Abstract: The fingerprint chromatograms of triterpene glycosides in Stichopus japonicus were established for its quality control. The samples were prepared by solid phase extraction (SPE). The analysis was performed on a Zorbax SB-C18 column (250 mm×4.6 mm, 5 μm) with acetonitrile-water (containing 0.1% phosphoric acid) as mobile phase at a flow rate of 1.0 mL/min, and at a column temperature of 30 ℃. The detection wavelength was set at 205 nm. Ten different original samples were analyzed, and 6 peaks were identified as common fingerprint peaks using the similarity evaluation system for the chromatographic fingerprint of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) recommended by State Pharmacopoeia Committee of China (Version 2004 A). The similarities of the fingerprints were all greater than 0.97. The method is proved to be stable and repeatable and can be utilized as a quality control for S. japonicus.

Key words: fingerprints, Stichopus japonicus, triterpene glycoside, high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC)