Objective: To investigate the properties and morphology of Coptis chinensis - Evodia rutaecarpa self- assemblies and their effects on the contents of seven components: epiberberine hydrochloride, coptisine hydrochloride, palmatine hydrochloride, berberine hydrochloride, evodiamine, rutaecarpine, and evodin.Methods: The morphology, fluidity, and water absorption rate of the self - assemblies were characterized. High - performance liquid chromatography(HPLC) was used to compare the differences in the seven components among single decoctions of Coptis chinensis and Evodia rutaecarpa, co - decoction supernatant, and the self - assemblies.Results: The self - assemblies exhibited good fluidity and water - absorbing swelling properties. Scanning electron microscopy revealed that they were spherical particle aggregates. The formation of self - assemblies led to a decrease in the contents of the seven components in the supernatant, with significant reductions in evodiamine, berberine hydrochloride, and evodin, while epiberberine hydrochloride slightly increased. Among the seven components in the self - assemblies, berberine hydrochloride was relatively abundant and likely a key component in the formation of the self - assemblies.Conclusion: A quantitative method for the seven components in Coptis chinensis - Evodia rutaecarpa self - assemblies was established, which can be used by enterprises to monitor changes in the main components in the self - assemblies and supernatant. The Coptis chinensis - Evodia rutaecarpa self - assemblies are fundamentally different from chemical precipitation and can serve as a green strategy for supramolecular design and construction. This provides insights into the reuse of carrier - free self- assembled drugs and offers a new perspective for understanding self - assembly phenomena in traditional Chinese medicine decoctions.

Coptis chinensis - Evodia rutaecarpa herb pair  /  Self - assembly  /  HPLC analysis  /  Content variation