title: Authentication of the 31 species of Toxic and Potent Chinese Materia Medica (T/PCMM) by microscopic technique, part 2: Three species of seed T/PCMM.
abstract: Toxic and Potent Chinese Materia Medica (T/PCMM) are being used more and more in the treatment of various diseases. In view of their toxic side effects and to ensure their safe use, accurate and reliable authentication is indispensable. However, identifying characteristics of T/PCMM are seldom reported, even though modern microscopy can provide ample, unique identifying characteristics from cells found in transverse sections and powders. In particular, no systematic authentication studies on seed T/PCMM have been conducted. In the course of our study on 31 T/PCMM originating from plants, animals, minerals, and secreta, an accurate and convenient method, based on microscopic techniques, has been developed and reported for the authentication of animal T/PCMM. The present study deals with detailed investigations on three species of seed T/PCMM, namely Semen Hyoscyami (Hyoscyamus niger L.), Semen Euphorbiae (Euphorbia lathyris L.), and Semen Strychni (Strychnos nux-vomica L.). The macroscopic characters are here described in detail, and the microscopic characters were conclusively determined by common and polarized light microscopy. Results showed that these three T/PCMM can be easily identified by the present method even when powdered and combined. Thus, the microscopic method is applicable for authentication of the earlier three T/PCMM, and the morphological and microscopic characteristics described here are proposed as parameters to establish the authenticity of these three T/PCMM.
authors.affiliation: School of Chinese Medicine, Hong Kong Baptist University, Kowloon Tong, Hong Kong.
authors.forename: Li
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Xia
authors.forename: Li-Ping
authors.initials: LP
authors.lastname: Bai
authors.forename: Chu
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Chu
authors.forename: Ping
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Zhi-Hong
authors.initials: ZH
authors.lastname: Jiang
authors.forename: Zhong-Zhen
authors.initials: ZZ
authors.lastname: Zhao
mesh_terms: D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal / Q000145:classification*; D028481:Euphorbia / Q000145:classification* / Q000254:growth & development / Q000648:ultrastructure; D032304:Hyoscyamus / Q000145:classification* / Q000254:growth & development / Q000648:ultrastructure; D008419:Materia Medica / Q000145:classification*; D008859:Microscopy, Polarization / Q000379:methods; D012639:Seeds / Q000145:classification* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D031461:Strychnos nux-vomica / Q000145:classification* / Q000254:growth & development / Q000648:ultrastructure
chemical_list: D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal; D008419:Materia Medica