Chemical and molecular characterization of Hong Dangshen, a unique medicinal material for diarrhea in Hong Kong

Abstract

Aim: To investigate the plant origin and the identity of the red substance on the surface of Hong Dangshen, a unique medicinal material for diarrhea in Hong Kong. Methods The HPLC fingerprints and 5S rRNA gene spacer sequences of Hong Dangshen were obtained and compared with those of genuine species of Radix Codonopsis. The X-ray diffraction spectrum of the red substance was analyzed and compared with that of Halloysitum Rubrum. Results Hong Dangshen showed very similar HPLC fingerprints to the Codonopsis species and the highest similarity to Codonopsis pilosula var. modesta in terms of 5S rRNA gene spacer sequences. The X-ray diffraction spectrum of the red substance was consistent with that of Halloysitum Rubrum. Conclusion The source plant of Hong Dangshen was suggested to be Codonopsis pilosula var. modesta, one of the genuine original plants of Radix Codonopsis (Dangshen) in the China Pharmacopoeia (2005 edition). The red substance on the surface of Hong Dangshen was indicated to be Halloysitum Rubrum, a traditional medicinal mineral for chronic diarrhea. Our data suggest that Hong Dangshen is derived from the roots of Codonopsis pilosula var. modesta which has been processed with Halloysitum Rubrum, and the name is suggested to be Radix Codonopsis Praeparata Halloysita Rubra. 目的鑒定香港特有止瀉中藥材紅黨參的基源植物和表面紅色物質。方法將紅黨參的5SrRNA基因間隔區序列和HPLC色譜指紋譜與正品黨參5SrRNA基因間隔區序列和HPLC色譜指紋譜進行比較研究;將紅黨參表面紅色物質的X-衍射光譜與中藥赤石脂X-衍射光譜進行比較研究。結果紅黨參的HPLC色譜指紋譜和黨參藥材具有相同的特征色譜峰;紅黨參的5SrRNA基因間隔區序列與黨參正品之一的素花黨參(Codonopsis pilosula var.modesta)的5SrRNA基因間隔區序列最為相似;紅色物質的X-衍射光譜與中藥赤石脂X-衍射光譜完全相同。結論紅黨參的基源是素花黨參(Codonopsis pilosula var.modesta)的根,紅黨參表面的紅色物質是傳統中藥赤石脂(Halloysitum Rubrum)。紅黨參是素花黨參根用中藥赤石脂炮制而成,科學名可定為Radix Codonopsis Praeparata Halloysita Rubra。