title: [Surveys on resources and varieties on Chinese markets of crude drug mahuang].
abstract: Many species of the genus Ephedra plants are used as Chinese traditional medicines, in Chinese which are known as "Mahuang" (Ephedrae Herba). In order to get a clear picture of resources distribution and varieties on Chinese markets of the crude drug Mahuang and provide scientific basis for their resource conservation and sustainable use, during recent years we conducted field investigations and market researches many times. The results showed that the most common species on the Chinese markets was E. sinica (33/38 commercial samples), followed by E. intermedia (5/38 commercial samples), which was also used in local clinics in Qing-hai, Gansu and Xinjiang province, no E. equisetina was found in the market. We noticed that the resources of both official and non-official plants of Mahuang, especially Zhong-Mahuang and Muzei-Mahuang, were seriously damaged in the past decade because of the ecological environment damage and over-digging. Zhong-Mahuang was distinguished in Ningxia and north Gansu, which was once one of the most distribution areas and contains more than 10,000 t Zhong-Mahuang. Muzei-Mahuang was distinguished in most places and distributed sparsely around Altay Mountains in northeast in Xinjiang. Thus, Cultivation of Mahuang, especially Zhong-Mahuang and Muzei-Mahuang should be greatly developed. At the same time, wild resources of Mahuang must be preserved strictly, i.e., proper method of cutting Ephedra plant could prevent the damage of the resource.
authors.affiliation: School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Peking University, Beijing 100191, China. pku-hong@gmail.com
authors.forename: Hao
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Hong
authors.forename: Hubiao
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Feng
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.forename: Xinyu
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Zang
authors.forename: Donghui
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: Xuan
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Shaoqing
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Cai
authors.forename: Masayuki
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mikage
mesh_terms: D002681:China; D003247:Conservation of Natural Resources; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal / Q000145:classification* / Q000600:supply & distribution*; D029790:Ephedra sinica / Q000145:classification* / Q000254:growth & development
chemical_list: D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal