ABSTRACT
<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the regularity of changes in the main active components of Schisandra chinensis preparations before and after being processed with vinegar.</p><p><b>METHOD</b>High performance liquid chromatography was used to analyze the changes in the content of lignans and organic acids in S. chinensis preparations before and after being processed with vinegar.</p><p><b>RESULT</b>After being processed with vinegar, the content of lignans in S. chinensis preparations significantly reduced, while that of organic acids significantly increased. The ratio between them reduced from 1:16 (raw product) to 1:21 (vinegar products).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The changes in the main pharmacological effects of S. chinensis are related to not only the changes in the contents of lignan and organic acids, but also the significant changes in the ratio relations between the two components. This is of great significance to the correlation among the principle of S. chinensis processed with vinegar and material basis and the changes in pharmacological effects.</p>