Objective: To compare the.nourishing Yin effect of Anemarrhenae Rhizoma before and after processing. Method: Male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into control group

model group

high dose group of Anemarrhenae Rhizoma and the one processed with salt-water(2 g·kg-1)

low dose group of Anemarrhenae Rhizoma and the one processed with salt-water(1 g·kg-1). The treatment groups were gavaged with thyroxine solution(1.25×10-2 g·kg-1) and the water decoction of corresponding sample (10 mL·kg-1) every day

and the control group was gavaged with the same volume of physiological saline

the model group was gavaged with the same volume of thyroxine solution and physiological saline. Three weeks later

blood serum was colledted

then free T3(FT3) and free T4(FT4) were measured by antigen-antibody reaction

and urine and the supernatant were collected

then the content of 17-hydroxycorticosteroid(17-OHCS) was measured by UV-spectrophotometry meter (410 nm). Result: Compared with the control group

the FT3

FT4 of model groups were significantly increased (P<0.01);Compared with model group

in addition to FT3 of raw low dose group

others were significant decreased (P<0.05 or P<0.01);The contents of 17-OHCS in each group were decreased. The salt Anemarrhena Rhizoma high dose group had significant difference compared with model group(P<0.01)

and is superior to that of Anemarrhena Rhizoma group. Compared with the same dose of raw Rhizoma Anemarrhenae group

FT3

FT4 and urine 17-OHCS of the salt Anemarrhena Rhizoma group were lower

in which high dose group had significant difference(P<0.05). Conclusion: Both Anemarrhenae Rhizoma and the one processed with salt-water can nourish Yin

and the effect increase after processing.