Objective: To establish a method for fingerprint analysis of olibanum from different sources by high-performance thin-layer chromatography(HPTLC). Method: The samples were extracted by ultrasonic with menthol. Chromatography was performed on silica gel 60F254 HPTLC plate

using toluene-ethyl acetate-heptanes-anhydrous formic acid (8∶2∶1∶0.3) as mobile phase

examined and recorded in ultraviolet light at 254 nm firstly

then in white light after derivatization with anisaldehyde test solution. The images were converted to grayscale intensity digital profile and then generated common pattern of HPTLC fingerprints with CHROMAP software

and authentication and quality assessment were analyzed by similarity analysis

cluster analysis and principal component analysis. Result: Twelve bands present in the chromatogram of Ethiopian olibanum in white light. There was notable difference between Ethiopian pattern and Somalian pattern. Olibanum from different species could readily be distinguished from each other so that commercial samples can easily be classified. Conclusion: The method is simple

specific and accurate

can be used for detection and quality control of olibanum.