Abstract: Objective To compare the acute toxicity of water extraction components and volatile oil in Evodia fructus on mice of stomach cold-syndrome, making an observation and evaluation of acute toxicity to Evodia fructus herbs in the syndrome context in order to provide a experimental basis for safe and reasonable medication in clinic. Methods The method of stomach cold-syndrome model in mice was built by continuous swim, leading to exhaustion, and giving ice water mixture in the same time. Comparison of the acute toxicity of water extraction components and volatile oil in Evodia fructus on mice were studied in accordance with classical acute toxicity test Methods , and the experimental datas of LD50 and MTD are calculated by the Bliss method, with the continuous administration and observation for 14 days. Results Under the background of stomach cold syndrome, the LD50 of volatile oil of Evodia fructus is 2.75 mL·kg^-1·d-1 and the 95% confidence interval is 2.66～2.86 mL·kg^-1·d-1. The water extraction components of Evodia fructus are unable to make LD50, so the result of MTD was 160.0 g·kg^-1·d-1 by calculating in accordance with crude drug content, which is equal to 2488.8 times of clinical daily dosage of 70 kg per kilogram of body weight. The main symptoms of acute toxicity in mice of stomach cold-syndrome are ennui energy, diarrhea, respiratory depression, and mice mostly died within 48 h after administration of volatile oil of Evodia fructus. Conclusion Different components of Evodia fructus could cause certain acute toxicity effect on mice with stomach cold-syndrome, and the volatile oil was with the greatest degree of toxicity, followed by the water extracted components.

Key words: Evodia fructus, different components, mice with stomach cold-syndrome, acute toxicity