Preprint / Version 1

The current status of old traditional medicine introduced from Persia to China

Authors

  • Jinmin Shi College of Plant Science and Technology, Innovation Academy of International Traditional Chinese Medicinal Materials, National-Regional Joint Engineering Research Center in Hubei for Medicinal Plant Breeding and Cultivation, Medicinal Plant Engineering Research Center of Hubei Province, Institute for Medicinal Plants, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China
  • Yifan Yang College of Plant Science and Technology, Innovation Academy of International Traditional Chinese Medicinal Materials, National-Regional Joint Engineering Research Center in Hubei for Medicinal Plant Breeding and Cultivation, Medicinal Plant Engineering Research Center of Hubei Province, Institute for Medicinal Plants, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China
  • Xinxin Zhou College of Plant Science and Technology, Innovation Academy of International Traditional Chinese Medicinal Materials, National-Regional Joint Engineering Research Center in Hubei for Medicinal Plant Breeding and Cultivation, Medicinal Plant Engineering Research Center of Hubei Province, Institute for Medicinal Plants, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China
  • Lijun Zhao Department of Pharmacy, Renmin Hospital, Hubei University of Medicine, Shiyan, China
  • Xiaohua Li College of Plant Science and Technology, Innovation Academy of International Traditional Chinese Medicinal Materials, National-Regional Joint Engineering Research Center in Hubei for Medicinal Plant Breeding and Cultivation, Medicinal Plant Engineering Research Center of Hubei Province, Institute for Medicinal Plants, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China
  • Abdullah Yusuf College of Chemistry and Environmental Science, Laboratory of Xinjiang Native Medicinal and Edible Plant Resources Chemistry. Kashi University, Kashgar, China
  • Mohaddeseh Hosseini College of Plant Science and Technology, Innovation Academy of International Traditional Chinese Medicinal Materials, National-Regional Joint Engineering Research Center in Hubei for Medicinal Plant Breeding and Cultivation, Medicinal Plant Engineering Research Center of Hubei Province, Institute for Medicinal Plants, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China
  • Fatemeh Sefidkon Research Institute of Forests and Rangelands, Tehran, Iran
  • Xuebo Hu College of Plant Science and Technology, Innovation Academy of International Traditional Chinese Medicinal Materials, National-Regional Joint Engineering Research Center in Hubei for Medicinal Plant Breeding and Cultivation, Medicinal Plant Engineering Research Center of Hubei Province, Institute for Medicinal Plants, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China

Keywords:

Compendium of Materia Medica, Persian, Iran, Chinese herbal medicine, the Silk Road, traditional Chinese medicine

Abstract

Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) includes over ten thousand herbal medicines, some of which were introduced from outside countries and territories. The Silk Road enabled the exchange of merchandise such as teas, silks, carpets, and medicines between the East and West of the Eurasia continent. During this time, the ‘Compendium of Materia Medica’ (CMM) was composed by a traditional medicine practitioner, Shizhen Li (1,518–1,593) of the Ming Dynasty. This epoch-making masterpiece collected knowledge of traditional medical materials and treatments in China from the 16th century and before in utmost detail, including the origin where a material was obtained. Of 1892 medical materials from the CMM, 46 came from Persia (now Iran). In this study, the basic information of these 46 materials, including the time of introduction, the medicinal value in TCM theory, together with the current status of these medicines in China and Iran, are summarized. It is found that 20 herbs and four stones out of the 46 materials are registered as medicinal materials in the latest China Pharmacopoeia. Now most of these herbs and stones are distributed in China or replacements are available but saffron, ferula, myrrh, and olibanum are still highly dependent on imports. This study may contribute to the further development, exchange, and internationalization of traditional medicine of various backgrounds in the world, given the barriers of transportation and language are largely eased in nowadays. Keywords: Compendium of Materia Medica, Persian, Iran, Chinese herbal medicine, the Silk Road, traditional Chinese medicine

Author Biography

Jinmin Shi, College of Plant Science and Technology, Innovation Academy of International Traditional Chinese Medicinal Materials, National-Regional Joint Engineering Research Center in Hubei for Medicinal Plant Breeding and Cultivation, Medicinal Plant Engineering Research Center of Hubei Province, Institute for Medicinal Plants, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China

Department of Pharmacy, Renmin Hospital, Hubei University of Medicine, Shiyan, China

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