Abstract: To compare the differences of HPLC fingerprints of Cistanche deserticola harvested in different seasons.HPLC method was used to establish the fingerprint of Cistanche deserticola harvested in two seasons (spring and autumn).The mobile phase was methanol0.1% formic acid aqueous solution with gradient elution and the chromatogram was measured at the detection wavelength of 330 nm.And the common peaks were preliminarily assigned by LCMS.Clustering analysis showed that there were obvious differences between the two kinds of serial samples.Five common but not exactly same peaks were identified respectively in the two kinds of samples by fingerprint analysis.Echinacoside,cistanoside A and acteoside were found in both groups.However,2′acetylacteoside and tubuloside B were only found in spring samples;2′Acetylsalidroside and cistanoside A were specifically found in autumn samples.The developed HPLC fingerprint analysis method combined with chemometrics can be used to distinguish the harvest season of Cistanche deserticola.This paper can provide the basis for guiding the standardized planting and determining reasonable harvesting seasons of Cistanche deserticola.

Key words: Cistanche deserticola, HPLC fingerprints, different seasons, chemometrics