Overview Both Radix Isatidis and Rhizoma et Radix Baphicacanthis Cusiae are Chinese Materia Medica (CMM) listed under Schedule 2 of the Chinese Medicine Ordinance and the Chinese Pharmacopoeia (2015 Edition). According to the research by “Zhong hua ben cao”, five different kinds of CMM were documented as “Lan” in the “Ben cao gang mu” of the Ming Dynasty. One of these “Lan” which was described as “Leaves like the leaves of pak choi” refers to Isatis indigotica in the family Cruciferae, while the one recorded as “Leaves like the leaves of sow thistle…refers as ‘ Ban lan’ by the community” refers to Baphicacanthus cusia in the family Acanthaceae and is the “Ban lan” used by the community. To date, the subterraneous part of Baphicacanthus cusia continues to be used by people of the southern part of China as “Ban lan gen”. The Chinese Pharmacopoeia states that both CMM exert functional effects of heat-clearing and detoxificating. While Radix Isatidis can cool the blood aspect and soothe the throat, Rhizoma et Radix Baphicacanthis Cusiae serves to cool the blood aspect and resolve macule. As the two CMM differ in functions, they should be used distinctly and in accordance with their properties. * Radix Isatidis is the dried root of Isatis indigotica Fort. in the family Cruciferae Rhizoma et Radix Baphicacanthis Cusiae # is the dried rhizome or root of Baphicacanthus cusia (Nees) Bremek in the family Acanthaceae 1 cm 1 cm 1 Source Identification of Easily Confused Species of Chinese Materia Medica in Hong Kong by Macroscopic and Microscopic Characteristics Project Note: * Its name in Chinese Pharmacopoeia (2015 Edition) is “Isatidis Radix”. # Its name in Chinese Pharmacopoeia (2015 Edition) is “Baphicacanthis Cusiae Rhizoma et Radix”. Radix Isatidis versus Rhizoma et Radix Baphicacanthis Cusiae
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OverviewBoth Radix Isatidis and Rhizoma et Radix Baphicacanthis Cusiae are Chinese Materia Medica (CMM)
listed under Schedule 2 of the Chinese Medicine Ordinance and the Chinese Pharmacopoeia (2015 Edition).According to the research by “Zhong hua ben cao”, five different kinds of CMM were documented as “Lan” inthe “Ben cao gang mu” of the Ming Dynasty. One of these “Lan” which was described as “Leaves like theleaves of pak choi” refers to Isatis indigotica in the family Cruciferae, while the one recorded as “Leaves likethe leaves of sow thistle…refers as ‘Ban lan’ by the community” refers to Baphicacanthus cusia in the familyAcanthaceae and is the “Ban lan” used by the community. To date, the subterraneous part of Baphicacanthuscusia continues to be used by people of the southern part of China as “Ban lan gen”. The ChinesePharmacopoeia states that both CMM exert functional effects of heat-clearing and detoxificating. While RadixIsatidis can cool the blood aspect and soothe the throat, Rhizoma et Radix Baphicacanthis Cusiae serves tocool the blood aspect and resolve macule. As the two CMM differ in functions, they should be used distinctlyand in accordance with their properties.
* Radix Isatidisis the dried root of
Isatis indigotica Fort.
in the family Cruciferae
Rhizoma et Radix BaphicacanthisCusiae #
is the dried rhizome or root of
Baphicacanthus cusia (Nees) Bremek
in the family Acanthaceae
1 cm 1 cm
1
Source
Identification of Easily Confused Species of Chinese Materia Medica in Hong Kongby Macroscopic and Microscopic Characteristics Project
Note: * Its name in Chinese Pharmacopoeia (2015 Edition) is “Isatidis Radix”. # Its name in Chinese Pharmacopoeia (2015 Edition) is “Baphicacanthis Cusiae Rhizoma et Radix”.
Radix Isatidisversus
Rhizoma et Radix Baphicacanthis Cusiae
AB
C2
C1B
1 mm1 mm1 mm
Radix Isatidis vs Rhizoma et Radix Baphicacanthis Cusiae
Rounded transverse slice
Micro-morphological features
A: Longitudinal wrinkles
Bark in yellowish-white toyellowish-brown
Wood in yellow, withoutpith in the centre
Light greyish-yellow tobrownish-yellow surface,with longitudinal wrinklesand long horizontallenticels
A
B C
1 cm
2 mm
2
Key identification features
Macroscopic features of Radix Isatidis decoction pieces
(Surface) (Surface) (Cut surface)
Slightly soft
B: Long horizontal lenticels
C1: Bark in yellowish-white to yellowish-brown
C2: Wood in yellow
Macroscopic features of
Rhizoma et Radix Baphicacanthis Cusiae decoction pieces
Radix Isatidis vs Rhizoma et Radix Baphicacanthis Cusiae
Greyish-brown or darkbrown surface
Wood in yellowish-whiteto yellow, with radialstriations; without pith inthe centre of the root
Bark in bluish-grey
With pith in the centre ofthe rhizome
1 cm
5 mm
A
B
B2
A2A1
B1
1 mm1 mm
3
Micro-morphological features
(Surface/Cut surface) (Cut surface)
Elliptical oblique slice
Hard and fragile
A1: Greyish-brown or dark brown surface
A2: Bluish-grey in the cut surface of the bark
B1: Wood in yellowish-white to yellow
B2: With pith in the centre of the rhizome
Radix Isatidis
decoction pieces
Rhizoma et Radix Baphicacanthis Cusiae
decoction pieces
Cy
sto
lith
Sta
rch
gra
nu
leF
ibre
b
Microscopic feature comparison of Radix Isatidis and
Rhizoma et Radix Baphicacanthis Cusiae decoction pieces powder
Frequently found, light yellow or colourless, long-elliptical or elliptical; mostly white, yellowish-white orpolychromatic under the polarized light microscope
a b
a ba
Numerous, accounted for the majority of the powder,mainly compound granule
Barely found, mainly compound granule, but theproportion of simple granule is higher than that of RadixIsatidis
Xylem fibre
Frequently found, mostly in bundles, withpits and pit canals; mostly yellowish-whiteunder the polarized light microscope
Frequently found, mostly solitary, withthick wall; mostly bright yellow under thepolarized light microscope
a b
a b
a bBarely found, yellow, mostly in bundles,with pits and pit canals; mostly yellowish-white under the polarized light microscope
50 µm
Radix Isatidis vs Rhizoma et Radix Baphicacanthis Cusiae
Absent
4
a. features under bright field; b. features under polarized light
Phloemfibre
Xylem fibre
Summary
Radix Isatidis
decoction pieces
Rhizoma et Radix Baphicacanthis Cusiae
decoction pieces
Mac
rosc
opic
and
mic
ro-m
orph
olog
ical
fea
ture
s
Texture Slightly soft Hard and fragile
Colour of the bark
Yellowish-white to
yellowish-brownBluish-grey
Pith AbsentRoot without pith;rhizome with pith
Mic
rosc
opic
fea
ture
s Cystolith Absent Present
Starch granule More Fewer
FibreFewer. With only one
type – xylem fibre
More. With two types –phloem fibre and xylem
fibre
Major differences in the features between Radix Isatidis and Rhizoma et
Radix Baphicacanthis Cusiae decoction pieces:
For more information, please refer to the Hong Kong Chinese Materia Medica
Standards website:
Isatidis Radix - Hong Kong Chinese Materia Medica Standards (Volume 4)
Radix Isatidis vs Rhizoma et Radix Baphicacanthis Cusiae
5
Baphicacanthis Cusiae Rhizoma et Radix - Hong Kong Chinese Materia Medica Standards (Volume 5)
Radix Isatidis vs Rhizoma et Radix Baphicacanthis Cusiae
6
Additional information
1 cm
Light greyish-yellow or light brownish-yellow surface with longitudinal wrinkles,long horizontal lenticel-like protuberancesand lateral root scars
Cylindrical and slightly twisted, 10-20 cmlong and 0.5-1 cm in diameter
Slightly large root apex, with dark green ordark brown remnants of petiole-basearranged in whorl, and dense wartyprotuberances
Compact, slightly soft, the fracture withyellowish-white bark and yellow wood
Slight odour. Slightly sweetish taste followedby bitter and astringent
Photo of crude Radix Isatidis
1 cm
Sub-rounded rhizome, mostly curved andbranched, 10-30 cm long and 0.1-1 cm indiameter, greyish-brown surface with finelongitudinal wrinkles
Swollen node, bearing rootlets and remnantsof stem base
Outer bark is easily exfoliated and appearsbluish-grey
Hard and fragile, easily broken, unevenfracture, bark in bluish-grey, wood ingreyish-blue to light yellowish-brown, pithin the centre
Root vary in thickness, curved andbranched, with slender, flexible and toughrootlets
Slight odour and weak taste
Photo of crude Rhizoma et Radix Baphicacanthis Cusiae
Government Chinese Medicines Testing Institute
Department of Health
Enquiry Hotline: 3188 8079
Website: www.cmro.gov.hk
The information in this pamphlet may be re-disseminated or reproduced, provided that the
Government Chinese Medicines Testing Institute (GCMTI), as the source of information, is
acknowledged and that the re-dissemination or reproduction is for non-commercial use. Any
other reproduction, adaptation, distribution, dissemination or making available of the
information in this pamphlet for commercial use is strictly prohibited unless prior written
authorizationis obtainedfromtheGCMTI.
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