Objective: To optimize extraction procedure of Guizhi Gancao Tang. Method: Contents of liquiritin

cinnamic acid

cinnamaldehyde and glycyrrhizic acid were determined by HPLC

mobile phase was consisted of acetonitrile(A)-water containing 0.1% phosphoric acid(B) for gradient elution(0-10 min

5% -20% A;10-15 min

20% -23% A;15-30 min

23% -32% A;30-40 min

32% -35% A;40-50 min

35% -40% A;50-60 min

40% -50% A)

detection wavelength was at 254 nm.Orthogonal design was adopted to optimize extraction process with composite score of contents of liquiritin

cinnamic acid

cinnamaldehyde and glycyrrhizic acid as index

the amount of water

extracting time and times as factors. Result: Optimal extraction technology was:extracted thrice with 12 times the amount of water for 1.0 h each time;extracting amounts of liquiritin

cinnamic acid

cinnamaldehyde and glycyrrhizic acid were 5.93

11.73

12.25

12

34

172.86 mg·g-1. Conclusion: Syhthetic weighted mark method can reasonably reflect overall efficacy of Guizhi Gancao Tang

this article provides experimental basis for clinical application and development of this compound.