Objective: To compare the contents of 3-O-[β-D-glucopyranosyl-(1→2)] [β-D-glucopyranosyl-(1→3)]-β-D-glucopyranosyl echinocystic acid-28-O-β-D-glucopyranosyl ester (ECA for short) and 3-O-β-D-glucopyranosyl-(1→3)-β-D-glucopyranosyl-(1→3)-β-D-glucopyranosyl oleanolic acid-28-O-β-D-glucopyranosyl ester (OLA for short) in leaves of Aralia elata collected from Fenghuang mountain of Heilongjiang Province in different altitudes and different gathering periods. Method: HPLC-ELSD was used to determine the content. The column was Diamonsil C18 (4.6 mm×250 mm

5 μm). The column temperature was 30℃. The mobile phase was the mixture liquid of acetonitrile and water for gradient elution. The sample size was 10 μL

and the flow rate was 1.0 mL·min-1. The detector was HPLC-ELSD

the temperature of drift tube was 110℃

and the flow rate of carrier gas was 3.2 L·min-1. Result: The two triterpenoid saponins showed a good linearity (r=0.999 8) within their detection range

and the average recovery rate were 97.71% and 98.06%

respectively. The results showed that the content of OLA was higher than ECA in various batches of samples. From June to September

the contents of the two saponins showed an increasing trend. The contents increased significantly from June to August

but slowly from August to September. In addition

there were no significant difference in content of the two saponins between high altitude and low altitude. Conclusion: The method is simple

rapid and reproducible

and can provide a basis for the quality control of leaves of A. elata from Fenghuang Mountain.