OBJECTIVETo investigate the correlation between decocting time (DT), administration dosage (AD) and efficacy of warming Yang of crude lateral root of aconite (CLRA) , and the best DT and AD to efficacy of warming Yang of the CLRA.

METHODAccording to the efficacy of the CLRA supplementing fire and strengthening Yang, several animal models, including a constipation induced by insufficiency of Yang, kidney Yang deficient models, uniform design (UD) and regression analysis were applied to confirm the best DT and AD of the different actions of the CLRA.

RESULTThe CLRA obviously improved the general state of kidney-yang deficiency mice, markedly increased their swimming depleted time in lower temperature, and evidently decreased the defecation latency, promoted defecation amount, and improved peristalsis frequency of intestines and stomach. The best DT and AD were 6 hours and 12 g x kg(-1) respectively for the CLRA to warm the kidney, spleen yang and to smooth defecation.

CONCLUSIONThe CLRA possesses the remarkable efficacy of warming Yang, which is obviously correlated with the DT and AD. The best DT and AD for CLRA to warm Yang are 6 hours and 12 g x kg(-1) respectively.