Objective: To compare the difference of HPLC fingerprints of commercially available Hippophae Fructus pieces

explore the correlation between their HPLC fingerprints and antioxidant activity

and provide reference for exploring the antioxidant material basis of Hippophae Fructus as well as quality evaluation. Method: HPLC fingerprints of different sources of Hippophae Fructus pieces were established

and the difference were analyzed by the similarity and system cluster analysis method;antioxidant effect was determined by 1

1 diphenyl-2-trinitrobenzene hydrazine (DPPH) method

and the spectrum-effect relationship was studied by gray correlation analysis method. Result: The HPLC fingerprints of 14 batches of Hippophae Fructus were established;10 common peaks were identified

and No. 10 peak was the chromatographic peak for quercetin;the samples came into two categories

with the similarity of 0.862-0.992;the 14 batches of Hippophae Fructus pieces had different levels of free radical scavenging effect;the correlation between 10 common peaks and free radical scavenging was in the range of 0.758-0.662

with an order of x10 > x3 > x7 > x4 > x5 > x9 > x1 > x6 > x8 > x2 from high to low

where No. 10 peak for quercetin had the maximum correlation with DPPH free radical scavenging effect. Conclusion: The quality of commercially available Hippophae Fructus was relatively consistent

but there were some differences in quality between those from different regions

and their antioxidation effect was resulted from the common onset of 'multi-components'. By exploring the antioxidant material basis of Hippophae Fructus through the study of HPLC fingerprints consistency and spectrum-effect relationship analysis

it can provide reference for quality evaluation of Hippophae Fructus.