Abstract: Objective To compare the content of saikosaponin and the acute toxicity on the all components, alcohol-water extracts in different place's Bupleurum, and discuss the effect of original place on the content and toxicity of Bupleurum saikosaponin substances. Methods UV method, HPLC method and the classical method of acute toxicity,were used to determine the content of total saikosaponin and saikosaponin a of the all components, alcohol-water extracts in different places' Bupleurum, and compare the content and the acute toxicity. Results The content of total saikosaponin on the all components in different place's Bupleurum is: Hebei Bupleurum>Inner Mongolia Bupleurum> Shanxi Bupleurum>Henan Bupleurum, and the content of saikosaponin a is: Hebei Bupleurum>Inner Mongolia Bupleurum, Shanxi Bupleurum>Henan Bupleurum, and the MLD is: Henan Bupleurum>Shanxi Bupleurum>Inner Mongolia Bupleurum>Hebei Bupleurum; the content of total saikosaponin on the alcohol-water extracts in different place's Bupleurum is:Hebei Bupleurum>Inner Mongolia Bupleurum>Shanxi Bupleurum>Henan Bupleurum, and the content of saikosaponin a is:Hebei Bupleurum>Shanxi Bupleurum>Inner Mongolia Bupleurum>Henan Bupleurum, and the MTD is:Inner Mongolia Bupleurum>Shanxi Bupleurum>Henan Bupleurum>Hebei Bupleurum. The content of total saikosaponin and saikosaponin a in the all components, alcohol-water extracts of Hebei Bupleurum is higher than other different original place's Bupleurum, and the MLD of the all components and the MTD of the alcohol-water extracts is smaller than other different original place's Bupleurum, but the toxicity is the biggest. Conclusion The original place has some influence on the content of the saikosaponin substances and the toxicity of Bupleurum, and the toxicity of Bupleurum has some relevance with the content of saikosaponin substances.

Key words: original place, Bupleurum, Saikosaponin, mice, acute toxicity