Objective: To optimize technological conditions of ultrasonic wave-enzymes extraction for chelerythrine and its 6-alkoxy derivatives from Zanthoxyli Radix. Method: HPLC was employed to determine contents of chelerythrine and its 6-alkoxy derivatives with mobile phase of acetonitrile-water-phosphoric acid-triethylamine (25:75:0.2:0.25) and detection wavelength at 284 nm.Orthogonal test and single factor tests were adopted to optimize extraction process of chelerythrine and its 6-alkoxy derivatives from Zanthoxyli Radix. Result: The optimal process was as follows:pretreated Zanthoxyli Radix powder with cellulase (1:250) and pectinase (1:250) for 30 min in 3.7 times volume of acetic acid-sodium acetate buffer (pH 5) at ambient temperature (≥30℃)

and then extracted 3 times by ultrasonic-wave (250 W) with 40%ethanol (containing 0.5%hydrochloric acid) as solvent

extracted 18 min with 6 times solvent at the first time

extracted 15 min with 3 times solvent at the second time

extracted 12 min with 3 times solvent at the third time.The extraction rate of chelerythrine and its 6-alkoxy derivatives was 90.5%. Conclusion: This optimized process can improve economical benefit and efficiency

save energy and time

which provides experimental base for industrial production of chelerythrine from Zanthoxyli Radix.