Besides

cluster analysis was done by using SPSS 19.0 software. Result: Twenty-eight common peaks were calibrated from the HPLC fingerprints of L.nervosa

six of which were identified by reference substances (3 alkaloids and 3 flavonoids). In the similarity evaluation

L. nervosa from 8 of 10 origins had a similarity ratio of more than 0.9 when compared with the mutual mode HPLC fingerprints. The overall similarity was good

and the cluster analysis result was basically the same as the similarity evaluation result. However

the similarity ratio of the materials from Mei county in Guangdong was only 0.173 and that of Ya'an in Sichuan was 0.320.These differences may be caused due to weather conditions

regional differences and different harvest seasons. Conclusion: This method is highly sensitive

reproducible

simple and reliable

and can be used for quality control of L. nervosa.