Abstract: OBJECTIVE To compare the fingerprints and contents of the main components of Lithospermum erythrorhizon and Arnebia euchroma, and to evaluate the medicinal value of Lithospermum erythrorhizon. METHODS HPLC was used as followed:the chromatographic column of Symmetry C₁₈ column(4.6 mm×250 mm, 5 μm) was used with the mobile phase of acetonitrile-water(70:30), the flow rate was 1.0 mL·min^-1, the column temperature was 30℃, and the detection wavelength was set at 516 nm. The fingerprints of Lithospermum erythrorhizon and Arnebia euchroma were established by using the software of "Similarity Evaluation System of Chromatographic Fingerprints of Traditional Chinese Medicine(2012 edition)". RESULTS A common pattern of the fingerprints of Lithospermum erythrorhizon and Arnebia euchroma was established. The control map of Arnebia euchroma was used as reference map for peak matching. The similarity of the fingerprints of Lithospermum erythrorhizon and Arnebia euchroma was calculated to be 0.798. Lithospermum erythrorhizon contained naphthraquinone, but its content was different from that of Arnebia euchroma. CONCLUSION Lithospermum erythrorhizon has certain medicinal value, but it can not completely replace the Arnebia euchroma.