目的 探寻猫爪草中指标性成分，并建立HPLC测定猫爪草中指标性成分含量的方法，对猫爪草进行质量控制研究。方法 采用不同柱色谱技术进行分离，通过光谱、波谱分析鉴定指标性成分吡咯丁酸的化学结构。采用高效液相色谱法进行吡咯丁酸的含量测定，以Agilent TC-C₁₈ 柱（4.6 mm×250 mm，5 μm）色谱柱为固定相；流动相为0.4%醋酸水-甲醇；检测波长：292 nm；体积流量：1.0 mL·min^-1。结果 猫爪草中指标性成分经分离、鉴定为吡咯丁酸，吡咯丁酸在0.372～1.302 μg线性关系良好，r²=0.999 8。平均回收率为100.89% (RSD=0.83%)。结论 本方法简单、快速、可靠，为猫爪草的质量控制提供了科学依据。

OBJECTIVE To identify a characteristic chemical marker of Ranunculi Ternati Radix and establish a HPLC method for determination of its content. METHODS Various chromatographic methods were applied to isolate the marker 4-[formyl-5-(hydroxymethyl)-1H-pyrrol-1-yl]butanoic acid， and its structure was elucidated by spectroscopic methods. The HPLC was performed on Agilent TC-C₁₈ column（4.6 mm×250 mm，5 μm） using CH₃OH-H₂O (containing 0.4% acetic acid) as the mobile phase. The flow rate was 1.0 mL·min^-1 and the detection wavelength was set at 292 nm. RESULTS 4-[formyl-5-(hydroxymethyl)-1H-pyrrol-1-yl]butanoic acid was isolated and identified as the chemical marker. The HPLC method showed good linearity within the range of 0.372-1.302 μg (r²=0.999 8). The average recovery of 4-[formyl-5-(hydroxymethyl)-1H-pyrrol-1-yl]butanoic acid was 100.89% (n=6，RSD=0.83%). CONCLUSION This method is simple， rapid and reliable for the quality control of Ranunculi Ternati Radix.