Zhao Bao-Lin
Department of Pharmacy, Anhui High Vocational School of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Wuhu, 241000, China.
Zhonghua Yi Shi Za Zhi. 2013 Jul;43(4):200-5.
Bupleurum is originated from the genus of Bupleurum chinensis DC of Umbelliferae. In China, the species of bupleurum for medicinal used are very complicate. During the Han-Tang Dynasties the bupleurum used covered a variety of its genera from Umbelliferae. "Yinzhou bupleurum" is the most famous in the Song Dynasty. Due to the continuous deterioration of its growing environment, the resources of the wild species of Yinzhou Bupleurum was declined, hence, those grown in other locations gradually attracted people's interests. Bupleutum was differentiated as Northern and Southern ones in the Ming Dynasty based on its different properties. Similar in its morphology and growing location to the Yinzhou Bupleurum, the Stellaria dichotoma lanceolata of the Caryophyllaceae was used as a substitute for the former. However, due to its prominent medicinal effects different from the Yinzhou one, the latter was continuously applied as a new herb. There are 2 great varieties of bupleurum used in modern times, the Bupleurum chinensis DC, and the Bupleurm scorzonerifolium Willd. Since the species of bupleurum in the current market are very complicate, and its clinical applications are quite confused, standardization and strengthening of its research are badly needed so as to promote its marketing.
柴胡源于伞形科柴胡属植物北柴胡。在中国，药用柴胡种类繁杂。汉唐时期所用柴胡涵盖了伞形科多个属。“银州柴胡”在宋代最为著名。由于其生长环境持续恶化，野生银州柴胡资源减少，因此，其他地方种植的柴胡逐渐引起人们关注。明代根据柴胡不同特性将其分为北柴胡和南柴胡。石竹科的旱麦瓶草在形态和生长地与银州柴胡相似，曾被用作银州柴胡的替代品。然而，因其药效与银州柴胡显著不同，后来旱麦瓶草被作为一种新药材持续应用。现代应用的柴胡主要有两大品种，即北柴胡和狭叶柴胡。由于目前市场上柴胡品种繁杂，临床应用相当混乱，急需对其进行规范和加强研究以促进其市场流通。
