Abstract: To evaluate the value of eight Dipsacus medicinal plants,we determinated 6 chemical constituents in their dry roots by high performance liquid chromatography and carried correlation analysis,principal component analysis and cluster analysis.The results showed that the average content of six medicinal components from high to low were asperosaponin VI,chiratin,chlorogenic acid,loganin,daucosterol,β-sitosterol.The content of asperosaponin VI was changed greatly,followed by chiratin and loganin,but the rest of three components had little difference.Loganin and chiratin were significantly correlated.Asperosaponin VI and sweroside,daucosterol and β-sitosterol,daucosterol and chlorogenic acid,β-sitosterol and chlorogenic acid were extremely significantly correlated.The principal component scores of D.asperoides and D.daliensis var multifidus were higher,followed by D.kangdingensis and D.chinensis,the rest of four species were lower.Based on six chemical compositions,the clustering result is not high compared with the traditional classification.

Key words: Dipsacus, chemical constituents, changes of chemical constituents, cluster analysis