Objective To analyze clinical effect of Huanglian（ Coptis Chinensis Franch.） on aminotransferase changes. Methods A retrospective analysis was carried out on 85 patients taking Huanglian in clinic. Patient’ s age

gender

disease history

traditional Chinese medicine（ TCM） prescribtion

combined prescribtion

course of disease and changes of alanine aminotransferase（ ALT） and aspartate aminotransferase（ AST） levels were extracted from case files. Results There were 65 males and 20 females in all 85 patients

in which 81 patients were with diabetes（ 95. 29%）

while one with polycystic ovary syndrome

one with obesity

one with schizophrenia and one with chronic renal failure（ 4. 71%）. Dosage of Huanglian per day was among 1. 2 g to 30 g with an average of（ 19. 78 ± 7. 95） g. Only 3 cases’ average dose was in accordance with the 2- 5 g provided by Pharmacopeia of the People’s Republic of China during full course. Total amount of Huanglian usage was 165 g to 6850 g with an average of（ 2008. 25 ± 1766. 75） g. There were 63 cases showing no change in ALT and AST; 3 cases（ 3. 53%） showed an increase of ALT and AST with histories of liver diseases

alcohol abuse and excessive use of toxic Chinese medicine;4 cases（ 4. 71%） showed a decline of ALT and AST with additional compatibility of Yinchen（ Artemisiacapillaris Thunb）

Wuweizi（ Schisandra chinensis） or aminotransferase-reducing and liver-protecting drugs. Conclusion Huanglian would unlikely to cause the rising of ALT and AST. Past medical history

allergic history

compatibility of drugs and other factors may have an impact on the levels of ALT and AST during treatments with Huanglian.