Objective: To study the compatibility rule of Huanglian Jiedu Tang based on metabonomics. Method: Fifty-four male Wistar rats were randomly divided into six groups including control group

model group

Huanglian group

Huanglian-Huangqin group

Huanglian-Huangqin-Huangbai group and Huanglian Jiedu Tang group. The treatment groups were orally administrated with corresponding drug at a dose of 7.2

12

16.8

24 g crude drug·kg-1

respectively. Thirty minute later

the model group and treatment groups were injected with a DNP solution (sc

25 mg·kg-1). The urine of rats was collected during period of 0-1

1-3

3-5

5-7

7-13

13-22 h

respectively. The urine samples were analyzed by UPLC-TOF/MS and the urine mass spectrometry data were processed by MarkerLynx XS software and analyzed further by principal component analysis (PCA) and orthogonal partial least squares-discriminant analysis (OPLS-DA). Result: In the score plot

the Huanglian group was mixed with model group

the Huanglian-Huangqin group was close to model and farther away from the control group

the Huanglian-huangqin-huangbai group

the model and conrtol group were distributed in 3 clusters in the principal components analysis diagram without overlap

and closer to the control group

the Huanglian Jiedu Tang group

the model group and control group were distributed in 3 clusters in the principal components analysis diagram without overlap

and their distances were identical; meanwhile

33

15

36

40 biomarkers were respectively interfered by the Huanglian

Huanglian-Huangqin

Huanglian-Huangqin-Huangbai and Huanglian Jiedu Tang groups. After comprehensively evaluating the intervention effect of treatment groups according to the overall metabolism of fever syndrome and endogenous biomarker variations

we found that the order of effect strength was Huanglian Jiedu Tang

Huanglian-Huangqin-Huangbai

Huanglian

Huanglian-Huangqin. Conclusion: Huanglian as the monarch herb play a major pharmacological action; Huangbai and Zhizi as the assistant and guide herbs also play their respective roles; however Huangqin as the minister herb is to be discussed.