Abstract: The method of fingerprint analysis and quantification of Rhizoma Drynariae was performed by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). The sample was extracted by ethanol and cyclohexane. The extract was separated on a Diamonsil C18 column, and gradiently eluted with acetonitrile and 0.4% glacial acetic acid at 25 ℃. The fingerprint analysis of ethanol and cyclohexane extracts of Rhizoma Drynariae using HPLC profiling was established. The contents of naringin, neoeriocitrin and E-4-O-β-D-glucopyranosyl caffeic acid in nineteen batches of samples were determined simultaneously. Significant differences were observed between genuine and fake samples in the principal component analysis (PCA) score plot, finding four potential index components in the PCA loading plot as well. Three important potential index components were naringin, neoeriocitrin and E-4-O-β-D-glucopyranosyl caffeic acid, and the contents of them in ten genuine batches were 6.36~10.1 mg/g, 5.14~9.21 mg/g and 1.87~3.19 mg/g, respectively. Combining determination of the index components with fingerprint analysis of Rhizoma Drynariae using HPLC profiling, the quality of Rhizoma Drynariae can be assessed better.

Key words: E-4-O-β-D-glucopyranosyl caffeic acid, fingerprints, naringin, neoeriocitrin, principal component analysis (PCA), Rhizoma Drynariae , high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC)