Objective: To establish a specific TLC method and HPLC fingerprint for the quality evaluation of Ilex asprella. Method: TLC was performed with silica gel of Merck

using CHCl3-methanol-EtOAc-water-formic acid (20:20:40:10:2) as the developing solvent system. After sprayed with 10% H2SO4 ethanolic solution

the plate was heated at 105 ℃ and then observed under UV light at 366 nm. HPLC was performed on a Phenomenex Synergi Fusion C18column (4.6 mm×250 mm

4 μm) with the column temperature at 25 ℃. The mobile phase consisting of 0.05% phosphoric acid and acetonitrile was used in gradient elution

with a flow rate of 1.0 mL·min-1. The detection wavelength was set at 203 nm. Result: I. asprella and its adulterants were differentiable for distinctive spots were observed on the TLC spectrum. The similarities of 15 bathes of I. asprella were between 0.716-0.890

while that of its adulterants were all below 0.630

calculated with Similarity Evaluation System for Chromatographic Fingerprint of TCM (Version 2004 A). Conclusion: Both the TLC method and HPLC fingerprint established in this study were suitable for discrimination among I. asprella and its adulterants

providing a reliable reference for qualitative evaluation of the medicinal material I. asprella.