Objective To establish a HPLC method for determining and comparing the contents of diosbulbin B in
Dioscorea bulbifera L. from different regions. Methods The medicine powders were extracted twice by water, then the water extracts were combined and detected by HPLC at 35℃,with Kromasil-C18 column (4. 6 mm×250 mm,5μm) and a mobile phase of acetonitrile-water-glacial-acetic acid (34660. 1). The flow rate was 1. 0 mL·min-1 and the detection wavelength was 210 nm. Results The linear range of diosbulbin B was 26. 0-260. 0 μg·mL-1(r=0. 999 9). The average content of diosbulbin B in Dioscorea bulbifera L. from different areas was that of Hebei>Guangxi>Jiangsu>Sichuan>Zhejiang. Conclusion The method is simple,quick,accurate and suitable for the determination of diosbulbin B in Dioscorea bulbifera L. from different regions.