枯芩（带枯心老根）、子芩（无枯心新根）为黄芩两个重要规格，自古临床应用有别：枯芩清上焦之肺热，子芩泻下焦之大肠热。但迄今无实验资料为其临床的不同应用提供科学解释；另因经济利益缘故近年栽培一二年生黄芩大量上市，占据市售黄芩大部份额，导致临床无枯芩可用，恐严重影响疗效。因此，子芩（含一二年生）的药效和质量是否与枯芩相同是值得关注的重要问题。本课题拟用HPLC-DAD-MS等研究枯芩和子芩在HPLC指纹谱（含50个峰）、化学成分含量（含10-15个成分）的差异；用药理学方法研究枯芩和子芩在病原微生物及上下焦热症模型动物上的药效差异；用HPLC-DAD-MS研究枯芩和子芩给药后各病理模型鼠中可吸收成分及代谢物的种类及其在靶器官的分布，探寻枯芩、子芩成分在体内分布的差异。研究结果将揭示枯芩、子芩在成分和药效上差异，对指导枯芩和子芩的生产、质量控制、临床合理用药及对阐释中医理论科学内涵有重要意义。

Kuqin ( decayed central xylem,old roots ) and Ziqin ( non-decayed, new root ) are two important specifications of Scutellaria baicalensis Georgi. From ancient time, they have different clinical application: Kuqin clear lung heat in upper-jiao，Ziqin clear large intestine heat in lower-jiao. But so far, there has been no data supported the difference of the clinical application. The other reason is that Scutellariae Radix grown for one year and two years occuppied the large part of the market. There were no Kuqin available in clinical treatment,that may cause serious effects. Therefore, weather the effect and quality of Ziqin (including grown for one year and two years) and Kuqin are the same or not, is an important issue. Our research involves the comparison of HPLC fingerprint (50 peaks) and chemical ingredients (10-15 ingredients) between Kuqin and Ziqin using HPLC-DAD-MS, pharmacological studies of Kuqin and Ziqin on microorganisms and upper and lower coke fever model animal and the distribution and type of Kuqin and Ziqin metabolites in targeted tissues. The results will reveal the composition and pharmacodynamic differences between Kuqin and Ziqin and will play a significant role on the manufacturing, quality control, clinical drug use of traditional Chinese medicine.