ABSTRACT
<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To compare steroidal saponins-main active ingredients of Paris polyphylla from different areas in Guizhou province, in order to provided basis for further proving Guizhou province to be the planting base of P. polyphylla.</p><p><b>METHOD</b>The contents of nine steroidal saponins, namely paris-VII, (25R)-5-en-spirost-3beta,17alpha-diol-3-O-alpha-L-rhamnopyranosyl-(1-->2) [alpha-L-rhamnopyranosyl(1-->4)]-beta-D-glycopyanoside (PGRR), paris-H, paris-VI, paris-II , paris-III, gracillin, paris-I and paris-V of P. polyphylla from eight areas of Guizhou province were determined by HPLC-UV.</p><p><b>RESULT</b>Five steroidal saponins-paris-VII, PGRR, paris-H, paris-VI and gracillin were detected in all the drugs, which provided basis for distinguishing P. polyphylla. P. polyphylla from Dushan showed the highest content of steroidal saponins (9.62%), followed by Tongren (6.39%), and the lowest was Zunyi (0.99%).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Saponins from different areas of Guizhou province show significant difference in variety and content, therefore Dushan is suitable for planting P. polyphylla.</p>