Traditional Chinese Medicinal Plants: An Introduction

Chunlin Long

Kunming Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences

AndCentral University for Nationalities

Virginia Tech, October 2008

Three Talks

I-Introduction. Monday, 13 Oct.II-Chinese Medicinal Plant Resources for

Mouth Disorders. Wednesday, 15 Oct.III-Herbs for Medicinal Baths among the

Yao Communities in China. Friday, 17 Oct.

Tropical rainforest in southern and SW China

Subtropical forests

Desert and arid or semi-arid region in NW China

Nitraria sibirica, Zygophyllaceae, occurring in the desert

Alpine vegetation

Rich flora and fauna in ChinaRank 3rd

Rich cultural diversity in China

Top 5

Rich traditional knowledge in China

What’s Traditional Chinese Medicinal Plant (TCMP)?

TCMP: refers to medicinal plants under guidance of Chinese medicinal theoryTCMP: Plant species (taxa), 11146 spp. And 1581 animals and 80 minerals are also used as medicine. In total: 12807 spp.Mono-prescription, eg. Ginseng sliceMulti-prescription, eg. Compound salvia tablet (including Salvia miltiorrhiza, Panaxnotoginseng, and crystal sugar)

Panax ginseng root

Panax ginseng plantation in Northeast China

Salvia miltiorrhiza

Salvia miltiorrhiza, its special flower structure for pollination

Panax nodoginsengplantation in southwest China

Fruits of Panaxnotoginseng

TCMP: Why Important?Trade quantum: USD $40 billions/yearPopulation involved: over 1 billionCountries/regions benefited: Japan, Korea, SE Asia, Europe, and ChinaDemands in China: 600 million tons/yearSpecies number: 12807 spp.Development history: over 4000 yearsManagement: an authority from central to county level in China, Administrative of Traditional Chinese Herbal Medicine

Development Dynamics

HealthyHistoricalSocialEconomicCulturalPolitical

Philosophy of TCMP:harmony, balance

TCM: 阴Yin, 阳Yang, 气Qi (shady, sunny, and affected through network)TCM: 五行Five Elements, namely 金Jin, 木Mu, 水Shui, 火Huo, 土Tu (metal, wood, water, fire, and soil)

TCMP: To use herbs to restore harmony and balance disorders

Nature of TCMPFour drug “QIs”:

四气：是指寒、热、温、凉四种不同的药性

Cold-QiHot-QiWarm-QiCool-QiNeutral

Nature of TCMPFive taste “QIs”

五味：指辛、甘、酸、苦、咸五种不同的药味。

Acrid-QiSweet-QiSour-QiBitter-QiSalty-Qi

Nature of TCMPOther “QIs”

升降浮沉：药物在治疗作用中的趋向

Upward-QiDownward-QiOutward-QiInward-Qi

归经Gui-jing：药物归向以五脏为核心的经络联通的身体各组织部分

Em-stem of neurovaso-Qiduot

TCMP: Some Examples

Lamiophlmis rotata

Camellia reticulata

Verbena officinalis, Verbenaceae

The whole plantMild Cold-Qi; Bitter taste-Qi; Organs emphasized: Liver and spleenChemicals: Verbenalin, C17H24O10; Berbenalol, C11H14O5; Adenosine, C10H13O4N5; etc.Dosage: 15-31 grams, decoctionAilments: Schistosomiasis; Malaria; Tumefaction of liver or spleen; etc.

Verbena officinalis

Verbena officinalis

Paeonia spp., PaeoniaceaeThe root barkMild Cold-Qi; Bitter taste-Qi; Organ emphasized: LiverChemicals: paeoniflorin; albiflorin; lactiflorin; daucosterol; etc.Dosage: 15-31 grams, decoctionAilments: Schistosomiasis; Malaria; Tumefaction of liver or spleen; etc.Combined medicine: Angelica sinensis; Bupleurum chinense; Ligusticumchuanxiong; etc.

Lonicera japonica, CaprifoliaceaeFlowers (and vine stem)Cold-Qi; Sweet taste-Qi; Organs emphasized: Lung, stomach and heartChemicals: Luteolin, C15H10O6; Lonicein, C27H30O15·2H2O; Loniceraflavone, C15H10O5; Loanin, C17H26O16; etc.Dosage: flower 9-15 g, stem 9-31 g, decoctionAilments: rheum; parotitis; enteritis; etc.Combined medicine: Isatis tinctoria; Forsythia suspensa; Mentha spp.; etc.

Lonicera japonica

Lonicera sp., taken from Christiansburg, Virginia

Lonicera sp., taken from Christiansburg, Virginia

Lycoris radiata, Amaryllidaceae

BulbWarm-Qi; Acrid taste-Qi and sweet-Qi;PoisonousChemicals: Lycorine, C16H17O4N; Galanthamine, C17H21O3N; Lycoramine, C17H23O3N; Tazettine, C18H21O5N; etc.Dosage: 1.5-3 g, surface sprending; or decoctionAilments: furuncle; food poisoning; icterus; etc.

Lycoris radiata

Lycoris radiata

Belamcanda chinensis, IridaceaeRhizomeCold-Qi; Bitter taste-Qi; Organs emphasized: Lung and liverChemicals: Shekanin, C22H22O11; Belamcandin, C24H24O12; Iridin, C24H26O13·H2O; etc.Dosage: 3-6 g, decoctionAilments: tracheitis; faucitis; parotitis; etc.Combined medicine: Platycodongrandiflorus; Scutellaria baicalensis; Glycyrrhiza uralensis; etc.

Belamcanda chinensis

Belamcanda chinensis

Arisaema spp. AraceaeTuber/corm/rhizome of Arisaema or PinelliaWarm-Qi; Acrid taste-Qi, Bitter taste-Qi; Poisonous; Organs emphasized: Lung, liver and spleenChemicals: sapons; etc.Dosage: 3-9 g, decoction after processed; or surface sprendingAilments: apoplexy; falling sickness; rheumatism; etc.Combined medicine: Saposhnikovia divaricata; Angelica dahurica; dry ginger; etc.

Arisaemaerubescence

Arisaemaerubescence

Arisaemafranchetianum

Arisaemayunnanense

Arisaemaheterophyllum

Pinellia ternata, its tubers are also used as

Arisaema

ConclusionsTCMP, an important medicinal resourceTCMP/TCM, with its own nature/ philosophy (harmony and balance), simple but systematicTCMP, mostly in the forms of multi-prescription/combinationMany TCMPs are also edibleTCMP, modernization by revealing its chemicals and mechanismsTCMP, for human health and welfare

AcknowledgementsProf. Gregory WelbaumMy staff and studentsNatural Science Foundation of China (30170102) Natural Science Foundation of Yunnan Province (2001C0058M & 2005C0053M) Ministry of Science & Technology of China (2004DKA30430, 2005DKA21006)Ministry of Education of China (CUN-985-3-3, B08044)

Research Group for Biodiversity and Plant Resources

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chunlinlong@hotmail.com

Or: long@mail.kib.ac.cn