Objective: To establish a fingerprint analysis method for identification of Akebiae Fructus by HPLC-ELSD

get the control chromatogram and compare the fingerprints of Akebiae Fructus collected from different producing areas so as to establish a sensitive and specific method for controlling the quality of Akebiae Fructus. Method: The HPLC-ELSD fingerprints of Akebiae Fructus from 10 different places were obtained. The HPLC separation was performed on a Cosmosil-C18 column (4.6 mm×250 mm

5 μm) in gradient elute mode with a mixture consisting of acetonitrile and 0.2% formic acid water at the flow rate of 1.0 mL·min-1. The ELSD detector is used and the drift tube temperature of ELSD was set at 110℃ with the flow rate of 3.0 L·min-1. The data were analyzed by Fingerprint Similarity Evaluation Software to compare the similarity of the samples from different habitats. Result: Fingerprint spectrum of Akebiae Fructus was established. 10 samples were detected and 14 peaks in the chromatogram were common. There was a high similarity and each chromatographic peak was obtained with good separation. And the correlation could meet the technical requirements of fingerprint of Chinese traditional medicine. And four peaks in HPLC-ELSD chromatogram were firstly assigned as 3-O-β-D-glucopyranosyl (1→3)-α-L-rhamnopyranosyl-(1→2)-α-L-arabinopyranosyl hederagenin (saponins X)

3-O-β-D-xylopyranosyl-(1→2)-α-L-arabinopyranosyl hederagenin (saponins B)

3-O-α-L-rhamnopyranosyl-(1→2)-α-L-arabinopyranosyl hederagenin (saponins PD)

3-O-α-L-arabinopyranoside hederagenin (saponins A). Conclusion: This method shows high precision and reliability and the fingerprint spectrum provides a scientific basis for controlling the quality of Akebiae Fructus.