Abstract
In family Ranunculaceae, genus Thalictrum Linn. is a widely distributed and abun- dant one. It is composed of some 300 species. Out of these approximitly 70 species have been so far found in China, and 26 known to posses drug vulue, viz. Thalictrum cultratum Wall., Th. foliolosum DC., Th. chaotungense W. T. Wang et S. H. Wang, ined., Th. delavayi Franch.; Th. trichopus Franch.; Th. baicalense Turcz., and var. megalostigma Boivin, Th. faberi Ulbr., Th. fortunei S. Moore, Th. ramosum Boivin, Th. omeiense W. T. Wang et S. H. Wang, ined., Th. smithii Boivin var. gynodioecum W. T. Wang et S. H. Wang, ined., Th. przewalskii Maxim., Th. collinum Wallr., Th. reticulatum Franch., Th. alpinum Linn. var. elatum Ulbr., Th. chelidonii DC., Th. javanicum Blume, Th. finetii Boivin, Th. squamiferum Lecoy., Th. ichangense Lecoy. ex Oliv., Th. micro- gynum Lecoy. ex Oliv., Th. acutifolium (Hand.-Mazz.) Boivin, Th. petaloideum Linn., Th. thunbergii DC., Th. virgatum Hook. f. et Thoms., and Th. simplex Linn. var. brevi- pes Hara, the first 14 species listed above being usually used in native medicine as a substitute for the Chinese drug Huang-lian (Rhizoma Coptidis). By means of an alkaloid screening procedure, the near ubiquitous existence of alka- loids has been shown in all 26 medicinal species of this genus. This consequently reveals that Thalictrum Linn. is also an alkaloid-rich genus within family Ranunculaceae. Be- sides, berberine has been supposed to be present in Thalictrum cultratum Wall., Th. folio- losum DC., Th. chaotungense W. T. Wang et S. H. Wang, ined., Th. finetii Boivin, Th. baicalense Turcz., and Th. baicalense var. megalostigma Boivin on account of a berberine positive microchemical test. In addition, an analytical key for the 26 medicinal species stated above and two botanical plates are also provided in this paper.
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