THE CAROTENE CONTENT OF CERTAIN CHINESE HERBS FOR“HWENMONG”(昏盲;“NIGHTBLINDNESS”)
- VernacularTitle:治昏盲植物药中胡萝卜素含量的测定
- Author:
Tuosheng SHAN
;
Yiqin LU
;
Bangzhe REN
;
- Publication Type:Journal Article
- From:
Acta Nutrimenta Sinica
1956;0(02):-
- CountryChina
- Language:Chinese
-
Abstract:
The carotene content in 42 kinds of Chinese herbs applied traditionally as the remedies for "Hwen-mong" were analyzed with the column chromatogra-ghic method. It was found that majority of the samples were not so rich in carotene as considered formerly, there were 13 kinds of herbs which contained no carotene at all (The contents of the 42 kinds tested varied from 0 to 12.83 mg. per 100 gm. of the dry weight). Our figures are far lower than those reported by Mar and Read in 1936. The significant discrepancy between these results is ascribed chiefly to the different methods employed for chemical analysis. Since the method used by Mar and Read did not completely exclude the interference of the other carotenoid pigments in the chloroform extracts.In view of the data obtained, we believe that the efficacy of these vegetable remedies for nightblindness due to a'vitaminosis A needs further investigation.
