Abstract: The content of inorganic elements in Platycladus orientalis leaves from different regions was determined by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry （ICP-MS）, and methodological validation was carried out. Cluster analysis and principal component analysis were conducted using SPSS software to evaluate the characteristic elements. The results indicated that the linear relationship between the 26 elements in the standard sample was good,with correlation coefficient （R²） ≥0 995 3,the detection limit of each element was between 0.002 0 and 4.222 6 ng/mL,precision, stability, and repeatability met the requirements,and the average sample recovery rate of each element ranged from 84.1% to 12.3.6%, with a relative standard deviation of 0.7% to 4.5%;24 inorganic elements were detected in 28 batches of Platycladus orientalis leaves samples, with significant differences in content,among them, the content of K, Ca, and Mg in the Platycladus orientalis leaves sample exceeded 1 000 mg/kg, and the content of Cd, As, Hg, and Cu were all within the limit range specified in the Pharmacopoeia of the People's Republic of China： volume Ⅰ. The Pb content ranged from 0.602 to 9.337 mg/kg, with 6 batches of Platycladus orientalis leaves exceeding the limit;principal component analysis showed that Fe, Ti, Ca, Ni, Al, Mn, Zn, and K were the main characteristic elements of Platycladus orientalis leaves;cluster analysis showed that production areas with similar geographical locations could be well clustered together, indicating that there were obvious regional characteristics in the content of inorganic elements in Platycladus orientalis leaves. The established method was easy to operate, fast in analysis speed, and highly sensitive, and could be used for the determination of inorganic elements content in Platycladus orientalis leaves.

Key words: Platycladus orientalis leaves, inorganic elements, cluster analysis, content determination, evaluation