[Textual research on change of medicinal parts and herbal medicine of Prunella vulgaris].
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the herbal medicine of Prunella vulgaris by textual researches, and provide a theoretical basis for clinical medication, exploitation and protection of wild P. vulgaris resources.


METHODS
Textual research on medicinal works of past dynasties and field work were adopted.


RESULTS
The natural distributions of P. vulgaris were concentrated distribution in Sichuan province, Huaihe river basin, and Middle-Lower Yangtze river valley in Chinese history. The indications of P. vulgaris in ancient and modern times were basically identical. While there were difference between the medicinal parts, harvest period and processing methods existed difference between ancient and modern.


CONCLUSIONS
Three periods that whole grass of P. vulgaris as medicinal parts (from late Ming dynasty to late Qing dynasty and early stage of Republic of China), both whole grass and spicas as medicinal parts (from mid-term Republic of China to 1963), and the semi-maturity or maturity of spicas as medicinal parts (from 1963 to today) existed. The processing method for medicinal parts of P. vulgaris adopted sun drying and shady drying in ancient China, but only the sun drying was only used in modern times.
Chen
Yuhang
Y
Institute of Chinese Medicinal Materials, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing 210095, China.
Guo
Qiaosheng
Q
Wang
Chengya
C
D002681:China; D004358:Drug Therapy / Q000266:history; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000032:analysis / Q000266:history*; D029001:Herbal Medicine / Q000266:history*; D049690:History, Ancient; D006801:Humans; D031347:Prunella / Q000737:chemistry*
D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal