Herbal Textual Research on Acanthopanacis Cortex in Famous Classical Formulas / 中国实验方剂学杂志

ABSTRACT

Through the textual research and analysis of ancient and modern documents of Acanthopanacis Cortex（AC）， this paper combed the variety， origin， harvesting， processing and ancient quality evaluation methods of AC， and clarified the historical context of the mixing of its common counterfeit product（Periplocae Cortex）， in order to provide a basis for the development of famous classical formulas containing AC. AC was first published in Shennong Bencaojing with the name of Wujia， Wujiapi is the name rectification in all dynasties since Leigong Paozhilun. According to the description of inflorescence location and fruit morphology of Wujia in the materia medica， it is judged that the mainstream origin of AC used in previous dynasties was Acanthopanax gracilistylus. Periplocae Cortex was mixed with AC in the period of the Republic of China because it was in line with the "like Lycii Cortex， light， brittle and fragrant". The origin of Wujiapi recorded in past dynasties was concentrated in the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River， mainly in Hubei， Henan， Anhui and other places. Since modern times， the traditional quality evaluation of AC has been gradually summarized， with thick skin， white color and fragrant smell as the best. The traditional harvesting and processing of AC involved picking the stems in May and July of the lunar calendar， picking the roots in October， and drying in the shade. In modern times， the roots of AC are harvested， washed， peeled and dried in summer and autumn. In the past dynasties， there were rice wine processing， Euodiae Fructus boiling， ginger juice processing and other methods. In modern times， it is usually cut into thick slices after the cleansing. According to the research results， it is suggested that the root bark of A. gracilistylus should be selected as the origin of AC in famous classical formulas， which should be processed into the medicine according to the specific prescription requirements. In addition， it is suggested to restore the medicinal name of Periplocae Cortex as Yangtao， in order to reduce its chaotic influence on the medicinal use of AC.