Instrumental neutron activation analysis was used to determine 33 elements in petal and pedicel of Saussurea involucrate from five different growing places and 14elements in surface laper and nucleus of nstural pearl.The contents of elements in Saussurea involucrate taken from different places are different

which shows that the growing place of a Chinese medicine seems to be directly related to its composition and medical efficiency. The contents of elements in different parts of Saussurea involucrate of pearl are also different

which indicates that the medical efficiency may not be alike for different parts of a Chinese medicine.