Abstract: AIM: To explore the changed regularity of the pharmacokinetic parameters in animal plasma of astragaloside Ⅳ and ferulic acid when Astragalus and Angelica were used solely or compatibly in Dangguibuxue Tang, and to study the rationality of herbaceous compatibility of Dangguibuxue Tang. METHODS: The New Zealand white rabbits or SD rats were administrated with Astragalus, Angelica or Dangguibuxue Tang, respectively.The blood concentrations of ferulic acid in rabbits administrated with Dangguibuxue Tang or Angelica were analysised by HPLC, while the blood concentration of astragaloside Ⅳ in rats administrated with Dangguibuxue Tang or Astragalus were analysised by HPLC/MS/MS and the main pharmacokinetics parameters were calculated. RESULTS: Compared with single administration of Angelica, the pharmacokinetic parameters of ferulic acid in rabbit plasma almost did not show any change when administrated with Dangguibuxue Tang.Compared with administration with Astragalus alone, the t_max of Astragaloside Ⅳ in rat plasma was decreased significantly[from (4.00±1.54)h to (2.00±0.95)h] when given Dangguibuxue Tang, and its peak concentration was increased doublely [C_max from (60±7)μg/L to (146±27)μg/L)]. CONCLUSION: Angelica increases the vitality of Astragaloside Ⅳ in Astragalus in the body after the combination, and it advances the process of effectiveness of astragaloside Ⅳ, which embodies the adjuvant contribution of ministerial drug of Angelica. The experiment proves the rationality of Dangguibuxue Tang in terms of pharmacokinetics.

Key words: Dangguibuxue Tang, pharmacokinetics, compatibility rule, ferulic acid, astragaloside Ⅳ, HPLC/MS/MS