Objective: To investigate effects of Pinelliae Rhizoma Praeparatum on dissolution rate of berberine in Coptidis Rhizoma by different extraction methods. Method: Taking compound Tingli Xiefei Lishui mixture for example

water and ethanol were selected as solvent

extraction methods included mixed extraction of four herbs and remaining three herbs without Pinelliae Rhizoma Praeparatum

then the content of berberine in extract were compared.With extracting amount of berberine as index

orthogonal test was used to optimize extraction technology with the concentration and amount of ethanol

extracting times and time as factors.HPLC was employed to determine the content of berberine with mobile phase of acetonitrile-0.05 mol·L-1 potassium dihydrogen phosphate(50:50) and detection wavelength at 345 nm. Result: In water extraction process

the content of berberine was significantly differernt

average contents of berberine from mixed extraction of four herbs and remaining three herbs without Pinelliae Rhizoma Praeparatum were 9.20

13.53 mg·g-1

respectively.In ethanol extraction process

the content of bererine had little difference

which were 35.15

36.12 mg·g-1.Optimum ethanol extraction process was as follows:reflux extracted 2 times with 10 times the amount of 70% ethanol for 1.5 h each time;extracting amount of berberine was 37.92 mg·g-1. Conclusion: With water as solvent

when four herbs mixed extractiing

Pinelliae Rhizoma Praeparatum can reduce the content of bererine significantly.With ethanol as solvent

when four herbs mixed extracting

Pinelliae Rhizoma Praeparatum has little effect on the content of bererine

and ethanol extraction method has higher extracting rate than water extraction method.This optimized technology is stable and feasible with good repeatability

and it can be used in industrial production of compound Tingli Xiefei Lishui mixture.