Liang Zhi-Tao, Jiang Zhi-Hong, Leung Kelvin-Sze-Yin, Peng Yong, Zhao Zhong-Zhen
School of Chinese Medicine, Hong Kong Baptist University, Kowloon Tong, Hong Kong.
Microsc Res Tech. 2006 Apr;69(4):277-82. doi: 10.1002/jemt.20312.
The light microscope is routinely used for microscopic identification of Chinese Materia Medica (CMM). However, the fluorescence microscope has not been used for this purpose until now. The CMM, Baihuasheshecao, mostly used as a component of herb tea, is a well known folk-medicine in China. According to the Chinese Pharmacopoeia, its source is the species Oldenlandia diffusa (Willd.) Roxb. Two other species of the same genus, namely O. corymbosa (L.) Lam and O. tenelliflora Bl., had been found in use as Baihuasheshecao. To find a quick and easy method to distinguish O. diffusa from these similar species of the same genus, the fluorescence microscope was used to investigate the fluorescence emission characteristics of the three tissues, which were compared with light microscopy images of the same material. The results showed that some tissues of the three herbs emit autofluorescence. Specially, the wall of endoderm cells of O. diffusa and O. tenelliflora emit autofluorescence, while similar tissue of O. corymbosa does not. Hence, fluorescence microscopy can be helpful in the identification of CMM.
光学显微镜常用于中药的显微鉴定。然而，荧光显微镜至今尚未用于此目的。白花蛇舌草是一种在中国广为人知的民间药物，主要用作凉茶的成分。根据《中国药典》，其来源为茜草科植物白花蛇舌草Oldenlandia diffusa (Willd.) Roxb.。已发现同属的另外两个物种，即伞房花耳草O. corymbosa (L.) Lam和纤花耳草O. tenelliflora Bl.，也被用作白花蛇舌草。为了找到一种快速简便的方法来区分白花蛇舌草与同属的这些相似物种，使用荧光显微镜研究了这三种植物组织的荧光发射特性，并将其与相同材料的光学显微镜图像进行比较。结果表明，这三种草药的一些组织会发出自发荧光。特别是，白花蛇舌草和纤花耳草的内皮层细胞壁会发出自发荧光，而伞房花耳草的类似组织则不会。因此，荧光显微镜有助于中药的鉴定。
