RESUMO
OBJECTIVE: To establish the HPLC characteristic fingerprints of Gentiana scabra Bge. and G. rigescens Franch. METHODS: The characteristic fingerprints were established based on polarity orientation technology. Similarity analysis, cluster analysis, and principal component analysis were used to evaluate the fingerprints. RESULTS: The HPLC fingerprints of ethyl acetate fraction from the water extract of G. scabra and G. rigescens showed obvious characteristics. The overall similarity of 21 batches of samples was 0.29-0.95. The overall similarity of G. scabra was 0.82-0.99 except S4. And that of G. rigescens was 0.75-0.99 among which 10 batches were greater than 0.90. In the cluster analysis, the samples were divided into three clusters: S4, G. scabra, and G. rigescens. In the principal component analysis, 21 batches of G. scabra. and G. rigescens could be clearly divided into two categories, while S4 was far away from the other samples of G. scabra. CONCLUSION: G scabra and G. rigescens can be identified effectively by the characteristic fingerprints. The method can be used for the quality control of Radix Gentianae.