Abstract: Objective To compare toxic injury of arsenic from difference origin Angelica sinensis exposure in mice liver and kidney, and probe into the related mechanisms. Methods Adult Kunming mice were randomly divided into 5 groups(control group,YN group, SC group, SX group and realgar group) and were given a several intragastric administration of Angelica sinensis and Realgar, respectively. Seventy two hours after administration, serum ALT, AST, UREA and CREA were analyzed by automatic biochemical analyzer to observe histopathologic change in liver and kidney.MT-1 mRNA and TNF-α mRNA were determined by RT-PCR. Results Accumulation of arsenicin liver and kidney of the Realgar group were significantly higher than control group, accompanied by the higher levels of serum ALT, AST, UREA, CREA(P＜0.050, may indicate injuries in the liver and kidney. Along with a little elevated MT-1 mRNA and TNF-α mRNA gene expression in Realgar group, but not in other groups(P＞0.05). Histology showed no pathological injuries of liver and kidney in three different origin Angelica sinensis groups. Conclusion Difference origin Angelica sinensis are much less acute toxic than Realgar. High dose Realgar may have effect on liver and kidney tissue. The Angelica sinensis are still safe to be used in proprietary Chinese medicines.

Key words: Angelica sinensis, Realgar, Arsenic, toxic injury