AIM: To examine the effect of acrylic ester and thermosol respectively as pressure sensitive adhesive matrix of zhitong huoxue extract ( Rhizoma Corydalis,Radix aconiti,Radix Paeoniae alba,Radix et notoginseng ginseng,etc) on the dissolution of effective constituent from zhitong huoxue extract.METHODS: The in vitro release experiment was carried out on Permcell diffusion cell,HPLC method was applied to determining the cumulative elease rate of tetrahydropalmatine,aconitine,paeoniflorin and ginsenoside Rg_1 from zhitong huoxue pressure sensitive adhensive.RESULTS: The acrylic ester matrix had sound controlled release profile in vitro of alkaloid components.In KT-A thermosol matrix,the in vitro release rate proved to be inversely proportional to the molecular weight (R = 0.91 ) of the effective constituents,while the 2501 s matrix presented a steadily cumulative release rate over 12 h (30% -43% ).CONCLUSION: Good release rates are observed with effective constituent with small molecular weight,adhesive composition of matrix has an obvious effect on the in vitro release behavior of zhitong huoxue extract.