OBJECTIVE To evaluate the quality of different sources of Tibetan medicine "Jiawa" by the spectrum-effect relationship. METHODS The HPLC fingerprints of 17 batches of "Jiawa" were analyzed by similarity evaluation, cluster analysis and principal component analysis. Gray correlation degree analysis was used to study the relationship between 13 common fingerprint peaks and DPPH/ABTS radical scavenging capacity of "Jiawa". Due to high correlation with antioxidant activity, the content of ferulic acid was determined. RESULTS The 17 batches of "Jiawa" samples showed varied greatly in fingerprint characteristics, antioxidant activity and content of ferulic acid, which divided into group A and group B. Osmorhiza aristata (group A) showed low similarity in both chemical components and concentration with other samples, should not be used as "Jiawa". Group B included mainstreaming "Jiawa" products in the market(Pleurospermum hookeri, Pleurospermum szechenyii, Vicatia thibetica, Sphallerocarpua gracilis), showed some difference within group. Vicatia thibetica from Linzhi showed the best antioxidant activity and the highest of ferulic acid, while those from Lhasa and its surrounding areas had good antioxidant activity, and the ferulic acid content was moderate. Samples from Aba and Changdu had the minimum level in both antioxidant activity and ferulic acid content. CONCLUSION Ferulic acid is closely related to the antioxidant capacity of "Jiawa", which can be used as an important target to evaluate the quality of Tibetan medicine "Jiawa".