ABSTRACT
Objective: To establish HPLC fingerprint for the analysis on Ziziphora tenuior and Z. clinopodioides and the determination of hyperin, rutine, and pulegone in eight batches of Z. tenuior and 22 batches of Z. clinopodioides synchronously. Methods: The HPLC method was used with Kromasil C18 column (250 mm × 4.6 mm, 5 μm), and a mixture of methanol-0.08% HCOOH was used as mobile phase with gradient elution. The HPLC fingerprint for eight batches of Z. tenuior and 22 batches of Z. clinopodioides was established. Results: The HPLC fingerprints of the two species were obviously different, so two modes were established for two species, respectively. The eight batches of Z. tenuior and 22 batches of Z. clinopodioides were classified into two groups based on the result of principal component, hierarchical cluster, and similarity analyses. Hyperin and pulegone were the common compositions; quercetin (161.06-213.22 μg/g) was founded in Z. tenuior, but not in Z. clinopodioides; the contents of hyperin (174.15-802.24 μg/g), pulegone (77.43-353.45 μg/g) of Z. clinopodioides were higher than those of Z. tenuior (49.72-204.33 and 36.19-93.29 μg/g). Conclusion: Z. tenuior and Z. clinopodioides have the different fingerprint, which could provide the evidence for their quality control, species identification, and classification.