Abstract: Objective By comparing the 2-Hydroxy-4-methoxybenzaldehyde's content and the acute toxicity of different extracts in Cortex Periplocae, to explore the effect of different extraction solvents on the quality and toxicity of Cortex Periplocae. Methods By using HPLC and the classic acute toxicity experiment method, to determine the content of 2-Hydroxy-4-methoxybenzaldehyde and compare the acute toxicity of different extracts. Results The 2-Hydroxy-4-methoxybenzaldehyde's content of different composition from the biggest to the smallest is all components, alcohol extraction components and water extraction components. The acute toxicity of different extracts from the biggest to the smallest is alcohol extraction components,water extraction components and all components. The LD50 of water extraction components and alcohol extraction components in Cortex Periplocae are 93.578 g·kg-1·d-1 and the 95% confidence limit is 89.149～98.484 g·kg-1·d-1 which is equal to 1091.8 times of 70kg people's daily dried medicinal herb expenses and 61.388 g·kg-1·d-1 and the 95% confidence limit is 57.466～65.521 g·kg-1·d-1 which is equal to 716.2 times of 70kg people's daily dried medicinal herb expenses. The all-components in Cortex Periplocae is unable to make LD50, while MTD results calculated in accordance with crude drug content is respectively 16.0 g·kg-1·d-1, which is equal to 186.6 times of 70kg people's daily dried medicinal herb expenses. Conclusion There are significant differences on the content of 2- Hydroxy-4-methoxybenzaldehyde and the toxicity. There are the biggest content of 2-Hydroxy 4 methoxybenzaldehyde in the all-components while the toxicity of alcohol extraction components are the biggest. We need do further study to corroborate whether 2-Hydroxy-4-methoxybenzaldehyde is also one of the toxic substance in Cortex Periplocae.

Key words: Cortex Periplocae, all-components, water extract, alcohol extract, 2-Hydroxy-4-methoxybenzaldehyde, acute toxicity