Objective: To determinate the contents of protocatechuic acid and vanillic acid in Amomi Fructus by High Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) and compare the contents of protocatechuic acid and vanillic acid in Amomi Fructus from different regions. Method: The determination was performed on Phenomenex Luna C18 (4.6 mm×250 mm

5 μm) with methanol -0.1% formic acid solution as mobile phase for gradient elution

and the wavelength was set at 260 nm. The flow rate was 0.8 mL·min-1; column temperature was 35℃ and injection volume was 15 μL. Result: Protocatechuic acid showed good linearity in the range of 0.000 7-0.008 9 g·L-1

and the average recovery was 100.4% (RSD 3.2%). Vanillic acid showed good linearity in the range of 0.000 6-0.030 3 g·L-1

and the average recovery was 99.3% (RSD 2.8%). The 24 batches of Amomi Fructus samples were divided into two main groups by clustering analysis. One was Amomum villosum and A. villosum var. xanthioides. The other was the imported Amomi Fructus

Alpinia zerumbet and A. villosum from Yunnan that directly dried without fire curing. Conclusion: The established method is simple

accurate

and with good repeatability

which can be used to determine the contents of protocatechuic acid and vanillic acid in Amomi Fructus from different regions

providing reference to distinguishing the samples from different regions. In addition

the content of vanillic acid in Amomi Fructus was affected significantly by the drying method.