<b>Herbological Study on the Quality and Toxicity of Aconite Root </b> / 日本東洋医学雑誌

The crude drug Aconite Root (<i>bushi </i>in Japanese) contains toxic compounds called bushi diester alkaloids(BDA), and the raw material with high BDA content has been considered suitable for processing into prepared <i>bushi</i>. Moreover, processing methods and an upper BDA content limit are prescribed in the 16th edition of Japanese Pharmacopoeia. In this study, we closely examined descriptions of high quality <i>bushi </i>in ancient herbal literature, and elucidated the relationship between <i>bushi </i>forms and BDA contents. The results showed that large-sized <i>bushi </i>with enlarged rootlets called “horns” (<i>tsuno </i>in Japanese) were considered higher quality, and the horns and the root tops (<i>hozo </i>in Japanese) were cut off when used as <i>bushi</i>. Meanwhile, chemical studies have shown that larger <i>bushi </i>contains less BDA, and the root tops and the horns contain more BDA than the root body. These results suggest that selecting larger roots and cutting off the more potent parts were processes for reducing BDA. Therefore we conclude that consistently less toxic <i>bushi </i>was considered a higher quality product in ancient times.

<b>Herbological Study on the Processing of Ginger </b> / 日本東洋医学雑誌

Processing methods for the crude drugs <i>shokyo </i>(fresh ginger) and <i>kankyo </i>(dried ginger) have been different in China and Japan, although the reasons for this have not been clear. In this study, we revealed a historical transition in the processing methods for <i>shokyo </i>and <i>kankyo</i>.<BR>We found that the name <i>shokyo </i>had been used for fresh ginger rhizome in China since the end of the Hou han dynasty. The name had also been used for <i>shokyo </i>in Japan, whereas the term <i>shokyo </i>was then applied to dried ginger in the Japanese pharmacopoeia during the Meiji era. With <i>kankyo</i>, on the other hand, several dif ferent processing methods existed in China. For example, ginger fermented in a ceramic pot after being soaked in running water and dried was called <i>kankyo</i>, and was strongly associated with the property ‘hot’. However, we supposed that simply dried ginger, which has the property ‘warm’, came to be called as <i>kankyo </i>exclusively from the middle of the Qing dynasty. Meanwhile, only ginger dried with lime after being steamed was called <i>kankyo </i>in Japan. We also found that ginger whitened with lime was produced and sold in pharmacies because of a description by Shizhen Li, to the effect that “white ginger has higher quality”. This controversial method has been changed to one without the use of lime since the Meiji era.

Surveys on resources and varieties on Chinese markets of crude drug mahuang / 中国中药杂志

Many species of the genus Ephedra plants are used as Chinese traditional medicines, in Chinese which are known as "Mahuang" (Ephedrae Herba). In order to get a clear picture of resources distribution and varieties on Chinese markets of the crude drug Mahuang and provide scientific basis for their resource conservation and sustainable use, during recent years we conducted field investigations and market researches many times. The results showed that the most common species on the Chinese markets was E. sinica (33/38 commercial samples), followed by E. intermedia (5/38 commercial samples), which was also used in local clinics in Qing-hai, Gansu and Xinjiang province, no E. equisetina was found in the market. We noticed that the resources of both official and non-official plants of Mahuang, especially Zhong-Mahuang and Muzei-Mahuang, were seriously damaged in the past decade because of the ecological environment damage and over-digging. Zhong-Mahuang was distinguished in Ningxia and north Gansu, which was once one of the most distribution areas and contains more than 10,000 t Zhong-Mahuang. Muzei-Mahuang was distinguished in most places and distributed sparsely around Altay Mountains in northeast in Xinjiang. Thus, Cultivation of Mahuang, especially Zhong-Mahuang and Muzei-Mahuang should be greatly developed. At the same time, wild resources of Mahuang must be preserved strictly, i.e., proper method of cutting Ephedra plant could prevent the damage of the resource.

Study on Decocting Time for Rhubarb from Ancient Times / 日本東洋医学雑誌

Since ancient times in China, decocting times have been adjusted to improving objective medicinal effects. In medical texts, decocting times are dictated by the amount of water that is reduced. And in this report, we surveyed rhubarb (Chinese, Da-huang ; Japanese, Daio) formulation decocting times described in the earliest Shang-han-lun and Jin-gui-yao-lue texts, from the amount of water changed. We found that rhubarb decocting times could be divided into four 10-, 20-, 30- and 50-minute groups when rhubarb is decocted with other crude drugs, while when rhubarb is put in water after other crude drugs, decocting times could be divided into four 1-, 5-, 10- and 20-minute groups. Next, when we prepared rhubarb decoctions using unprocessed rhubarb and processed rhubarb, and compared change in the principal compounds eluted into those decoctions, we found that 80% or more of the principal compounds were eluted into a decoction when either unprocessed or processed rhubarb were decocted for 30 minutes. It was therefore clear that, in ancient times, rhubarb formulations were decocted for 10 to 30 minutes so that not all of the principle compounds would elute, or given 50 minutes to allow all the principle compounds to elute. Meanwhile, it was also clear that rhubarb was put in water1to 20 minutes before decocting finished, to adjust the amount of principle compound eluted.

A Herbological Study on the Medicinal Effects and Employments of Rhubarb Processed with Liquor (2) / 日本東洋医学雑誌

In traditional Chinese medicine, crude drugs are sometime processed and prepared for specific purposes. Rhubarb (Da-huang in Chinese; Daio in Japanese) has been processed by dipping or soaking it in huangjiu (Chinese fermented wine). However, the pharmacologic significance of this liquor processing has not been elucidated thoroughly. In this report, we describe how processing with ethanol altered the levels of the principal compounds in rhubarb: sennoside A, sennoside B, aloe-emodin, rhein, emodin, chrysophanol, physcion, lindleyin, isolindleyin, and total tannins. Liquor-dipping, dipping rhubarb in 16% ethanol for 30 seconds, did not affect the content of sennosides. Thus, the purgative effect of rhubarb is likely to be preserved. Liquor-soaking, soaking rhubarb in ethanol for 12 to 24 hours, the content of sennosides and tannins decreased and the content of anthraquinones increased. Liquor-soaking of rhubarb may increase its anti-bacterial and anti-inflammatory effects, thereby improving blood stasis. These results are in agreement with the descriptions in medicinal literatures published since the Jin and Yuan Dynasties.

A Herbological Study on the Medicinal Effects and Employments of Rhubarb Processed with Liquor / 日本東洋医学雑誌

From ancient times, the crude drug rhubarb (Da-huang in Chinese, Daio in Japanese) has been processed using liquor in various ways in China. There are mainly three ways of processing it ; liquor-soaking, liquor-dipping and liquor-frying. Today, the liquor-fried rhubarb, appropriately named ‘liquor rhubarb’, is widely used. But it is not clear why use of the rhubarb processed with liquor began. Thus, we researched ancient literature published after the Jin and Yuan dynasties, when medical treatment was done based on the theories. We found that the ‘liquor-soaked rhubarb’ was used as a depurative, while the ‘liquor-dipped rhubarb’ was used as a purgative or a digestive. ‘Liquor-fried rhubarb’ use began after the Ming dynasty, and its medicinal effect was expected to be the same as the two processed rhubarbs of earlier periods.

Herbological Study of Red Peony and White Peony Used in Chinese Medicine / 日本東洋医学雑誌

In China, the roots of several species of Paeonia plants in the Paeoniaceae family have been used as crude drugs under the names of Ji-shao-yao, or the red peony, and Bai-shao-yao, or the white peony, since olden times. While in Japan, the simply dried root of Paeonia lactiflora Pallas has been used as the Chinese crude drug Shao-yao, or Shakuyaku in Japanese. As for the origins of the modern “red” and “white” peony names, there have been a variety of theories, e.g. the names were perhaps derived from differences in their root or flower colors, or whether they were wild or cultivated. Based on our herbological study, we have concluded that the dried root with a cork surface was named the red peony, and those peeled cork layers, the white peony. During the Ming Dynasty, in China, the root of wild peonies such as Paeonia veiitchii and P. obovata, whose flowers are reddish, were processed into the red peony, while cultivated peony root of the white flowered variety, P. lactiflora, was processed into the white peony drug. Because of this coincidence in flower color and name of the processed product, red flowered varieties or wild plants came to be called the plant origin of the red peony, while the white flowered varieties or cultivated plants came to be called the white peony.

Historical Studies about Medicinal Part of Chinese Crude Drug \lq\lqUncaria Hook\rq\rq (Part2) / 日本東洋医学雑誌

The crude Chinese drug “Uncaria hook” is a hook, or a twig with an attached hook of Uncaria plants seen in today's Chinese and Japanese medicinal markets. However, through herbological studies we found that the botanical origin of Uncaria hook was Uncaria rhynchophylla (Miq.) Miq., and that until the middle of Ming Dynasty in ancient China, the medicinal part used was the twig bark, not the hook itself, and use of the twig with hook was begun in the later Ming Dynasty. This change in practice seems to have been influenced by herbal descriptions written in the Ming Dynasty. Some of these stated that the medical effect of hooks was stronger than that of the bark.To determine the appropriate medicinal part of this crude drug in terms of chemical quality, we analyzed the alkaloid contents of Uncaria rhynchophylla bark, hooks, and twigs collected in Japan. Our result showed that the alkaloid content of the bark was higher than that of the twigs and hooks. Rhynchophylline and hirsutine, the alkaloid contained in Uncaria hook, were reported to improve memory learning and to cure hypertension, respectively. Since the alkaloid content profile of the bark was different from that of the hook, a question arose as to whether the medicinal properties of the part commonly used as “Uncaria hook” meet the requirement of the crude drug. Further pharmacological study is expected.

Historical Studies about Medicinal Part of Chinese Crude Drug \lq\lqUncaria Hook\rq\rq / 日本東洋医学雑誌

Japanese pharmacopoeia prescribes a crude drug, Uncaria hook, or the hook-like structures of Uncaria rhynchophylla (Miq.) Jacks, U. sinensis (Oliv.) Havil., and U. macrophylla Wall., while Chinese pharmacopoeia prescribes the hooks with attached stems of above3species, in addition to2other species of Uncaria hook; U. hirsuta Havil. and U. sessilifructus Roxb (all in the Rubiaceae family). Our herbological study has found that the botanical origin was Uncaria rhynchophylla before the Ming Dynasty, and that the part used was not the hook itself, but the plant's bark till the early Ming Dynasty. Use of the hooks with stems began in the late Ming Dynasty. On the other hand, in Japan, the hooks themselves have been mainly collected from wild U. rhynchophylla plants growing in southern warm-temperate zone of Japan, for use in Kampo medicines. We considered this differing Japanese custom was influenced by the descriptions in the Ben Cao Gan Mu (1596)written in the Ming dynasty by Li Si Chen, which state that the hook itself had medicinally sharp power. And we conclude that use of Uncaria bark alone is reasonable for prescriptions which originated before the early Ming dynasty, such as chotosan.

Comparative study on the original plant differences of Chinese traditional medicines and Japanese Kampo medicines / 中国中药杂志

Based on the Chinese pharmacopeia 2000 ed and Japanese pharmacopeia 14st ed., the original plant differencesof Chinese raditional medicines and Japanese Kampo medicines were compared by making list. The differences and reasons were analyzed.

Studies of Chinese Crude Drug "Ge-gen". (II). Collection Season and Differences of Components / 日本東洋医学雑誌

In the previous paper, the authors have investigated a Chinese crude drug Ge-gen, the root of Pueraria species of the family Leguminosae, and concluded that it should be collected in the early summer for medical use. This is a report of the differences in the content of the constituents between Ge-gen harvested in the summer and in the winter. Yields of water extract of winter Ge-gens were generally higher, while no significant difference was recognized in the content of starch and flavonoids, such as puerarin and daidzin. Starch content varies widely with the stock, and that of the same stock did not show significant difference between the summer root and the winter one.

Studies of Chinese Crude Drug "Ge-gen". (1). Herbological Study of Collection Season / 日本東洋医学雑誌

Ge-gen, a Chinese crude drug derived from the root of <i>Pueraria lobata</i> Ohwi of the family Leguminosae, is collected in the winter nowadays both in China and in Japan. However, in the old descriptions of materia medica written in ancient China, it was said that the proper collection season was May or in the early summer on Chinese calendar. Present herbological study resulted that the collection season had been changed in the Yuan or Ming dynasty in China, mainly because of the confusion with eating Ge-gen, which was collected in the winter. The Ge-gen collected in the early summer should be dispensed in the prescriptions written in the old medical books such as Shang-han-lun and Jin-kui-yao-lue.

Studies of Mu-tong, Akebiae Caulis (1) Herbological study of Classical Name and Origin / 日本東洋医学雑誌

The Chinese crude drug “Mu-tong, ” “Mokutsu” in Japanese, is standardized as the stem of <i>Akebia quinata</i> Decne. and <i>A. trifoliata</i> Koidz. of Lardizabalaceae in the modern Japanese pharmacopoeia. On the other hand, the botanical origin of Mu-tong is rather complicated in China, and many different plants among several families are used as a kind of Mu-tong. The herbological study clarified that Chinese doctors in the Tang dynasty had changed the original name “Tong-tsao” to “Mu-tong, ” meaning “woody Tong-tsao, ” to distinguish it from another type of Tong-tsao derived from the soft pith of <i>Tetrapanax papyrifera</i> Koch of the family Araliaceae plant. The classical botanical origin of Mu-tong is <i>Akebia</i> plants. Though the pith of <i>Tetrapanax papyrifera</i> is used as “Tong-tsao” in modern China, Akebiae Caulis is the true botanical source of ancient prescriptions such as those found in Shang-han-lun, an ancient Chinese medical book.

Studies of Rhei Rhizoma (Da-huang; Daio). (I). A Herbological Study on its Medicinal Effects and Medicinal Parts / 日本東洋医学雑誌

Although the crude drug Rhei Rhizoma (Chinese: Da-huang; Japanese: Daio) is now commonly employed as a purgative, some question remains as to whether it was originally used as a depurative (purifying agent; specifically an agent for expelling Stagnated Blood) or purgative in ancient times. There is also some confusion as to the medicinal part of the crude drug being sold on the market. This herbological study was carried out in order to clarify these issues.<br>The results showed that Rhei Rhizoma was originally used mainly as an agent to expel Stagnated Blood, although it was also used for its purgative and other properties. Until the Qing dynasty, the rhizome of the large Rheum species, including R. palmatum, was known as the best quality Da-huang. The recent use of the root is thought to be due to recognition of the purgative properties of Da-huang.<br>Da-huang has many medicinal properties in addition to its usefulness as a purgative, and there is a need for further study of these properties as well as the differences between the pharmacological actions of the rhizome and those of the root.