Objective To establish quality representation and correlation analysis method for analyzing the characteristic spectrum of Rougui（ Cinnamomum cassia Presl.） based on drug system

evaluating the quality of Rougui decocting pieces comprehensively. Methods HPLC-PDA method was adopted to establish the characteristic spectrum of Rougui decocting pieces

and seven characteristic peaks were screened. The qualitative relevance was presented with the relative retention time characterization.Simultaneously

six main effective index components（ protocatechuic acid

epicatechin

coumarin

cinnamic alcohol

cinnamic acid

and cinnamaldehyde） were measured

and characterization contents of the main phenols and the main phenylpropanoids were presented

whose quantitative relevance was represented with correlation analysis. Results Using batch 13 as reference standards

based on thequalitative representation model and correlation analysis

seven characteristic peaks of Rougui decocting pieces were detected to have two characteristic peaks of phenols and five characteristic peaks of phenylpropanoids; the seven characteristic peaks were found in 15 batches of Rougui decocting pieces chromatograms. Based on the quantitative representation model and correlation analysis

the overall amount of effective index components in batch 14 were higher than those in batch 13; the levels of components in batch 4

6

8

and 10 were highly related to batch 13. Comprehensive evaluation result showed that the quality of batch 14

13

4

6

8

and 10 were comparatively higher. Conclusion Quality representation was carried out on the basis of the qualitative characterization. This method could evaluate Rougui pieces’ quality comprehensively

provide a basis for the screening of resources

for controlling the quality of pharmaceutical raw materials

and for the related application

and also provide a new methodology for quality evaluation of Chinese materia medica