Determination of Contents of Adenine Nucleotides and Energy Charge in Rat Liver Tissue Treated with Aconite Roots by HPLC

Objective: To investigate the influence of traditional Chinese medicine aconite roots on the contents of adenosine triphosphate(ATP),adenosine diphosphate(ADP) and adenosine monophosphate(AMP) in normal rats liver tissue and its impact on the energy charge by RP-HPLC.Method: 20 Wister rats were divided into two groups randomLy and were administered with decoction of aconite roots or saline respectively for four weeks.The contents of adenine nucleotides in rat liver tissues were analysed by RP-HPLC after four weeks.Result: The hepatic ATP in aconite roots treated group increased significantly by 70.3%(P 0.01),with high statistical significancy compared with that in control group,whereas the content of ADP and AMP showed no obvious differences between these two groups.The total adenylate library and energy charge(EC) levels in aconite roots treated group also increased significantly(P 0.05) compared with that in the control group.Conclusion: Aconite roots,the hot natured Chinese herbal medicine,can boost the body energy reserves,increase the ATP content and EC level in liver tissue,and thus influence the hepatic energy metabolism.