Objective: Ultra performance liquid chromatography tandem quadrupole time of flight mass spectrometry (UPLC-Q-TOF-MS/MS) technique combined with multivariate statistical analysis were employed to investigate the common and different components in Atractylodis Macrocephalae Rhizoma (AMR) from different regions

in order to provide scientific basis for the modernization and quality evaluation of traditional medicinal materials from the perspective of chemical composition. Method: ACQUITY UPLC BEH C18 column (2.1 mm×100 mm

1.7 μm) was adopted with mobile phase of 0.1% formic acid aqueous solution (A)-acetonitrile (B) for gradient elution

electrospray ion source (ESI) under positive ion mode was used to scan the data

the AMR samples from 7 areas were detected

component identification was carried out according to the accurate m/z of primary mass spectrometry and the characteristics of secondary mass spectrometry

combined with the relevant literatures and databases.Principal component analysis (PCA)

orthogonal partial least squares discriminant analysis (OPLS-DA) and other multivariate statistical techniques were used to cluster the different metabolic profiles and chemical compositions

and select difference components in AMR from different regions. Result: AMR from Zhejiang and other regions had obvious differences in compositions

there were 16 major differential compounds

such as tyrosine

methylation of atractylenolide Ⅰ

atractylenolide Ⅰ

Ⅱ and Ⅲ

atractylone and others. Conclusion: Invigorating spleen of AMR from Zhejiang is better than samples from other regions with relative low dryness

tyrosine and dehydroaromadendrene can be used as the index ingredients for genuineness evaluation of AMR.