Study of stinging crystals in tian nanxing / 中国中药杂志

ABSTRACT

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To test whether the raphides in Tian Nanxing (Pinellia pedatisecta Schott) caused irritation.</p><p><b>METHOD</b>Scan Electron Microscope and Microscope Oberservation; Animal experimental study.</p><p><b>RESULT</b>Through the comparision of unprocessed Tian Nanxing to processed ones which included 36 h, 72 h, 120 h processed samples, the great modifications in the structure of raphides, especially for the ones with barbs in the processed samples was observed with time course study. A further animal experimental study went to show that the rate of change for raphides with barbs existed a dose-reponse relationship to irritation.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Investigations of the causes of these reactions showed that raphides of calcium oxalate are, at least in part, responsible for the Tian Nanxing's irritation.</p>