Objective: To study the hemolytic effects of Lonicerae Japonicae Flos and Lonicerae Flos in vitro and to evaluate their potential hemolysis risks. Method: Hemolysis of the rabbit red blood cells were determined by ultraviolet-visible spectroscopy(UV-VIS) after adding the different concentrations of the compounds of saponins

the active fractions of Lonicerae Japonicae Flos

and the samples of Lonicerae Japonicae Flos and Lonicerae Flos

respectively.Then

the hemolysis rates curves can be obtained by plotting the hemolysis rates against the corresponding concentrations. Result: The hemolytic effects of loniceroside A

loniceroside B

macranthoidin A

dipsacoside B and asperosaponin Ⅵ can't be observed as the concentrations were ≤ 1.0 g·L-1.The hemolysis rate of macranthoidin B was increased with the increasing of the concentration.The hemolysis of macranthoidin B can't be observed as the concentration was less than 0.6 g·L-1.Then

the hemolysis rate was 11.7% as the concentration was 0.8 g·L-1 and the hemolysis rate was up to 50.4% as the concentration was 1.0 g·L-1.The hemolytic effects of the active fractions of Lonicerae Japonicae Flos were in the order of total saponins > total phenolics > total iridoids.The hemolysis of the total iridoids can't be observed as the concentration was between 0.1 g·L-1 and 1.2 g·L-1.There was no hemolysis for the total phenolics as its concentration was less than 1.0 g·L-1 .The hemolysis of the total saponins was observed as the concentration was 0.6 g·L-1.Then

it was increased rapidly with the increase of the concentration and the hemolysis rate was up to 55.3% as the concentration was 1.2 g·L-1.The hemolysis curves of the cultivated and wild samples of Lonicerae Japonicae Flos were similar with that of Lonicerae Flos.Their obvious hemolysis concentration was between 2.0 g·L-1 and 4.0 g·L-1. Conclusion: There are no significant differences between Lonicerae Japonicae Flos and Lonicerae Flos concerning their hemolysis.All saponins compounds studied have no hemolysis or weak hemolytic effects. The total saponins of Lonicerae Japonicae Flos also have weak hemolytic effects with the concentration of 0.6 g·L-1

which is equal to 20 g·L-1 of crude drug. However

it is hard to reach such high concentration in the traditional Chinese medicine injections. Therefore

Lonicerae Japonicae Flos and Lonicerae Flos contained the components of saponins could be applied to traditional Chinese medicine injections and the potential hemolysis risks are small on clinic.