Abstract: In order to provide scientific evidence on rational use and origin select of Bupleurum plants,the HPLC standard fingerprint of Bupleurum chinense was established and 14 common peaks were confirmed.13 batches of Bupleurum samples were analyzed by similarity evaluation.In addition,cluster analysis was performed with 23 batches of Bupleurum samples including B.chinense. The results suggested that thedegree of similarity were over 0.8,and all of them showed highly similarity to B.chinense. It shown that B.marginatum can be further studied as a superiority resource of Bupleurum. Classification of different Bupleurum samples was obtained using systematic cluster method.The results indicated that B.marginatum was clustered as one class; B.chinense was clustered as one class; B.malconense, B.microcephalum and B.longicaule var.amplexicaule were clustered as one class.This result was consistent with the traditional classification and can be used for the identification of origins of Bupleurum samples.

Key words: Bupleurum marginatum Wall .exDC., Bupleurum, HPLC fingerprint, resemblance, cluster analysis