Objective: To analyze and evaluate the quality of agarwood from different areas. Method: The method in 2015 edition of the Chinese Pharmacopoeia was used to determine the content of alcohol soluble extractives in samples. HPLC analysis was performed to determine agarotetrol on a Altima C18 (4.6 mm×150 mm

5 μm)

with acetonitrile (A)-0.1% formic acid solution (B) as the mobile phase for gradient elution. The flow rate was 0.7 mL·min-1; the detection wavelength was set at 252 nm; and the column temperature was 30 ℃. Then the quality classification of agarwood was discussed through the content of the alcohol soluble extractives and agarotetrol. Result: The sample volume showed good linear relationship with area under the peak curve within the range of 2.0-750.0 μg (r=0.999 6) for agarotetrol. The average recovery was 102.1%

and the RSD was 2.8%. The mass fraction of agarotetrol was 0.10%-6.60% in 52 kinds of agarwood

and the mass fraction of alcohol soluble extractives was 6.07%-57.06%. The alcohol soluble extractives had no correlation with aroma forming method and sources

but the content of agarotetrol had certain correlation with aroma forming method and sources. The average mass fraction of agarotetrol was 0.67% and 0.15% respectively in artificial and natural Aquilaria sinensis agarwood

with significant difference (P<0.01); natural A. malaccensis agarwood (2.57%) was different from natural A. crassna agarwood (0.70%) (P<0.05)

with significant difference with natural A. sinensis agarwood (0.15%) (P<0.01). Conclusion: Quality classification of agarwood according to the agarotetrol content has certain rationality and feasibility.