Effects of sulfur fumigation on the quality of Chinese medicinal herbs and the alternative technologies: Research advances / 国际药学研究杂志

ABSTRACT

Sulfur fumigation is a traditional processing method in Chinese herbal medicine, with the effects of being insecti⁃cide and mildew proof and conducive to storage. Because of the low cost and the convenience in operation, sulfur fumigation has been abused in post harvest handling of herbs in recent years. In this paper, we discuss the effects of sulfur fumigation on the quality of Chinese herbal medicine, including the characteristics, chemical composition, heavy metals, trace elements and pharmacological activities, and summarize the progress in several alternative technologies for sulfur fumigation, so as to provide a reliable basis for regulations and further research on sulfur fumigation and its alternative technologies.