Objective: To study active constituents of Paeoniae Radix Alba with improving sleep function. Method: Wistar rats were randomly divided into normal control

paeoniflorin 12 mg·kg-1

administered group(intragastric administration) ig administered once daily for 7 d

after the last administration of the preparation of serum or cerebrospinal fluid extraction

and serum by HPLC Sini San transitional cerebrospinal fluid composition;after ig administration or continuous 7 d

ip sodium pentobarbital 50 mg·kg-1

sleep time was measured using mouse righting reflex method.By using HPLC method

the gradient elution

and determine the transmigration ingredient of blood serum in Paeoniae Radix Alba. The chromatograph condition:Hypersil C18 column (4.6 mm×250 mm

5 μm)

speed of flow 0.8 mL·min-1

column warm 25℃

flowing A is acetonitrile;flowing B is(pH 3)phosphorus acid water

the flowing A gradient elution (5%-95% acetonitrile)

the analysis time is 140 min. Result: By the analysis of the compound in cerebrospinal fluid

we found that there was no other compound absorbed into blood except for the pentobarbitalum natricum. Moreover

the endogenous substance in cerebrospinal fluid was increased obviously. Increasing peak area of the endogenous substance in cerebrospinal fluid. Results of the pharmacological experiment indicated that Paeoniae Radix Alba significantly prolonged the sleep time of mice induced by pentobarbital sodium. Conclusion: Finally

definiting active constituents of Paeoniae Radix Alba improving sedation function

confirmed the efficacy of the material basis of the Paconiae Radix Alba is paeoniflorin in the serum.