OBJECTIVE:To study the immunosuppressive chemical constituents from the n-butanol extract of the debark root of Tripterygium wilfordii hook.f.METHODS:Several compounds were isolated from the n-butanol extract by columns of silica gels and Sephadex LH-20,their structures were identified by NMR,MS spectral analysis and comparing with standard substances on TLC,and the immunosuppressive activity was determined.RESULTS:One of the compounds was identified as emodin,an anthraquinone,it had marked immunosuppressive effect on animal.CONCLUSION:Emodin is obtained from the plants of Tripterygium wilfordii hook.f.for the first time.

OBJECTIVE:To make an investigation on the quality of decoctions of traditional Chinese medicine prepared by decocting device and fire heating decocting method.METHODS:To compare the chemical compositions in decoctions of Salvia miltiorrhiza Bunge prepared by above-mentioned two methods and to take the contents of danshensu and protocatechualdehyde as indices,both of which were determined by HPLC.RESULTS:There were no evident difference between the two methods in extracting chemical compositions.In addition,the contents of danshensu and protocatechualdehyde prepared by decocting device were as2.97times and5.6times as those prepared by fire heating decocting method respectively.CONCLUSION:The prepa?ration of decoction of Saliva miltiorrhiza Bunge by decocting device can double the effective constituents.This provides scien?tific basis for making rational use of herbs.