This study aims to establish high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) fingerprints and multi-component content determination method for Rubiae Radix et Rhizoma and its adulterants (Rubia wallichiana Decne.,R.magna P.G.Xsiao,R.schumanniana Pritz.),and evaluate its quality in combination with chemometrics method.The fingerprints of Rubiae Radix et Rhizoma and its adulterants were analyzed by HPLC and the content of nine chemical components were determined.By means of similarity analysis,hierarchical clustering analysis (HCA) and partial least squares discriminant analysis (PLS-DA),the quality of Rubiae Radix et Rhizoma and its adulterants was evaluated.The fingerprints of Rubiae Radix et Rhizoma and its adulterants identified 18 common peaks,among which nine components were characterized.Chemical pattern recognition methods including HCA,principal component analysis (PCA),and partial least squares-discriminant analysis (PLS-DA) classified 61 batches of samples into three categories.Four key differential components,namely mollugin,lucidin 3-O-primveroside,6-hydroxymethylrubiadin,and lucidin,were screened out.There were significant differences in the contents of nine components between Rubiae Radix et Rhizoma and its adulterants:1-hydroxy-2-methylanthraquinone had the highest content in Rubiae Radix et Rhizoma;lucidin 3-O-primveroside,lucidin,hydroxyalizarin,and methylisorubiadin showed the highest contents in R.wallichiana;the content of mollugin was highest in R.schumanniana.The established HPLC fingerprint combined with multi-component quantitative method and chemical pattern recognition technology can effectively distinguish Rubiae Radix et Rhizoma from its adulterants.The screened characteristic differential components provide scientific support for the quality evaluation and germplasm resource development of Rubia plants.

"> Rubiae Radix et Rhizoma, Rubia wallichiana Decne., Rubia magna P.G.Xsiao, Rubia schumanniana Pritz., HPLC fingerprint, chemical pattern recognition