[Resources and usage status of Tibetan medicinal plant "Bangga"].

The study is aimed to clarify the actual original plant, find out the usage status and the resource distribution of the Tibetan medicinal plant "Bangga". By using the way of the literatures survey, interview and investigation, it found out that the actual original plant of the Tibetan medicinal plant "Bangga" were the whole dried plant or the aerial part of Aconitum tanguticum or A. naviculare of Ranunculaceae, among which A. tanguticummainly distributed in Sichuan, Gansu, Qinghai, Tibet (Qamdo), and A. naviculare mainly distributed in Tibet. Sichuan, Gansu, Qinghai and other Tibetan areas mainly used the resources of A. tanguticum, Tibet (except the Qamdo area) mainly uses the A. naviculare, which resource was imminent in danger. Other species described in the literature were not used. It showed that the use of herbs related to their resources, it is recommended to strengthen the protection and guide the market.

[Studies on main interspecific association of rare and endangered medicinal plant Sinopodophyllum hexandrum community in Kangding Zheduo mountain of Sichuan province].

Based on the 2 x 2 contingency table, by using multi-species relevance (variance ratio, VR), chi2-test, Ochiai index, Dice index, Jaccard index, t-test of v/x and F-test of Morisita, s index, the interspecific relationships and the spatial distribution pattern between 20 dominants in Kangding Zheduo Mountain of Sichuan province were studied. The results indicated that the interspecific association between dominants of Sinopodophyllum hexandrum community in this area did not show significant association, which suggested that the S. hexandrum community was in mature stage, and showed stronger independency, among total 190 pairs in 20 dominant species, 2 species pairs exhibited extremely significantly positive association, 12 species pairs showed significantly positive association, 6 species pairs exhibited significantly negative association and there were no pairs showed extremely significantly negative association. S. hexandrum in community did not show significant association, which indicates they are independent in community, the spatial distribution pattern of S. hexandrum is characterized by random distribution.

[Evaluation of crude drugs by means of colorimeter (I). Study on correlation between color and alkaloids content of coptidis rhizoma].

OBJECTIVE: To examine the correlation between alkaloids content and L*, a* and b* color indices of Rhizoma Coptidis for quality control. METHODS: A colorimeter was used for the measurement of reflected light from sieved powder samples using the CIE 1976 L* a* b* color system. The content of six alkaloids were determined by HPLC. The correlation between alkaloids content and color indices of Rhizoma Coptidis was analyzed. RESULTS: When the particle size of Rhizoma Coptidis was less than 355 microm and the colorimeter parameters were set as measurement diameter of 3 mm, observation degree of 10, and light source of F2 and F7, the measured color was significantly correlated with total alkaloids content (r = 0.793, P < 0.05). As light source of F11, the measured color was significantly correlated with berberine content (r = 0.867, P < 0.01). CONCLUSION: The correlation between the color of powdered Coptidis Rhizoma and its alkaloids contents was found in this study. Measurment of the color of Coptidis Rhizoma can be used to assess its quality.

[Genetic diversity and genetic structure of endangered wild Sinopodophyllum emodi by start codon targeted polymorphism].

OBJECTIVE: Revealed the genetic diversity level and genetic structure characteristics in Sinopodophyllum emodi, a rare and endangered species in China. METHOD: We detected the genetic polymorphism within and among six wild populations (45 individuals) by the approach of Start Codon Targeted (SCoT) Polymorphism. The associated genetic parameters were calculated by POP-GENE1.31 and the relationship was constructed based on UPGMA method. RESULT: A total of 350 bands were scored by 27 primers and 284 bands of them were polymorphic. The average polymorphic bands of each primer were 10.52. At species level, there was a high level of genetic diversity among six populations (PPB = 79.27%, N(e) = 1.332 7, H = 0.210 9 and H(sp) = 0.328 6). At population level, the genetic diversity level was low (PPB = 10.48% (4.00% -23.71%), N(e) = 1.048 7 (1.020 7-1.103 7), H = 0.029 7 (0.012 9-0.063 1), H(pop) = 0.046 2 (0.019 9-0.098 6). The Nei's coefficient of genetic differentiation was 0.841 1, which was consistent with the Shannon's coefficient of genetic differentiation (0.849 4). Two calculated methods all showed that most of the genetic variation existed among populations. The gene flow (N(m) = 0.094 4) was less among populations, indicating that the degree of genetic differentiation was higher. Genetic similarity coefficient were changed from 0.570 8 to 0.978 7. By clustering analysis, the tested populations were divided into two classes and had a tendency that the same geographical origin or material of similar habitats clustered into one group. CONCLUSION: The genetic diversity of samples of S. emodi is high,which laid a certain foundation for effective protection and improvement of germplasm resources.

[Determination of podophyllotoxin and total lignans in Sinopodophyllum emodi].

OBJECTIVE: To determine the content of podophyllotoxin and total lignans in Sinopodophyllum emodi Ying from different areas and evaluate the resource utilization of this endangered medicinal plant. METHOD: HPLC and UV spectrophotometry were used to determine the content of podophyllotoxin and total lignans in 126 samples from different habitats and the total lignans content was determined by the reference wavelength method. RESULT: According to the results, the highest content was determined from the samples from Yongdeng Nature Reserve in Gansu province, and the lowest ones was found in the samples from Tibet. The former's podophyllotoxin and total lignans contents were 7.40% and 20.66%, respectively, which were 19 times and 4 times more than those of the latter. The content of podophyllotoxin and total lignans in S. emodi were significantly positively related, meanwhile, samples from both low altitude and high latitude showed the higher content. CONCLUSION: The two determination methods are simple, rapid, accurate and repeatable. It is more scientific and rational to evaluate the resource utilization of S. emodi with two indicators, those are the content of podophyllotoxin and the content of total lignans. This paper is instructive to the collection of wild resources and the establishment of production bases.

[Determination and quality assessment of 10 ingredients gentiopicroside and sweroside and so on in Tibetan medicine Jia Di (Swertia chirayita)].

OBJECTIVE: To establish a method for determination of 10 ingredients such as gentiopicroside, sweroside, and mangiferin in India swertia, and settle the index components and their limits. METHOD: By Welch materials AQ-C18 column, determination was conducted by the gradient elution with methanol and 0.4% formic acid as mobile phase, with column temperature 30 degrees C, flow rate at 1.0 mL x min(-1), and 254 nm as the detection wavelength. RESULT: The linear relatives of 10 ingredients were good. The method showed the high precision and good reproducibility, and recovery rates were between 97% and 103%. The ingredients of market com-modities varied greatly. CONCLUSION: This method is simple, sensitive, reproducible, and applicable to the determination of the main ingredients in India Swertia. Sweroside and mango glycosides were suggested as the index components for determination in Jia Di (Swertia chirayita), and their content limits are not less than 0.1%, 0.3%, respectively.

[Resources of survey in rare and endangered medicinal plant Sinopodophyllum emodi].

The resource of Sinopodophyllum emodi in Tibet, Qinghai, Gansu, Sichuan and Yunnan province were surveyed by the ways of documents, interview, quadrat and market investigation. The results indicated that S. emodi were mainly distributed in central part from Taibai Shan of Shanxi province along the middle and high mountain on either side of Hengduan mountain which from north to south and in Tibetan plateau of China, the suitable eco-environment of S. emodi was dominated by valleys, wet forests and low bush-woods vegetation which comparatively dry on plateau with the altitude focused on 1 5004 500 meters, and the distribution density of simple alpine meadow was relatively lower. Illumination, water, soil, temperature and altitude had significant influences on the growth, distribution and reserves of S. emodi from different angles. In recent years, there was sharp increase of market requirement in Xiaoyelian (fruit) which were used in Tibetan medicine and the underground part which was used for the extraction of podophyllotoxin, excess collection of the underground part was the primary cause of the rapid decreasing resource of S. emodi. It is suggested that the management of rational collection should be strengthen and the development of culturing and production should be meanwhile accelerated.

[Textual criticized and collated on names and breeds of Tibetan medicine "Dida"].

Integrating textual criticism literatures with field survey, the name, classification and botanical originals of breeds of Tibetan medicine "Dida" were discussed in this paper. The results showed that it's very intricate and confusion in the names, breeds and botanical originals of "Dida", and those were the key restricting factors resulting in shortfall and difficult formulation in quality standard of "Dida". The similar situations are existing universally in ethnodrugs, and reflecting the necessity and urgency to collate ethnodrug breeds. On the other hand, Because of the morphologic description on the botanical origins of drug was often simple in the ancient literatures, and in most cases, the botanical origins of the drug were difficult to identify accurately on the basis of the literatures. So, in the collating the breeds, it's necessary to follow the principle of "according to the ancient literatures but no rigidly", and to pay attention to the historical vicissitude of the drug breeds and origins, and the survey of present resources and clinical using, draw actively on outcome of chemical and biological active researches. That inherited the characteristics and advantages of ethnodrugs, and promoted them them modernization.

[Study on genetic relationship of official Rheum by SRAP].

OBJECTIVE: To determine the genetic relationship of three species of official Rheum in molecular level. METHOD: Twelve samples from three species of official Rheum were employed to be analyzed by the approach of sequence-related amplified polymorphism (SRAP). Systematic relationships were constructed based on the UPGMA method by TREECONW software. RESULT: A total of 272 bands were scored and 199 bands of them were polymorphic, which were up to 73.2% polymorphic ratio. Genetic similarity coefficient was changed from 0.578 4 to 0.941 6. The results indicated that there was abundant genetic diversity among the tested materials. The clustering analysis revealed that the results between SRAP marker and the traditional morphological characteristics was almost the same. CONCLUSION: SRAP marker is suitable for variety identification and genetic relationship research in official Rheum.

[Study on methods of dynamic monitoring of traditional Chinese medicine resources].

The dynamic monitoring to concrete species is the basis of dynamic monitoring to entire traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) resources. In this paper, the method for the dynamic monitoring to resources species of TCM is discussed. By analysis of the factors, which affect resources species dynamically, methods are suggested to monitor factors, forecast trend of dynamic and appraise recruitment capability by analysis of population's age structure and size structure. The methods for collecting and analysis relative data are also recommended.

[Quality assessment of Coptis chinensis in China].

OBJECTIVE: To study the dynamic change of the ingredients of Coptis chinensis and evaluate the quality of the crude drugs from main producing areas. METHOD: The ingredients of samples from Shizhu and Wuxi counties in Chongqing, Hongya and Dayi counties in Sichuan, Zhenping county in Shanxi, Lichuan county in Hubei were analyzed for berberine, coptisine, jatrorrhizine, palmatine and the total alkaloids by HPLC and UV methods. RESULT AND CONCLUSION: The contents of measured indexes were mostly highest in 5-years-old C. chinensis. Considering factors such as the yield, it is reasonable to harvest the 5-years-old C. chinensis. There are minor differences in condents of C. chinensis from different areas, all tested samples met the pharmacopoeial standards. It is concluded that the general quality of C. chinensis was good and acceptable.

[Conservation of endangered species resources of Tibetan medicine in China].

OBJECTIVE: To further investigate and discuss the cause of species endangerment, the status and present problem of conservation of traditional Tibetan medicine in China. METHOD: Previous relevant investigations and literatures were summed up in the field. The present situation of conservation of traditional Tibetan medicine was analyzed. RESULT: The status of endangered resources, cause of species endangerment, the conserving status and conserving measures etc were elaborated. The classification was made and suggestion of species conservation of traditional Tibetan medicine were put forward. CONCLUSION: The endangered species conservation of traditional Tibetan medicine was carried out by building protective area of endangered species resources and plant garden, setting up germplasm bank, developing the domestication and cultivation of Tibetan medicinal herbs most in use, strengthening the investigation and study of endangered species, launching exchange and cooperation of conservation techniques on endangered species, enhancing the protective awareness of endangered species traditional Tibetan medicine etc. By so doing we can facilitate the sustainable development of traditional Tibetan medicine in China.