[Evolution of the Origin of Jixuecao].

ABSTRACT

Jixuecao was first recorded in the Shennong bencaojing. The variety of plant referred to is undefined because of a lack of detailed description in the medical books of the Han and Tang dynasties. From the Song dynasty to the Republican period Jixuecao refers to Glechoma longituba (Nakai) Kupr. The name was also recorded as Jinqiancao instead of Jixuecao in the Bencao gangmu shiyi from the Qing dynasty to the Republican period, though it refers to the same plant. In recent times, Jixuecao has evolved to refer to Centella asiatica (L.) Urb, Jinqiancao now refers to Lysimachia christinae Hance, while G. longituba (Nakai) Kupr. is now called Lianqiancao. It is thus determined that G. longituba (Nakai) Kupr. alone is unequivocally the original plant referred to as Jixuecao, and has the longest medicinal history.