School of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shenyang Pharmaceutical University, Shenyang, China.
School of Pharmacy, Shenyang Pharmaceutical University, Shenyang, China.
Microsc Res Tech. 2021 May;84(5):1089-1094. doi: 10.1002/jemt.23651. Epub 2020 Nov 20.
"Fangfeng" in Chinese Materia Medica refers to the dried root of Saposhnikovia divaricata (Trucz.) Schischk. The confusion regarding the species emerged centuries ago. Various medicinal plants from the family Umbelliferae have been documented under the name Fangfeng or other similar names in different areas of China. However, the efficacy and chemical profiles of these herbs can vary widely. In recent years, studies on medicinal material markets have revealed that "ChoutaiFangfeng" and "ShiFangfeng" are sold as Fangfeng. Previous studies on the differences among these herbs were not accurate; therefore, comprehensive authentication of these species is required. Investigation of the microscopic features of the transverse sections and powders of herbs is of great significance in identifying traditional Chinese medicine. This approach offers the advantages of easy operation and rapid results. In this study, microscopic observation of cross-sectional tissues and powders of the herbs was performed using common light microscopy and polarized light microscopy, respectively, to identify Fangfeng, ChoutaiFangfeng, and ShiFangfeng. We found that phloem, clefts, and other significant tissue characteristics can be used to distinguish Fangfeng herbs. The developed method can also be applied to distinguish counterfeits of Fangfeng. Moreover, the macroscopic and microscopic characteristics of Fangfeng and its two adulterants were determined.
《中药志》中的“防风”是指防风的干燥根。这种混淆在几个世纪前就已经出现了。在中国的不同地区，有多种伞形科植物被记录在案，名称为防风或其他类似名称。然而，这些草药的功效和化学成分差异很大。近年来，对药用植物市场的研究表明，“柴头防风”和“莳防风”被当作防风出售。以前对这些草药之间差异的研究并不准确；因此，需要对这些物种进行全面鉴定。研究草药的横切面和粉末的微观特征对鉴别中药具有重要意义。这种方法具有操作简单、结果快速的优点。在本研究中，分别采用普通光镜和偏光显微镜对草药的横切面组织和粉末进行了微观观察，以鉴别防风、柴头防风和莳防风。我们发现韧皮部、裂隙等显著组织特征可用于鉴别防风药材。该方法还可用于鉴别防风的假冒品。此外，还确定了防风及其两种掺杂物的宏观和微观特征。
