Objective: To establish a method of fingerprint analysis for Platycodonis Radix by high performance liquid chromatography-evaporative light-scattering detector (HPLC-ELSD). Method: HPLC was performed on a Welch Materials XB-C18 analytical column (4.6 mm × 250 mm

5 μm) with gradient elution of acetonitrile-0.1% formic acid at the flow rate of 0.8 mL·min-1 with ELSD detector. The column temperature was maintained at 30 ℃

the temperature of drift tube was set at 50 ℃

and the gas flow (N2) was set at 1.2 L·min-1. Result: The HPLC-ELSD chromatographic fingerprint of chemical constituents was established from the 12 batches of Platycodonis Radix and it had 16 characteristic common peaks. Conclusion: The developed method is repeatable and stable

which is helpful to control the quality of Platycodonis Radix.