RESUMO
OBJECTIVE: The status on the nomenclature and translation for the trivial name of natural compounds was reviewed in this paper, which could provide a reference to the standardization and normalization for the name of natural compounds. METHODS: Base on sorting out the relevant literature in this field, six nomenclatures and four translation principles, as well as fourteen naming methods and seven translation rules were put forward. The above-mentioned principles and methods were illustrated by analyzing and comparing the Chinese names of 128 compounds from natural products. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: The Chinese names for the listed 128 natural compounds have been divided into three categories according to the standardization. (1) Official name: canonical name placed in the normotopia of the name; (2) Synonymy placed in the parentheses following the canonical name, which is not recommend to use; (3) False name labeled with 'false name' in order to expose the fallacy for putting an end to the circulation of erroneous reports. For example:acteoside (verbascoside and kusaginin), acteoside (Yangdignxianggan in Chinese) is the official name, the verbascoside and kusaginin. are synonymy (maoruihuagan and chouwutongning in Chinese) or false names [Maijiaozaogan (false name) and Leiye-shengmagan (false name) in Chinese].