Objective: To explore the toxic effects of total alkaloids and the simulation-processed product of Aconitine Radix in isolated hearts of rats. Method: Langendorff's heart perfusion models of SD rats were established to observe the effects of the drugs. Total alkaloids of Aconitine Radix and its simulation-processed products treated at different time points (0

20

40

60

80

120 min) and different doses (0

50

100

150

300 μg) were adopted to intervene the perfusion model. The hemodynamics parameters were observed

including left ventricular systolic pressure (LVSP)

left ventricular end-diastolic pressure (LVEDP)

left ventricular developed pressure (LVDP)

intraventricular pressure maximum upstroke velocity (+dp/dt)

intraventricular pressure maximum decrease velocity (-dp/dt) and heart rate (HR). Result: Compared with the 0 min group

the 80 min simulation processing group showed cardiac toxicity at the dose of 100 μg

and 100 min and 120 min simulation processing groups showed cardiac toxicity at the dose of 300 μg (P<0.05). Both total alkaloids and simulation-processed products of Aconitine Radix can increase HR

significantly decrease LVSP

LVDP

±dp/dt

and increase LVEDP at the same time

with positive correlation with accumulated dosage. Conclusion: Both total alkaloids and simulation-processed products of Aconitine Radix show heart toxicity

which declines with the extension of the processing time.