The Systematizations And Researches Of Exotic Medicinal Plants

Exotic herbal medicines and medicinal plants (hereinafter refer to as exotic herbal medicines) refer to the drugs introduced from foreign countries. Chinese medicines and foreign medicines are multifarious to associate from time immemorial and the frequent exchanges promote the development of medical theory of each other. Many traditional exotic drugs introduced into China have played a positive and important role in multiplication and prosperity of the Chinese medicine, such as Boswellia carteri, Commiphora myrrha, Crocus sativus, Radix panacwas, etc. Previous Chinese physicians have always been willing to absorb and adopt foreign medical culture to promote Chinese native medicine, and exotic herbal medicines are also used in the practice with the guidance of traditional Chinese medicine theory, so the so-called traditional Chinese medicine is not simply a geographical concept.Nowadays, with the arrival of global marketing era and internationalization of traditional Chinese medicine, cross-cultural contacts between the oriental and occidental medicine culture are getting more and more frequent. It reminds us not only promoting the study of Chinese native medicines, but also noting the impact of exotic herbal medicines has been given to the TCM cannot be ignored. Relevant contents of exotic herbal medicines in ancient China are various and scattered. Therefore many scholars have been interested in this field and paid more attention to it for many years, but there is still short of entire and systemic study. What makes me wonder are two points as following:on one hand, whether the exotic herbal medicines recorded in Chinese ancient book are popular, well-known and suitable for the current human health. Whether these precious resources can be made use of to solve the problems of human health. On the other hand, whether these effective ingredients and medicinal efficacy will be changed or affected after introduction in China.This paper takes exotic herbal medicines in as a key point and methods of literature, experimental and mathematical statistics are adopted. The purpose of this study is to enhance universal understanding of exotic herbal medicines and proof the brilliant exchanges between China and foreign countries since time immemorial, which will develop and grow consistently, also enrich the new important information to pharmacy history, history of Chinese materia medica and medicinal chemistry history. The study will further enrich vital information to history of pharmacy and Chinese Materia Medica. At the same time, the result of experimental study of representative exotic plant, maca, truly reflects the influence on exotic herbal medicines introduced to China, which provides rare evidence to the development process of traditional Chinese medicine. And this study will bring the date up to medical history and pharmaceutical history, inherit the traditional Chinese medicine culture and promote the further communication of Chinese and western medicines culture. According to this train of thought, the article consists of two parts and the main contents of this paper are summarized as follows:The first part is the statistical results of exotic herbal medicines effect. This thesis takes the exotic herbal medicines as the study object, starting with the proof of their historical background of introduction, herbal varieties and efficacy. Through reading relevant monographs and literatures, systematize the history and major historical events of exotic herbal medicines in the Qin and Han Dynasty, Southern and Northern Dynasty, Sui and Tang Dynasty, Song and Yuan Dynasty, Ming and Qing Dynasty. At the same time complete statistical analysis of 96 exotic herbal medicines embodied by Compendium of Materia Medica. And then sort out and sum up the natural quality, sexual flavor as well as efficacy of 132 kinds of exotic herbal medicines. This study will also find the developmental process of exotic herbal medicine and the results of the study are shown as follows.On one hand, in the aspect of historical developments of exotic medicinal plants:The Qin and Han Dynasty is the foundational period of exotic medicines. Zhang Qian’s journey opens the way that has been thought to be the earliest indirect contacts between China and the west. This is followed by the introduction of huge numbers of exotic medicinal plants from the Western Regions and Southeast Asian nations.And Wei, Jin and Southern and Northern Dynasty is the development and systematically period of Chinese medicine. Through the Silk Road and the Maritime Silk Road, China and overseas countries have carried out extensive medical exchanges.Sui and Tang Dynasty is the mature period, and ninety-three countries and regions have communication with China including Japan, Korea, Vietnam, India and Arab countries.Song and Yuan Dynasty is the heyday of the introduction of exotic medicinal plants. With the development of overseas trade, the Song Dynasty has carried out extensive exchanges with more than 100 countries in various aspects of medicine.In the Ming and Qing Dynasty, on the base of inheriting predecessors, there is a tendency of innovation of TCM. With the extensive spread of western medicine in China, exotic medicinal plants enter a stable period of consolidation, which has been integrated into the family of Chinese medicine.On the other hand, in the aspect of the species of exotic medicines:A total of 132 exotic medicinal plants are investigated through statistical analyses. The highest frequency of natural property is grass and fruit. High frequency of medical potency is warm and calm. High frequency of medical taste is sweet and hot. High frequency of meridian tropism is spleen, stomach, liver and lung. High frequency of efficacy is clearing heat, regulating the flow of vital energy and removing obstruction to it.Abasic understanding of development of exotic herbal medicine is clarified through this research. In a word, introduction of exotic medicinal plants need to be suitable for China’s national conditions and characteristics of traditional Chinese medicines, as well as be influenced by the time background, price, market supply and so on.In the second part, quality of Lepidium meyenii Walp., a representative modern exotic plant introduced in China, is compared between different producing areas. Field and interview investigation provides reference for a better standardized cultivation of Maca, the biological characteristics. Cultivation and insect pests of Maca were investigated.11 samples from 5 main producing areas in China and abroad, Yunnan, Qinghai, Tibet, Xinjing and Peru, were compared according to pharmacognostic study and conventional items in Pharcopoeia. And then the total genomic DN A was extracted and the internal transcribed spacer 2 (ITS2) regions were amplified and sequenced, which was aimed to authenticate the Lepidium meyenii Walp. from different producing areas with the DNA barcoding system The fat-soluble components of Lepidium meyenii Walp. from five producing areas were identified and compared with GC-MS. Inter-simple sequence repeat (ISSR) molecular marker technique was adopted to analyze genetic diversity of L. meyenii Walp from different habitats. The population genetic diversity and relationships were studied according to their DNA molecule among themThe research shows that altitude, temperature, sunlight and soil are the principal ecological factors that affect maca growth and the germ degradation of maca due to the lack of breeding. There are significant differences in the components and the relative percentage concents of the fat-soluble components of Lepidium meyenii Walp. from different producing areas, and the results provide references for identification and clinical application of Lepidium meyenii Walp..It is to be concluded that the traditional Chinese medicine DNA barcoding system can provide guidance for accurate selection of Lepidium meyenii Walp.. This system has important application value in the cultivation, and also provides a demonstration for the identification of other exotic herbal medicines. ISSR markers can be used for identification of Lepidium meyenii Walp. from Peru or China, but the genetic variation of Chinese Lepidium meyenii Walp. is low with strong genetic stability. Introduction of herbs is conducive to retain the excellent gene, reduce the difficulty of selecting and saving seeds. The results have definite significance for further enhancing the introduction and promoting the cultivation.Finally, by the study above, describe in detail the imported history of exotic herbal medicines, and identify the significant influences on traditional Chinese medicines. The development of exotic herbal medicines has a profound influence. That not only makes us know the influences, but also conduces to comprehend the current situation of Chinese material medica. On one hand, we should carry forward and develop the characteristics and advantages of Chinese fine tradition good at absorbing new knowledge. On the other hand, in the process of further introduction of exotic herbal medicine, the quality should be guaranteed by strengthening environmental control, standardizing cultivation techniques and developing testing methods. Only in this way, we will take the responsibility of passing down present theories and practical experience, and at the same time continue to develop the health care and make great contributions in this field.