Studies On Ethnomedicinal Plant Resources Of Xue Lianhua Of Genus Saussurea DC. In China

Xue Lianhua, a common ethnomedicinal drug of Tibetan, Mongolian and Uygur, was used for treating traumatic bleeding, anthrax, rheumatoid arthritis and other diseases. The botanical origin of this drug was the whole plants or the aerial parts of Saussurea medusa Maxim. S.laniceps H.-M., S. involucrata (Kar.et Kir.)Sch.-Bip. and many other plants of the genus Saussurea, family Compositae. . It was recorded in Bencao Gangmu Shiyi and Jingzhu Bencao. Chemical and pharmacological studies showed that the compounds isolated from the plants of the genus Saussurea such as flavonoids, polysaccharides, sesquiterpenoids exhibited the obvious activities of anti-cancer, anti-fertilization and immuno-stimulation. Because this drug has many original plants, it is often confused as remedies in different races and different areas. Furthermore, over-collection has resulted in resources destruction. This doctoral dissertation dealt with identification of confused species, quality evaluating, safe guarantee in clinical practices and utilization and protection of typical medicinal plant resources in high mountain areas. This study employed the methods and techniques of Ethnomedicine, Ethnobotany, Pharmacognosy, Chemistry, Molecular Biology and principles of many other disciplines.After textual researches of the Bencao, we found that Xue Lianhua comes from S. involucrata (Kar.et Kir.) Sch.-Bip. and S. obvallata (DC.) Edgew., and the Tibetan drugs Qiaguo Suba come from S. medusa Maxim., S. laniceps H. -M. and several other species. The medicinal plants of these two drugs are from different subgenus. They have morphological similarity but have different medical effects. They are both used as Xue Liamhua in Northwest, Southwest and North China where the minority mainly resided.Studies on Tibetan drug Qiaguo Suba (Xue Lianhua) showed that it comes from the...