AbstractThe methanolic extract of roots of Cimicifuga racemosa and its methanolysis products have been analysed by GC‐MS. 2‐Hexylcyclopropaneoctanoic acid (9,10‐methylenehexadecanoic acid) was found to be the marker most specific for the identification for this herb. For the phytochemical standardisation of Rhizoma Cimicifugae racemosae, validated methods for the quantitative analysis of formononetin (by TLC‐fluorometry), of isoferulic acid (by GC‐MS of the methyl ester), and of total triterpene glycosides (transformed to coloured complexes and measured photometrically) in roots of C. racemosa have been developed. The contents of formononetin, isoferulic acid and total triterpene glycosides (measured as actein) in the herb ranged from 0.0031 to 0.0035, from 1.22 to 1.35 and from 20.09 to 22.06 mg/g dry weight, respectively. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.