Objective: To compare difference of chemical components between traditional decotions and dispensing granules decoctions of Shaoyao Gancao decoctions. Method: Four types of 11 kinds of Shaoyao Gancao decoctions were prepared

including traditional decotions(TD)

dispensing granules decoctions made by self(DGD-S)

dispensing granule decoctions made by factory A and B (DGD-A

DGD-B)

fingerprint was eastablished by HPLC

mobile phase consisted of acetonitrile(A)-0.05% phosphoric acid solution(B

pH of 2.42) with gradient elution(0-8 min

16%A;8-35 min

16%-50%A;35-36 min

50%-100%A;36-38 min

100%-16%A;38-40 min

16%A)

detection wavelength was set at 250 nm.Taking average information of three batchese of TD for stabdard decoction information

difference informations of Shaoyao Gancao decoctions preparations were compared by five aspects

including appear or disappear of components

contents of index components

common peak area

principal component analysis and fingerprint similarity. Result: Compared with TD

composition of chemical components in DGDs did not change.The content of index components between three kinds of DGD and TD had great difference

especially difference of ammonium glycyrrhizinate were very notable.Total peak area comparison showed that sum of 23 total peak area between TD and DGD-A had no significant difference

but it had significant difference between TD and DGD-S

DGD-B

they were equivalent to 2.5 and 3.2 times of TD

respectively.In PCA plot

DGD-A was closer to TD which showed that the absolute amount of monomer composition was closer to TD

while the absolute amount of DGD-S

DGD-B were far more than TD.Similarity between DGD-A and standard decoctions was minimum

which showed that difference of components proportion between DGD-A and standard decoctions was maximum. Conclusion: Significant difference between TD and DGD only exists in proportion of ingredients

not related to components themselves

suggesting that more experiments should be done to validate whether its drug properties are changed and in clinical application

dosage must be reduced proportionally

so that curative effect is similar to TD.