PHARMACOGNOSTICAL STUDIES ON THE CHINESE DRUG QIN PI (CORTEX FRAXINI) Ⅰ.HERBAL OGICAL STUDY AND IDENTIFICATION OF ORIGINAL PLANTS

1. Qin-pi, as a commonly used drug, was described in one of the most ancient Chinese herbals, "Shen Nong Ben Cao Jing" (神农本草经) in the 1st century. The name of the plant, "Cen" (梣) was first recorded in an ancient work of natural and physical sciences "Huai Nan Zi" (淮南子) (1 BC). According to the descriptions and illustrations of various original plants of Qin-Pi in herbals, we consider that the plants belonging to genus Fraxinus (Fam. Oleaceae) were the species medically used in the ancient time. The bark of Juglans mandshurica (Fam. Juglandaceae), which is used as a substitute for Qin-Pi was first recorded in "Ben Cao Cong Xin" (本草从新), a herbal published in Qing Dynasty (18th century).2. A recent investigation has found that the crude drug under the name "Qin-Pi" is produced from 12 species belonging to 3 genera in 3 families.The results are summarized in the following table:In this paper, a new variety, 2 new grades and 3 new synonyms are given.