Objective: To establish the HLPC fingerprint and cluster analysis methods of Mallotus apelta leaves

in order to provide a reasonable basis for scientific evaluation and quality control of M. apelta leaves.Method: Chromatographic fingerprints of M. apelta leaves from 12 different origins were established by HPLC. A phenomenex-C18 column (4.6 mm×250 mm

5 μm) was adopted and eluted with the mobile phase of methanol and 0.1% acetic acid in a gradient mode. The flow rate was 1.0 mL · min-1

the column temperature was 25℃

and the detection wavelength 336 nm. The similarity was analyzed by ‘Similarity Evaluation System for Chromatographic Fingerprint of TCM’

and SPSS 19.0 was applied in a cluster analysis. The relative peak area of common peaks was taken as the index for standardized treatment and principal component analysis.Result: The mutual mode of HPLC fingerprints was set up

and the similarity between crude drugs of different habitats were compared. SPSS was used for fingerprint system cluster analysis and principal component analysis. Totally 22 common peaks were identified as markers

and 5 common components were identified in HPLC fingerprint of M. apelta leaves. The overall similarity was calculated to be 0.554-0.981.When the distance scale of cluster analysis was 2

the samples 2

3

4

5

6

8

9

10

12 were classified into one category. The order for comprehensive principal component scores (F) from high to low were samples 11

7

1

9

12

6

5

10

4

3

2

8.Two results of the two methods can be mutually verified when F was between 0.0 and -1.7.Conclusion: The method is accurate

simple

stable and highly repeatable

and can provide scientific basis for studying crude drug of M. apelta leaves and making quality control standards.