Scientific connotation of "the older, the better" for long term-stored Chinese materia medica / 中草药

ABSTRACT

Long term-stored method is characteristic for process of Chinese materia medica. Exposed to physical, chemical, and biological factor from surrounding environment during long term-stored, Chinese materia medica became moderate in property, stronger in efficacy and less toxicity, conducing to improvement of safety, effectiveness and quality stability in clinical application. Based on the herbal literature and modern research, the variation of physical property, chemical compounds and efficacy of Chinese materia medica after the long term-stored were systematically summarized, and the mechanism was discussed, in order to provide research ideas and scientific basis for studying long term-stored method for Chinese materia medica.