To investigate the quality of prepared pieces of Stephania tetrandra S.the content of total alkaloids and tetrandrine of the products prepared by 10 different prepared pieces of Chinese medicine factories has been determined. In conclusion, it is practicable to prescribe the content of total alkaloids and tetrandrine for 3% and 1%, respectively.

Total lignans in the stems and roots of 8 species of Kadsura were determined by colourimetric method. The recoveries of interiorin, reference compound added to K. heteroclitaand K. interior were 96.7% and 97.9% respectively. Total lignans contents of kadsura medi.cinal plants vary with species, medicinal parts and sex. Higher lignans contents were foundin the root and the female plants. The highest and the lowest were 4.926% in the root of K.lancilim6a and 0.34% in the stems of K. angustifolia respectively.