Objective: The difference of extracting solvent to hepatocytes toxicity of Polygonum multiflorum was researched to probe the influence of different usages to the safety of P. multiflorum. Method: The inhibition rate of P. multiflorum samples to human hepatocytes (L02 cell line) with different extracting methods was detected by CCK-8 method. The dose of all the samples was 5 g·L-1 counted on the quantity of crude material. The influence of extracting solvent

the amount of solvent and extracting duration on hepatocytes toxicity was investigated by orthogonal test. UPLC fingerprints of the P. multiflorum samples were acquired and then analyzed with relationship to hepatocytes toxicity by partial least squares (PLS) analysis. Result: The method to detect the hepatocytes toxicity of P. multiflorum was established based on the CCK-8 colorimetry. The hepatocytes toxicity of the sample extracted with 75% ethanol was much greater than that of the sample extracted with water. The concentration of ethanol investigated in orthogonal test revealed significant influence to the hepatocytes toxicity

and the toxicity sequence of the samples was:50% ethanol>75% ethanol>95% ethanol. According PLS analysis there are two contents relative to hepatocytes toxicity. Conclusion: The extracting solvent showed significant influence on the hepatocytes toxicity of P. multiflorum and the sample extracted with 50% ethanol was of much toxic potential. It should be cautious about the high risk of liver damage of P. multiflorum

considering people usually used the herb by soaking with wine around 50 degree.