OBJECTIVE To determine 3 kinds of biologically active components (9 compounds) in Gardenia, namely geniposidic acid, gentiobioside, gardenoside, genipin geniposide, chlorogenic acid, crocin 1, crocin 2, crocin 3 and crocetin simultaneously and quantitatively. METHODS An HPLC method detected by 3 different UV-vis waves--240 nm for geniposidic acid, geniposide, gardenoside, genipin gentiobioside, 330 nm for chlorogenic acid, 440 nm for crocin 1, crocin 2, crocin 3 and crocetin respectively, has been developed: Phenomenex Luna C18 column(250 mm x 4.6 mm ID, 5 microns) with linear gradient elution using methanol-acetotrile (9:1) and 0.3% aqueous formic acid. RESULTS This method successfully determined 9 compounds in Gardenia (from 5 different areas) simultaneously and quantitatively. CONCLUSIONS This is a more reasonable and credible quality control method for the Chinese traditional medicine.