ABS　A　simple　and　rapid　capillary　electrophoresis　(CE)　with　an　acidic　potassium　permanganate　chemiluminescence　(CL)　detection　method　was　developed　to　determine　three　alkaloids　(curine,　sinomenine　and　magnoflorine)　simultaneously.　A　laboratory-built　CE-CL　detection　interface　was　used.　Sinomenium　acutum,　and　the　result　of　the　determination　of　sinomenine　was　in　good　agreement　with　those　given　by　high-performance　liquid　chromatography　and　CE　methods.　In　addition,　a　possible　CL　reaction　mechanism　of　sinomenine-KMnO4-H2SO4　was　proposed.　Copyright　(c)　2013　John　Wiley　&　Sons,　Ltd.