Objective: To compare in vitro hemolytic effect of Paris polyphylla var. chinensis (PPC) and P. polyhoylla var. yunnanensis (PPY) extract and to explore hemolytic property of various subtypes of steroidal saponins from Paridis Rhizoma. Method: The rhizoma of PPC or PPY was extracted with 75% ethanol.The extract was subjected to chromatography on HPD100 macroporous resin to give fractions of PPC(Y)-A-E. The sub-fractions of PPC(Y)-D-F

PPC(Y)-D-P and PPC(Y)-D-D were obtained by flash chromatography.The chemical profiles of these extract

fractions and sub-fractions were analyzed by HPLC and the main chromatographic peaks were identified on the basis of the comparison of reference substances and on-line ultraviolet spectra.The hemolytic effect of these samples against the rabbit red blood cells were determined by UV-VIS. Result: The hemolytic curves of PPC and PPY were obtained by plotting the hemolytic effect against the corresponding concentrations and the concentrations up to 50% hemolytic rate were calculated as 34.97

46.52 mg·L-1

respectively.Among fractions of PPC-A-E

PPC-D displayed the potent hemolytic effect at concentrations from 2.5-10 mg·L-1.For fractions of PPY-A-E

both PPY-D and PPY-E showed hemolytic effect at the same tested concentrations.The hemolytic rates of PPC-D at the concentration of 5.0

10 mg·L-1 were 78.00% and 95.68%

whereas PPY-D and PPY-E had the hemolytic rates of 31.86% and 63.29% as well as 15.82% and 55.25%.For the sub-fractions from PPC

furostanol saponins and dioscin saponins had no hemolytic effect

while pennogenin saponins took on the hemolytic rates of 5.89% and 90.33% at the concentration of 2.5

5.0 mg·L-1.For the sub-fractions from PPY

furostanol saponins display similar result as that of furostanol saponins from PPC

whereas pennogenin and dioscin saponins were observed at concentration of 2.5

5.0 mg·L-1 with the hemolytic rates of 0.51% and 57.75% as well as 4.29% and 49.39%

respectively. Conclusion: It is found that both PPC and PPY have hemolytic effects

and PPC is stronger than PPY.The hemolytic effect of PPC is related to its main constituents(pennogenin saponins) and that of PPY is due to the conjunction of pennogenin and dioscin saponins.The furostanol saponins from both plants have no hemolytic effect.The hemolytic level of PPC or PPY is determined according to the absolute and relative amounts of pennogenin and dioscin saponins in the extract.