Abstract: Objective To provide basis for the anticancer effect of Ornithogalum Caudatum Ait, the content and dissolution rates of 16 elements in Ornithogalum Caudatum Ait and three anticancer Chinese herbs(Herba Hedyotis Diffusa, Herba Scutellariae Barbatae and Radix Sophorae Tonkinensis) were investigated and compared. Methods Samples were analyzed by inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometry(ICP-AES), atomic absorption spectrometry(AAS) and atomic fluorescence spectrometry(AFS). Results 1 There were many essential elements in Ornithogalum caudatum Ait and the content of Ca, Mg, Fe, and Zn were higher than those of others; 2 The ratios of Cu/Zn in water extract of Ornithogalum Caudatum Ait and the three anticancer Chinese herbs were much lowe than the normal value in human serum; 3 The differences in the contents of Se in water extracts of four Chinese herbs were very small and the contents were low. The contents of Ge in four crude herbs and their water extracts were very low. Conclusion The anticancer and anti-inflammatory effects of Ornithogalum Caudatum Ait is probably achieved by adjusting the balance among Cu, Zn, and Ca elements. The results provide basis for further analysis of the relevance between the elements in Ornithogalum Caudatum Ait and its therapeutic effect.

Key words: Ornithogalum Caudatum, trace element, dissolution rate, ICP-AES