OBJECTIVETo study the constituents from the water extractive of Huanglianjiedutang, which is composed of Rhizoma Coptidis, Radix Scutellariae, Cortex Phellodendri and Fructus Gardeniae, and provide substances foundation for its pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic investigation.

METHODThe chemical constituents were isolated by various column chromatographic methods and structurally elucidated by NMR and MS techniques.

RESULTA flavonoid glucoside identified as wogonin-5-0-beta-D-glucuronide methyl ester (1) was isolated from the ethyl acetate soluble parts in the water extractive of Huanglianjiedutang decoction. Ten compounds were isolated from the butanol soluble parts in the water extractive of Huanglianjiedutang decoction and have been identified as berberine (2), palmatine (3), epiberberine (4), geniposide (5), jatrorrhizine (6), columbamine (7), groenlandicine (tetradehydrocheilanthifoline, 8), wogonoside (9), 3,5-pyridinedicarboxamide (10), and genipin-1-0-beta-D-gentiobioside (11).

CONCLUSIONCompound 1 was a new flavonoid glucoside. On the basis of reported results of the chemical constituents of Rhizoma Coptidis, Radix Scutellariae, Cortex Phellodendri and Fructus Gardeniae, it was estimated that berberine,palmatine and jatrorrhizine rised from the Cortex Phellodendri and Rhizoma Coptidis; epiberberine, columbamine and groenlandicine rised from the Rhizoma Coptidis; geniposide and genipin-1-0-beta-D-gentiobioside rised from the Fructus Gardeniae; wogonin-5-0-beta-D-glucuronide methyl ester and wogonoside rised from the Radix Scutellariae.