Revisiting traditional Chinese materia medica from European historical collections and perspective for current use

Abstract

Background and aim: Chinese Materia Medica (CMM) is subject to changes over time. Investigating changes in botanical ingredients, applications, plant parts used as well as name changes over time, contribute to the understanding of the history and development of CMM.

Materials and methods: This study compares four historic collections of CMM, located in Europe, compiled between 1700 and the late 19th century, with a list of contemporary CMM marketed in Europe.

Results: More than 1700 specimens within these five collections. The dominant families are Fabaceae (5.3-7.2%) and Asteraceae (4.1-5.7%), while half of the medicinal parts are represented by roots or rhizomes and fruits and/or seeds. Their importance has been stable in a time span of 300 years. The proportion of animal and mineral drugs gradually decreased over time. 14 plant species appeared in all five collections. A total of 47 species are shared between the three more recent collections and the modern trade list. Among these common species, most medicinal parts remain unchanged, but for several species the used plant parts changed or new medicinal plant parts appeared. All common species have unanimously been used in ancient classical TCM formulae and/or Chinese patent medicines.

Conclusions: Over more than 300 years, the main body of CMM has hardly changed, with regard to plant taxa and plant parts used. The most prominent changes are related to conservation issues of threatened species, health safety and the discovery of new pharmacological applications of well-known species. Analyzing physical specimens from historic CMM collections complements literature-based research.

Keywords: CMM development; CMM, Chinese materia medica; ChP 2015, Chinese Pharmacopoeia 2015 edition; Chinese materia medica; Historical CMM collections; Medicinal plant parts; TCM, traditional Chinese medicine; Traditional Chinese medicine.

Graphical abstract

Fig. 1

The four historical collections of Chinese materia medica in chronological order, and the trade list of contemporary marketed CMM.

Fig. 2

Similarities and differences in species between the four CMM collections and the modern trade list. A. Venn diagram showing the number of overlapping species. B. UpSet plots: single dots without connecting lines representing unique species in each corresponding collection. The upper column indicates the number of unique species. Dots connected with line indicate overlapping species between these specific collections, with the number of overlapping species.