Herbal Textual Research, Quality Evaluation and Phase Analysis of Tremolitum
10.13422/j.cnki.syfjx.20240261
- VernacularTitle:阳起石的本草考证、品质评价及物相分析
- Author:
Youshao WANG
1
;
Yuan SUN
1
;
Yunyun WANG
1
;
Xiaofei WANG
1
;
Jianxiong WEI
1
;
Min ZHANG
1
;
Juan LI
1
Author Information
1. Hubei University of Chinese Medicine,Wuhan 430065,China
- Publication Type:Journal Article
- Keywords:
Tremolitum;
herbal textual research;
origin;
quality;
producing area;
processing method;
physical phase analysis
- From:
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae
2024;30(21):194-202
- CountryChina
- Language:Chinese
-
Abstract:
In this research, a comprehensive examination of historical materia medica, medical literature, medical books and contemporary literature was conducted to systematically compile and verify the naming, origin, geographical variations, quality, medicinal properties and processing of Tremolitum, and combined with the physical analysis of 15 batches of samples, with a view to providing a basis for the quality evaluation. The evidences unequivocally support Yangqishi as the rectification of name, while alternative aliases include Baishi, Shisheng, Yangjushi and Yangshi. The primary source of Tremolitum has been the silicate hornblende mineral tremolite throughout recorded history, and its accompanied minerals are mainly chlorite, talc schist, anthophyllite asbestos, etc. In ancient times, the main production area of Tremolitum was situated in the "Yaoshan Mountain" region of Jinan, Shandong province. Presently, it is primarily produced in Hubei, Henan, Shanxi, Hebei and Shandong provinces. The ancient quality evaluation of Tremolitum includes "white color", "wolf teeth", "cloud head and rain foot", "heron hair", etc. While, modern materia medica mostly evaluates its quality in terms of color, luster and texture, including the characteristics of needle bundle, grayish-white, glossy and easy to be twisted and crushed. Tremolitum is slightly warm, non-toxic, and possesses a salty taste. It is associated with the kidney meridian, known for its benefits in nourishing the fire of the gate of life, warming the kidneys and strengthening the Yang. Common processing methods include fire calcination, elutriation, and processing with wine. Additionally, there is an exclusive processing method known as the "ascending Tremolitum method". Through the X-ray diffraction(XRD) analysis, the commercially available Tremolitum is mainly composed of tremolite[Ca2Mg5(Si4O11)2(OH)2], and the accompanied minerals are calcite and quartz, etc. Its color includes white, light gray, light green and so on, and it is weight and soft texture, irregular cross-section, with obvious fibrous texture and mostly glassy luster. Among the commercially available Tremolitum, samples with high content of tremolite are characterized by high quality features, such as "white color", "heron hair" and "ease of tearing". Also, Tremolitum is the Fe-bearing heterogeneous species of tremolite, and the two are often symbiotic. Therefore, by the herbal textual research and the comparison of the properties and composition of Tremolitum and its similar species, it has been verified that the primary source of Tremolitum is the silicate hornblende minerals tremolite and actinolite.