RESUMEN
Objective: To explore the active components with toxic effects in five Aconitum L. herbal medicines on Tetrahymena thermophila. Methods: The fingerprints of five Aconitum L. herbal medicines were established by ultra-high performance liquid chromatography (UPLC) and the toxicity was evaluated by using a TAM Air Isothermal Calorimeter on Tetrahymena thermophila SB110. Results: By analyzing the spectrum-effect relationships between UPLC fingerprints and toxic effects, the active components which had the toxic effects were obtained. Conclusion: This work provides a general model of the combination of UPLC and microcalorimetry to study the spectrum-effect relationships of the five Aconitum L. herbal medicines, which could be used to evaluate the toxic effects and analyze the principal toxic components of the five Aconitum L. herbal medicines. On the whole, this result provides the experimental basis for the safe use of the five Aconitum L. herbal medicines in clinic. © 2014 Tianjin Press of Chinese Herbal Medicines.