No abstract

Objectives: This study aimed for establishing the discriminative criteria for Aucklandiae Radix, Inulae Radix, Vladimiriae Radix and Aristolochiae Radix, which can be confused as 'Mokhyang', because of similar appearances and synonyms. Methods: Morphological characteristics of dried herbal medicines were compared by macroscopic observation. To examine microscopic features of 'Mokhyang', paraffin embedding and the staining by using Ju's method were conducted. Physicochemical experiments were performed using HPLC analysis and antioxidant assay. Results: The types of stem, phyllotaxy and leaf shape were chosen as macroscopic criteria and the size, oil spots, color and root top as well as phloem and central cylinder were compared using microscopic features. The HPLC results showed different amounts of costunolide and dehydrocostuslactone among Aucklandiae Radix, Inulae Radix and Vladimiriae Radix. However, Aristolochiae Radix only contained aristolochic acid. The antioxidant assays also showed that Vladimiriae Radix exhibited strongest antioxidant activity followed by Aucklandiae Radix, Inulae Radix and Aristolochiae Radix. Conclusions: These results demonstrate that macroscopic, microscopic and physicochemical methods would be useful tools for the discrimination of 4 kinds of 'Mokhyang'.