Authentication of Chinese Materia Medica decoction dregs, Part 1: Comparison of morphological and microscopic features of four Chinese Materia Medica before and after decoction

Abstract

Chinese Materia Medica (CMM) decoction dregs are the residues of medicinal materials after decoction. Accurate identification of CMM in decoction dregs will be helpful for exploring the causes of poisoning or other medical incidents arising after the ingestion of CMM decoctions. To determine how decoction affects the characteristics used to authenticate specific CMM, a systematic study was carried out. In this study, two pairs of Materia Medica that are commonly confused-namely, Baizhu (Atractylodis Macrocephalae Rhizoma) and Cangzhu (Atractylodis Rhizoma), Baishao (Paeoniae Alba Radix) and Chishao (Paeoniae Rubra Radix)-were chosen for investigation. Each pair of Materia Medica has similar morphology in appearance, but they have different functions in Chinese clinic. After decoction, with regard to gross morphological characters, the results showed that bark and wood could be easily distinguished. The striation of vessels and fibers became more prominent because of the contraction of parenchymatous cells, but the lignified cells did not. As for the microscopic characteristics, the cells with thickened walls, such as stone cells and fibers, were basically stable. Most of the parenchymatous cells were broken. Crystals of calcium oxalate showed no changes as they were insoluble in water. Starch granules were gelatinized and aggregated in parenchymatous cells. Inulins were substantially reduced in number as they dissolved in water during decoction. According to these changes in morphological and microscopic characteristics after decoction, the dregs of two pairs of Materia Medica could be distinguished.

Identification of constituent herbs in ginseng decoctions by DNA markers

“…Authentication of highly processed herbal materials is difficult. Examples include comparison of the morphological and microscopic characteristics of easily confused herbs and their dregs after boiling [ 9 , 10 ]. The approaches described could be useful, but the dregs in a decoction are usually discarded before consumption.…”

Authentication of Polygonati Odorati Rhizoma and other two Chinese Materia Medica of the Liliaceae family by pharmacognosy technique with GC–MS analysis

“…Macroscopic characters were noted and taken using visual examination and microscope OLYMPUS SZX12 (Wong et al, 2011(Wong et al, , 2012. Microscopic studies were done by freehand cutting thin section of rhizome with platinum coated razor blade.…”

Identification of Daqingye and Banlangen including crude drugs and decoction dregs from three plant species by normal light and fluorescence microscopy

“…That is to say that the identification of decoction dregs of Daqingye and Banlangen has not been reported up to now. Our own studies have found that the normal microscopy reveals little differences between crude drugs and decoction dregs (Wong et al, 2011(Wong et al, , 2012; however, fluorescent microscopy is a different story. In this study, a systematic microscopy investigation on three plant species being sold as Daqingye and Banlangen, namely I. indigotica, B. cusia, and C. cyrtophyllum, including crude drugs and decoction dregs, was carried out by combining normal light microscopy with fluorescence microscopy, which with the purpose of providing scientific data for the identification of crude drugs and decoction dregs, and then ensuring the safe and effective application of Daqingye and Banlangen.…”

“…That is to say that the identification of decoction dregs of Daqingye and Banlangen has not been reported up to now. Our own studies have found that the normal microscopy reveals little differences between crude drugs and decoction dregs (Wong et al, ); however, fluorescent microscopy is a different story. In this study, a systematic microscopy investigation on three plant species being sold as Daqingye and Banlangen, namely I .…”