Objective: To Compare the pharmacokinetics of ferulic acid after oral administration of the extracts from Rhizoma Ligustici Chuanxiong and Tongmai formulations in rats. Method: The blood samples were collected at different time points after oral administration of the extracts from Rhizoma Ligustici Chuanxiong and Tongmai formulations (equivalent to 9.0 mg ·kg-1 ferulic acid)to wistar rats respectively.The plasma concentration of ferulic acid was measured by HPLC after extracted with ethyl acetate

and then pharmacokinetic parameters were calculated from the plasma concentration-time data with the 3P97 software. Result: The mean plasma concentration-time curves of ferulic acid after oral administration of the extracts from Rhizoma Ligustici Chuanxiong and Tongmai formulations were fitted to one compartment open model.The (Ke)s of the extracts from Rhizoma Ligustici Chuanxiong and Tongmai formulations were (0.015±0.002)

(0.008±0.001)min

t1/2(Ke) were (46.850±5.414)

(87.033±11.025)min respectively.Significant differences were found between the two groups (P<0.01).There existed significant differences (P<0.05)in AUC and CL/F(s)between the extracts from Rhizoma Ligustici Chuanxiong and Tongmai formulations. (AUC)s were (328.440±115.461)

(625.718±139.798)μg ·min-1 ·mL-1

CL/F(s)were (0.032±0.013)

(0.015±0.004)L ·kg-1 ·min-1 respectively. Conclusion: The work proved that the compatibility of Radix Salviae Miltiorrhiza and Radix Puerahae with Rhizoma Ligustici Chuanxiong could reduce the elimination rate

prolong the action time of ferulic acid in vivo and enhance the ferulic acid biological exploitability.