Objective:To determine the content of total aristolochic acid in different extracts of Asarum heterotropoides

and provide the basis for clinical application of A. heterotropoides. Method: A. heterotropoides was extracted with water

ethyl acetate

30% ethanol

50% ethanol

70% ethanol and 95% ethanol as extracting solvent. The ultraviolet spectrophotometry was used with aristolochic acid A as the chemical reference. The UV detector wavelength was set at 390 nm. Result: The content of aristolochic acid A showed a linear relation with the spectrophotometric absorbance within the range of 3.0-30.0 mg·L-1

and the linear equation was Y=19.844X+0.027 2 (r=0.999 6). The average recovery was 98.51%

and RSD was 1.32%. The total aristolochic acid content varied from 1.34%-3.15%. It was the lowest in the water extract and highest in the 95% ethanolic extract. Conclusion: The method is reliable

accurate and suitable for determining the content of the total aristolochic acid in extracts of A. heterotropoides.