Objective: To determine the content of the inorganic elements in Poria cocos and Polyporus from 5 different areas by inductively coupled plasma mass spectroscopy (ICP-MS)

analyze the regional difference of inorganic element contents and correlation between inorganic elements of the drugs

and investigate the relationship between the diuretic activity and elements content. Method: Full quantitative analysis was done for the inorganic elements in Poria and Polyporus by microwave digestion-ICP/MS. In the process of data analysis

MPP (12.60) software was employed for principal component analysis (PCA) and clustering analysis (CA)

and SPSS (17.0)software was employed for the analysis of correlation between elements content. Result: The content of elements in the samples showed similar regularity with the increase of atomic number. The content of the inorganic elements in Poria and Polyporus from main producing areas was higher than that from other areas. The PCA and CA results showed that there was significant difference in inorganic elements content between these two herbs. The Poria from Yunnan

Guangxi and Guizhou had closer results in content of inorganic elements

and Hunan and Anhui had similar results. The Polypor from Shanxi

Shaanxi and Anhui had closer results in content of inorganic elements

and Liaoning and Jilin had similar results. Correlation results showed that 55 pairs of elements had correlation (P<0.05)

and 121 paris of elements had significant correlation (P<0.01). Macro element Mg had significant correlation with Na

K. Most trace elements had significant correlation. There was also significant correlation between macro elements and trace elements. Conclusion: The method provided a suitable way to the simultaneous determination of multiple elements in Poria and Polypor. The genus genetic relationship and the quality of the herbs were closely related to areas;the absorption of inorganic elements may be selective

and its absorption ratio may be associated with the pharmacological effects and strength of the herbs.