The biotransformation of diester-diterpenoid alkaloids, monoester-diterpenoid alkaloids and lipo-alkaloids in compound recipe was studied by electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry and a method of semiquantitative ESI-MS was established for analysis of aconitum alkaloids before and after metabolism. The content changes in the process of metabolism of aconitum alkaloids in Licorice and Aconite Accessory Root Decoction and Atractylodes Macrocephala and Aconite Accessory Root Decoction was analyzed under rat intestinal bacteria and the results showed that Licorice and Atractylodes Macrocephala can effectively reduce the content of diester-diterpenoid alkaloids after the compatibility and the rat intestinal bacteria can more reduce the toxicity of diester-diterpenoid alkaloids and increase the content of lipo-alkaloids. The mechanism of compatibility and metabolism of traditional Chinese medicine was proved using the chemical method.

Key words: Licorice and Aconite Accessory Root Decoction, Atractylodes Macrocephala and Aconite Accessory Root Decoction, metabolism, electrospray ionization mass spectrometry