Microscopic Study Of Remnant Hair (Seata Or Plumule) Of Animal Drugs

In this paper, a pioneer, comparative study was made on microscopic identification of animal drugs' remnant hair (such as seta, hair or plumule). Microphotographics and picture analyzing techniques were used in microscopic identification to meet the needs of animal drugs' identification and program designing by computer.1. Microscopic characteristic of 26 species of insects and little animals' setae were studied each other, the data, such as the length, middle diameter etc. of seta, were also extracted.2. Microscopic characteristic of 11 species of animal drugs' remnant hair were studied each other (including an- excrement drug - Lepus tolai Pallas), the data, such as shaft diameter, medulla diameter, medulla index number etc. of hair, were also extracted. As contrast, the hairs in the back of the 3 species of animals' body were studied in the same way.3. Microscopic characteristic of 4 species of bird drugs' remnant plumule were studied each other, the data, such as shaft diameter, medulla diameter, medulla index number etc. of plumule, were also extracted.4. Microscopic characteristic of several little animal drugs' setae in 2 species of Chinese Patent drugs were studied each other, and also compared with their raw drugs' seta to arrive at experimental verification in identifying animal drugs by their remnant hair' microscopic characteristic.In the result of the studies, great disparity appeared in length, middle diameter, color, surface wrinkles, medulla diameter, seta tip, seta root etc. among the 26 species of insects and little animals' setae. 11 species of remnant hairs from animal drugs and 3 species of animals' back hairs were also showing difference each other in color, shaft diameter, medulla diameter, medulla index number, medulla cells' shape, surface wrinkles and the characteristic of tip, root and follicle etc. Similarly, 3 kind of bird drugs' plumule has different parameters of distinguishing characteristic with white bird of peace each other, in shaft diameter, medulla diameter, shape of medulla cells, barbules diameter , length of barbicel's burl, characteristic of protuberant thorn on the barbicel's node etc.. With big hollow plumule follicle, rather wide shaft, square like or Polygonal like cortex cells, nodular barbicels etc., sparrow's plumule differs greatly from that of others in especial.From studies on identification of remnant hair in 2 patent medicines, it was also indicated that the remnant hair could be seen clearly under microscope after animal drugs having been comminuted and put into patent medicines.It was proved that, with its characteristics of biological stable, remnant hair (seta or plumule) could be a useful index in identification of animal drugs. Further studies are required to identify adulterated or falsified animal drugs by their remnant hairs (such as seta, hair or plumule).