Objective: To study the influence of rutaecarpine (Rut) on human normal hepatic cells (HL7702) and human embryonic kidney cells (HEK293) through in virto experiments.To study the toxicity of rutaecarpine on the vitality of hepatic and renal cells by preliminary compare co-culture system with solo-culture system. Method: ①The influence of rutaecarpine on the activity of hepatic and renal cells through MTT method in solo-culture system and co-culture system was detected.②The shape of cells was observed through inverted microscope.③After giving Rut

the change of ALT

AST

ALP

BUN

Cr and LDH in cultural supernatant of hepatic and renal cells was determined.④After giving Rut by intravenous administration

the influence of Rut on hepatic and renal function and histopathology in mice was investigated. Result: ①The MTT method showed that 2 μg ·mL-1 and 4 μg ·mL-1 of Rut decreased the activity of hepatic and renal cells. The inhibitory action on hepatic cells’ activity was higher than that on renal cell activity under the same concentration of Rut.② In cultural supernatant of hepatic cells

4 μg ·mL-1 of Rut increased AST

ALP and LDT(P<0.01). ③The animal experiment showed that after giving 10 mg ·kg-1 of Rut to mice by intravenous administration for 7 days

ALP in blood serum was increased notably (P<0.01)

while ALT

AST

BUN and Cr had a trend to increase. Histopathological examination revealed that there was an increase in hepatocyte nuclear division in 1/3 mice

meanwhile

basophilic degeneration was only found in one mouse’s kidney. Conclusion: Rut may cause hepatic and renal toxicity. The toxicity to hepatic and kidney cells induced by drugs can be studied by solo-culture system and co-culture system.