Level investigation on coptidis rhizoma processing methods and product specifications / 中国中药杂志

ABSTRACT

The existing processing methods, commercial specification and grades, and the marketing of Coptidis Rhizoma were systematical researched, referring to ancient, modern and contemporary medical literatures with the combination of our fieldwork on main origins of Coptidis Rhizoma and some herbs markets. Results showed that Coptidis Rhizoma processing methods mainly included sun-dried method and baked method anciently. For now, the processing methods become various, including thin paper-covering under the sun drying, direct drying, oven drying and microflame-fry drying. In the literatures, the main chemical constituent berberine was determined of its content to analyze the processing methods, finding that the sun drying and baked drying affect the berberine content, so the temperature must be controlled when drying. The thin paper-covering drying method is so cumbersome for large quantities of medicinal herbs and in wind conditions that it has been eliminated. Eventually, direct drying, oven drying and microflame-fry drying are chosen to the large-scale socialized production for their convenient and simple operation, making up the current main processing methods. Coptidis Rhizoma products have 3 specifications of Weilian, Yalian, Yunlian, of each specification there are 2 levels, but in fact the market of Weilian commodities overtakes the Yunlian, which only sold in parts of Yunnan, and the no-sale Yalian. The mainstream commercial Weilian are often sold in general way, gradeless and uniformly-priced. There are regional differences of the processing methods on Coptidis Rhizoma, which needs unified research and development of relevant standard operating procedures to ensure the quality of medicine, urgently. Coptidis Rhizoma product specifications and the intrinsic quality-grade correlation need to be further improved, which could provide a more reliable standard for quality at competitive prices, and it is recommended that "medicinal commercial specification and grade standard" content be increased into the Herbs part of Chinese Pharmacopoeia.