RESUMEN
Objective: To establish an HPLC fingerprint method for water-soluble components in Cordyceps sinensis which could provide the basis for authenticity identification and quality evaluation of C. sinensis. Methods: HPLC method was adopted to construct the fingerprint of water soluble components in C. sinensis and its main confused species (C. liangshanensis, C. gunnii and artificial C. militaris). Total 16 common peaks were marked, and 12 common peaks were confirmed by the method with tandem high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry (Q-TOF MS). Results: The common mode of HPLC fingerprint for C. sinensis was developed. The method could distinguish between C. sinensis and its confused species, and 12 common peaks were identified, including cytosine, uracil, cytidine, hypoxanthine + guanine, uridine, thymine, adenine, inosine, guanosine, thymidine, adenosine, and cordycepin respectively. Conclusion: This method is simple and easy, providing scientific basis for identification of C. sinensis.