Objective:An analytical method was developed for determining D-pinitol in Lespedeza cuneata by HPLC-ELSD.Method:Sample was extracted by ethanol-water solution（70:30 by volume） for 1.0 h

then filtered and the residue was extracted by ethanol-water solution（63:37 by volume） for another hour

filtered again and combined the filtrate then concentrated it

and diluted it into 100 mL.The separation was performed on a Cosmosil-sugar D column with the mobile phase consisting of water and acetonitrile（20:80 by volume）.And the flow rate was 1 mL·min-1

the temperature of drift tube was55 ℃ with Nitrogen as developing solvent.The linear calibration curve was obtained in the range of 0.377-1.844 μg with a linear correlation coefficient（r） of 0.999 5.The RSD is 0.22%

and the add mark recovery was 96.78%.This method is simple

high sensitivity and good precision

it is suitable for determation D-pinitol in Lespedeza cuneata.