Microscopic identification of homonym drugs of "Baitouweng" by digital imaging technique / 药学学报

ABSTRACT

<p><b>AIM</b>To identify the commercial drugs collected from 11 different areas with name of "Baitouweng", in order to understand the homonym status of Baitouweng in markets.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Based on macroscopic identification, we further studied the microscopic structures of the collected samples by digital imaging technique.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Nine species belong to 4 different families have been found out from the commercial drugs of "Baitouweng". There are the roots of Pulsatilla chinensis (Bunge) Regel (recorded in Chinese Pharmacopoeia with name "Baitouweng"), P. cernua (Thunb.) Bercht et Opiz, P. turczaninovii Kryl. et Serg., P. dahurica (Fisch.) Spreng., Anemone tomentosa (Maxim.) Pei, Rhaponticum uniflorum (L.) DC. and the herbs of Potentilla chinensis Ser., Po. discolor Beg. and Polycarpaea corymbosa Lam..</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The original plants of the crude drug "Baitouweng" were still promiscuous in the market because there are different medicinal usages in different areas resulting in the phenomenon of homonym for Baitouweng. Otherwise, the digital photographs offered by the paper visually reflected the main microscopic characteristics of the commercial "Baitouweng", can be used for the identification of the above drugs.</p>