Abstract: A new method for the quality evaluation and discrimination of Dendrobium officinale and its counterfeits was developed by means of naringenin content determination combined with fingerprints technology. The differences of chemical compositions were compared between Dendrobium officinale and its counterfeits， which could provide a reference for quality evaluation and identification. HPLC was applied for determination of naringenin in Dendrobium officinale and its counterfeits， and the chromatographic fingerprints were analyzed with similarity evaluation system for chromatographic fingerprint of TCM. DPS was used for cluster analysis and principal component analysis. The results showed that all of the Dendrobium officinales had high similarity and significant differences with the counterfeits. Furthermore， naringenin contents were different among them. In conclusion, the approach established in the present paper offered some technical support for the discrimination of Dendrobium officinale and its counterfeits.

Key words: Dendrobium officinale Kimura et Migo, fingerprints, naringenin, adulterants identification