Studies on processing of cortex paeoniae racidis

Cortex Paeoniae Racidis (CPR) used in traditional oriental medicine was processed by roasting to yellow (CPRy), or black colour (CPRb), or soaking with alcohol, then roasting dry again (CPRa). Before and after processing, CPR contained paeonol , tannin, free sugars and flavonoids. Paeonol was extracted and quantitatively analysed. Studying about the influence of the drug on the coagulating time of rabbit blood and the bleeding time of albino mice, CPRb showed to have the most marked hemostatic effect. Of the three processing forms of the drug, CPRy had the strongest antioxidant action on the mouse liver cell membranes.