[Pharmacognostic identification of medicinal Asteropyrum plants in China].
OBJECTIVE
To offer evidences for quality control of medicinal Asteropyrum plants.


METHODS
Pharmacognostic studies were made through field collection, market investigation, document utilization, comparative morphology and histology.


RESULTS
The shape and properties, microscopic characteristics in root, rhizome, leaves were worked out.


CONCLUSIONS
Asteropyrum can be distinguished from close relative Coptis plants by microscopic and histology characteristics. Two species in Asteropyrum can also be identified by microscopic and histology characteristics, and the morphological and histology characteristics can be used as evidences for quality control of medicinal Asteropyrum plants.
Chen
Jia-chun
JC
Hubei College of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Wuhan 430061, Hubei, China.
Chen
Xu-dong
XD
D039323:Coptis / Q000033:anatomy & histology; D010598:Pharmacognosy; D018515:Plant Leaves / Q000737:chemistry; D018517:Plant Roots / Q000737:chemistry; D010946:Plants, Medicinal / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D011786:Quality Control; D029626:Ranunculaceae / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D013045:Species Specificity