Objective: To comprehensively evaluate the quality of five indicators of Codonopsis pilosula by using technique for order preferency by similarity to ideal solution(TOPSIS)

and select the good cultivation base for C. pilosula. Method: Contents of 5 indexes(water-soluble extracts

alcohol-soluble extracts

total saponins

lobetyolin

and total polysaccharide) for C. pilosula were determined by methods of water-soluble extract determination

alcohol-soluble extract determination

ultraviolet-visible (UV-VIS) spectrophotometry and high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) in different cultivated lands. Then the entropy TOPSIS mathematical model was used to evaluate the quality of C. pilosula in Pingshun county

Shanxi province. Result: The Ci value of S1(Laomaling village in Qingyang town) was 0.837 4

with an overall quality superior to other regions;on the contrary

the Ci value of S7(river bay in Heihu village

Xingcheng town)was 0.535 7

with a relatively poor quality. The Ci values of S1

S4(Xiaogou village

Longxi town)

and S6(Congshang village

Longxi town)were top 3 among all the samples(0.837 4

0.824 0

0.810 5 respectively)

indicating that these samples in the three regions had better medicinal quality

and these regions could be selected as preferred origins for C. pilosula. Conclusion: The TOPSIS evaluation model could transform multiple dimensions into one dimension

which is scientific

accurate and objective. It is perfect in theory

simple in calculation and easy in operation

so it could be used to evaluate the optimal cultivation base

providing basis for selection of cultivation area for C. pilosula. Meanwhile

this TOPSIS evaluation model could also be applied to the comprehensive evaluation of other traditional Chinese medicines.