ABSTRACT
Objective: Ban Fenghe recorded in the Quality Standard of Yao Medicine of Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region (Volume 1) is derived from the dried stems and leaves of Semiliquidambar cathayensis. It is usually confused with medicinal herbs from Pterospermum heterophyllum and Dendropanax dentiger. However, they are very different in chemical composition, and should not be used as the same drug. To ensure their safety and efficacy, a method based on macroscopic and microscopic characteristics was developed to distinguish them. Methods: A total of 14 batches of Ban Fenghe samples from three species were collected from different producing areas in China. The macroscopic characteristics were examined by observing external traits. The tissue structures of transverse sections of stems and leaves, the leaf epidermis, and the powder were observed microscopically. Results: The branchlets and leaf surfaces of S. cathayensis and P. heterophyllum were hairy, especially the lower leaf surfaces of P. heterophyllum were densely covered with hairs, but those of D. dentiger were hairless. The pericyclic fibers of S. cathayensis stems were intermittently distributed in a circular shape and accompanied by stone cells, whereas those of P. heterophyllum and D. dentiger were bundled without stone cells. So stone cells and hairs were present in S. cathayensis powder, stone cells were not found in P. heterophyllum and D. dentiger powder, and hairs were not present in D. dentiger powder. The distribution sites, sizes and types of secretory tissues of these three species were also different in transverse sections of stems and leaves. Stomata on the lower epidermis of S. cathayensis leaves were paracytic, whereas those of P. heterophyllum and D. dentiger were anomocytic. Conclusion: Ban Fenghe drugs derived from S. cathayensis could readily be distinguished from those of P. heterophyllum and D. dentiger by macroscopic and microscopic features.
ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE：To identify Amomum villosum from different habitats and its adulterants. METHODS ：Through the identification methods of microscopic characteristics ，microscopic characteristics maps of 9 batches of A. villosum from genuine producing areas ，domestic commercially available A. villosum and its adulterants were obtained. The feature maps were extracted digitally and analyzed by SPSS 21.0 software. RESULTS ：Commercially available A. villosum was mainly from Guangdong ， Guangxi，Yunnan and Fujian ；the collected adulterants of A. villosum included A. villosum Lour. var. xanthioides T.L.Wu et Senjen ， A. aurantiacum H. T. Tsai et S. W. Zhao and other A. species from Yunnan Xishuangbanna ， Laos and Myanmar. Under the microscope，it was observed that microscopic characteristics of surface （such as exocarp color ，prickle，non-glandular hairs ， endocarp color ，endocarp oil chamber ） of A. villosum from different habitats and its adulterants were different. There was statistically significant difference in fruit width values and endocarp oil point diameter among all samples （P＜0.05）. CONCLUSIONS：The microscopic characteristics maps of A. villosum from different habitats and its adulterants by the microscopic characteristics identification methods will make up for the deficiency of traditional experience identification. The quantitative analysis of micro-property and the establishment of micro-property database of A. villosum can provide reference for the property identification and quality control of this medicinal material.
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OBJECTIVE： To establish a fluorescence identification method of the microscopic characteristics for Plantagin Semen and its adulterants， and to provide technical support for the market supervision and inspection of TCM decoction pieces. METHODS： Under visible and ultraviolet light， comparative study and identification of the Plantagin Semen （seeds of Platago asiatica L. and Platago depressa Willd.） and its adulterants as seeds of Platago major L.， fruits of Schizonepeta tenuifolia Briq.， seeds of Codonopsis pilosula （Franch.） Nannf， seeds （peeled） of Kochia scoparia （L.） Schrad.， fruits of Bupleurum chinense DC. were carried out by means of stereoscopic fluorescence microscopy from aspects of overall surface characteristics， umbilicus characteristics and section characteristics. RESULTS： Under visible light， the surface texture of Plantagin Semen was wavy stripe or fine wrinkle， while the adulterants were wavy stripe， longitudinal edge or texture was not obvious. The umbilicus of Plantagin Semen was located in the center of the ventral surface， while that of adulterants were located at one end except for P. major. In the section of Plantagin Semen， there were obvious direct embryos， in which the adulterants were small or circular embryos except for P. major. Under ultraviolet light， P. asiatica had obvious wavy stripes in surface， orange and light blue-green fluorescence； P. depressa had grid-shaped wrinkles and gray-blue and gray-brown fluorescence； the umbilical fluorescence of Plantagin Semen was strong， and the fluorescence of the adulterants was weak except for S. tenuifolia. There were obvious differences in fluorescence color， embryo size and distribution between the section of Plantagin Semen and adulterants. CONCLUSIONS： The stereoscopic fluorescence microscopy is effect and accurate for the identification of Plantagin Semen.
ABSTRACT
Testacean traditional Chinese medicine (TTCM), derived from the outer shell of sea or freshwater mollusks, is a special and important category of Chinese medicinal materials. To ensure the effective use of TTCM, a comparative identification study was performed on five commonly-used testacean drugs, including Haliotidis Concha, Arcae Concha, Meretricis Concha, Ostreae Concha and Margaritifera Concha (Shijueming, Walengzi, Geqiao, Muli and Zhenzhumu in Chinese, respectively). Typical morphological photographs of the crude drugs were acquired, and the key microscopic characteristics of the derived powders under normal light microscope and polarized light microscope were summarized. The major results can be concluded as follows: (1) the original species involved in the five TTCMs could be distinguished by their respective interspecies morphological characteristics; (2) the key identification characteristics of the five powdered crude drugs were mainly crystal fragments, with the fragment features under both normal light and polarized light microscope providing powerful points for differentiating the five commonly-used testacean drugs. This study demonstrated that it is feasible to provide authentication for these five kinds of TTCMs by the combination of morphology with microscopy.
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Objective: To study the yield of the fibrous roots of Ophiopogon japonicus in Sichuan province and to compare the microscopic characteristics and the content of total ophiopogonins between the root tubers and fibrous roots of O. japonicus. Methods: The ratio for root tubers and fibrous roots of O. japonicus was compared by statistics; The microscopic characteristics of epidermal cell, cortex, stele arrangement, and pith were observed by microscope and photomicrography system; The total saponins in the extract from the root tubers and fibrous roots of O. japonicus were determined by UV, and the content of ophiopogonin D in the extract from the root tubers and fibrous roots of O. japonicus was determined by HPLC-ELSD. Results: The average ratio of fibrous root weight and root tuber weight was 0.68, and there were some differenes in the epidermal cell shape, stele arrangement, and proportion of the cortex between the fibrous roots and root tubers of O. japonicus. The average contents of total saponins in the root tubers and fibrous roots of O. japonicus were 1.204% and 2.847%, and the contents of ophiopogonin D were 0.034% and 0.041% in the root tubers and fibrous roots of O. japonicus. Conclusion: The resource of fibrous roots of O. japonicus is rich, which has the histological differences in the epidermal cell shape, stele arrangement, and proportion of the cortex between the fibrous roots and root tubers of O. japonicus. There is no significant difference in powder between the root tuber and fibrous root; The the content of total saponin in the fibrous roots is obviously higher than that in the root tubers while the content of ophiopogonin D between the root tubers and fibrous roots of O. japonicus is similar.
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Objective: To compare the characteristics and microscopic characteristics of wild ginseng, wild ginseng under forest, unimplanted ginseng, and cultivated ginseng, and meantime to establish the retrieval table of ginseng in different growth modes. Methods: To observe the characteristics of ginseng in different growth modes on rhizomes, adventitious roots, bodies, grains, lateral roots, and fibrous roots, and to study the transverse microscopic characteristics of taproots and fibrous roots. Results: The most important traits of wild ginseng and wild ginseng under forest were column rhizomes, drooping taproots, wire lines, flexible branch beards, and pearl dots. Calcium oxalate crystals of the ginseng main roots and xylems of the fibrous roots showed the increasing trend with the growth of age, but starch granule decreased. So we could distinguish the different growth ages of ginseng. Conclusion: The rhizomes, adventitious roots, grains, main roots, and fibrous roots of wild ginseng, wild ginseng under forest, unimplanted ginseng, and cultivated ginseng have the significant differences.
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The pharmacognsy of Rhinacanthus nasutus (L.) Linclau was studied by microscopic ob-servation and UV spectroscopy to provide a scientific basis for the identification, development and utiliza-tion of its resources. As a result, obvious characteristics for its identification were revealed, which can beused to identify twigs and leaves of R. nasutus.
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AIM: A pharmacogostic study of Ipomo pes-caprae (linn.) was carried out. METHODS: Micro-scopic characteristics of the drug were examined and its chemical constituents were monitored by TLC and UV. RESULTS: Marked characteristics were discovered in the crossection of item and leaf. CONCLUSION: The characteristics and the cross sectional structure could provide evidences for the identification of the plant.