Abstract: ObjectiveTo establish a HPLC method for determining the content of catechin, paeoniflorin, benzoic acid and paeonol in Paeonia lactiflora Pall at different wavelength. MethodsIt was performed on Diamonsil colunm C18 5 m 250×4.6 mm, mobile phase was 0.1% methanoic acid-methyl cyanide, gradient elute, detection wavelength was 230 nm (catechin, paeoniflorin, benzoic acid) and 275 nm (paeonol), flow rate was 1mL·min-1, and colunm temperature was 30℃. ResultsThe contents of four active components in Paeonia Lactiflora Pall from different habitats were quite different. The contents of catechin, paeoniflorin, benzoic acid and paeonol were 0%~0.052%, 1.044~4.326%, 0.126~0.249%, 0.022~1.060% respectively. ConclusionThe method is simple and accurate with good reproducibility, it is suitable for determining the contents of catechin, paeoniflorin, benzoic acid and paeonol in Paeonia lactiflora Pall.

Key words: Paeonia lactiflora Pall, HPLC, catechin, paeoniflorin, benzoic acid, paeonol, quality control