Abstract:Stems and leaves of 11 sweet potato varieties ( Shuiguo, Shuiguo-huaye, Ziyu 1, Ziyu 2, Nongda-zi 1, Nongda- zi 2, Zhezi 1, Zishu 2, Gaodian-fen, Yeyong 1 and Yeyong 2 ) were used as material, to study the method of HPLC for the determination of lutein and β-carotene simultaneously. The results showed that lutein and β-carotene could be extracted from sweet potato leaves by ultrasound extracted with 1∶30 of materials to methanol at 50 ℃ three times , each time with 40 min. With HPLC mobile phase of methanol-water(95∶5, v/v) and methanol-acetonitrile-tetrahydrofuran (70∶20∶5), lutein and β-carotene could be separated well and their recoverys were 105.8% and 101.5% respectively. Content of lutein and β-carotene in 11 varieties were the highest in mature leaves(0.504–1.031 mg/g and 0.188–0.467 mg/g), then the tender leaves (0.409–0.617 mg/g and 0.141–0.242 mg/g ) and petioles(0.094–0.195 mg/g and 0.040–0.082 mg/g) the lowest levels in stems(0.053–0.103 mg/g and 0.036–0.045 mg/g).