Abstract: Objective The efficacy and heart toxicity of Aconite's water decoction on spleen-kidney yang deficiency rat with heart failure were studied to explore "efficacy-toxicity" relationship of Aconite on animal models combined disease and syndrome. Methods Chronic heart failure rat model was established with isoprenaline by subcutaneous injection and spleen-kidney yang deficiency rat model was established with rhubarb powder suspension. Rat models were established and Aconite's water decoction was administered simultaneously for 9 consecutive days. Electrocardiogram (ECG) and hemodynamics of rats were measured. Heart, left ventricular, brain, liver, spleen and kidney were weighed and indexes of them were calculated. The activities of N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide (NT-pro BNP), high sensitivity C reactive protein (hs-CRP), aspartate transaminase (AST), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) and cardiac troponin I (cTn-I) were detected. Results The heart rate of rats dropped, the amplitude of T enlarged and QRS extended after the administration of Aconite's water decoction in the dosage range of 1.35~5.40 g·kg-1. Left ventricular pressure (LVSP) and left ventricular pressure development during isovolumetric contraction/relaxation(±dp/dtmax) elevated and the levels of serum NT-pro BNP and hs-CRP reduced. Heart index and left ventricular index increased. Conclusion Aconite's water decoction in the dosage range of 1.35~5.40 g·kg-1 has certain efficacy on spleen-kidney yang deficiency rat with heart failure, showing that the evaluation on the "efficacy-toxicity" correlation of Radix Aconiti Lateralis has important significance to ensure the safety of clinical cardiac function.

Key words: Radix Aconiti Lateralis Praeparata, spleen-kidney yang deficiency, heart failure, efficacy, toxicity