Jia M, Wei Y, Ma Y, Shen Y, Zhang Y
Chengdu University of TCM.
Zhongguo Zhong Yao Za Zhi. 1997 Aug;22(8):454-8, 510.
Through the investigation on botanical origin, output and sales of Togcao in producing areas, it has been proved that there are twenty-two species of six families used as Tongcao. The medicinal parts are the pith of stems or petioles. The provinces featuring more species and larger output of Tongcao are Sichuan, Yunnan, Guizhou, Guangxi, Hunan and Shaanxi. A hundred and two pieces of commercial samples collected from twenty-six provinces in China, Hongkong area, Japan, Malaysia, Thailand, Singapore and Republic of Korea have been identified. The result shows that both Xiaotongcao and Datongcao are called by the same name Tongcao. The main species is Xiaotongcao, which takes a proportion of 70% in Tongcao. And the Tongcao(Tetrapanax papyriferus, taking a proportion of 20%) as recorded in the Chinese Pharmacopoeia (1995 edition) is seldom used.
通过对通草产地的植物来源、产量及销售情况进行调查，已证实用作通草的有6科22种。药用部位为茎或叶柄的髓部。通草种类较多、产量较大的省份有四川、云南、贵州、广西、湖南和陕西。对采自中国26个省、香港地区、日本、马来西亚、泰国、新加坡及韩国的102份商品样本进行了鉴定。结果表明，小通草和大通草都被称为通草。主要品种为小通草，占通草的70%。而《中国药典》（1995年版）记载的通草（通脱木，占20%）很少使用。
