[Calcium oxalate crystals in several kinds of Cinnamon bark].
OBJECTIVE
To probe into the morphology and distribution characteristics of calcium oxalate crystals in several kinds of Cinnamon bark.


METHODS
Forty samples of ten different species of Cinamomi Cortex were examined, and the inter-cellular calcium oxalate crystals in the phloem rays were observed by optical microscope and scanning electron microscope.


RESULTS
It was found that for samples of the same botanical origin, there is little variation in the crystal morphology following certain regularity. The amount, size and ultra-micromorphologic characteristics are influenced by various factors.


CONCLUSIONS
The pattern of morphology and distribution of calcium oxalate crystals may well be an index for identification of the crude drug of Cinnamon bark.
Xiao
X
X
National Institute for the Control of Pharmaceutical and Biological Products, Beijing 100050.
Satake
M
M
D002129:Calcium Oxalate / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D027424:Cinnamomum / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D003461:Crystallography; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000145:classification; D010946:Plants, Medicinal / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000145:classification / Q000648:ultrastructure; D013045:Species Specificity
D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal; D002129:Calcium Oxalate