Objective: To compare the analgesic effects and chemical components for two kinds of extracts of Danggui Shaoyao San (DSS) by water and 50% ethanol accordingly

so as to provide some evidence for its clinical use and exploration of its material basis. Method: Two kinds of extracts of DSS were prepared by water reflux and ultrasonic wave-assisted extraction by 50% ethanol respectively

and their analgesic activities were evaluated in acetic acid-induced wringing and oxytocin-induced menorrhalgia in mice.Meanwhile

chemical constituents and total sugar content of two kinds of extracts were analyzed by high-performance liquid chromatography with Diode Array Detector (HPLC-DAD) and phenol-sulfuric acid method

respectively. Result: Water reflux extract of DSS (2.5 g ·kg-1

10 g ·kg-1) and ethanol extract of DSS (10 g ·kg-1) significantly decreased writhing times induced by acetic acid and oxytocin

while the inhibition rate of water extract was higher than that of ethanol extraction of DSS.Meanwhile

about 20 fingerprint peaks were found in ethanol extract of DSS.However

the chromatographic peak area of 4 compounds possibly come from Paenonia lactiflora Pall and total sugar contents in water extract of DSS were higher than that of ethanol extract. Conclusion: The analgesic effect of water reflux extraction of DSS was better than that of ultrasonic wave-assisted extraction by 50% ethanol

which might be partly due to the higher contents of the polar compositions and polysaccharides.