Objective:To establish a pre-column derivation HPLC method for the determination of monosaccharide compositions in Coptidis Rhizoma polysaccharides

and analyze the monosaccharides differences between three Coptidis Rhizoma polysaccharides. Method:The polysaccharides were extracted by hot distilled water

precipitated by alcohol

and hydrolyzed into monosaccharides with 2 mol·L-1 sulfuric acid. The hydrolysate was derivatized with PMP

and then the PMP derivates of monosaccharides were analyzed by HPLC method. Result:The Rhizoma Coptidis polysaccharides were composed of mannose

rhamnose

glucuronic acid

galacturonic acid

glucose

galactose and arabinose. Among them

the content of galacturonic acid was the most abundant

followed by glucose. In addition

the average molar ratio of seven monosaccharides of C. deltoidea polysaccharide

C. teeta polysaccharide and C. chinensis polysaccharide were 1:2.34:0.38:17.58:12.40:6.11:5.93

1:2.43:0.25:16.76:15.18:6.51:9.78 and 1:3.25:0.40:22.35:12.96:6.66:10.28

respectively. Conclusion:The established method in this study is simple

accurate

reproducible

and can be used for the analysis of monosaccharide compositions of Coptidis Rhizoma polysaccharides. The content of seven monosaccharides of C. deltoidea polysaccharide

C. teeta polysaccharide and C. chinensis polysaccharide are different.