Identification method of Rhizoma Coptidis

Coptis chinensis is a commonly used medicine, which is first contained in the Classic of Shennong Materia Medica, and there are many counterfeit products. In addition to counterfeiting Coptis chinensis, Dian bean root, Phoenix tail and other plants of the same family, there are also rhizomes of Arrow leaves of Tilleraceae, Pteridaceae and Papaveraceae impersonating Coptis chinensis, wild chicken tail, blood water grass and so on. Let's take a look at the identification method of Coptis chinensis.

The origin of authentic Coptis chinensis

1. Chuanlian: Chuanlian mainly produces Sichuan and Hubei provinces. In addition, Hunan Sangzhi, Longshan and other counties are also cultivated. In the past, commodities were produced in the mountains on both sides of the Yangtze River in eastern Sichuan and western Hubei, divided into south bank goods and north bank goods. It is generally believed that the north shore goods have strong roots, few bridges, golden yellow and good quality.

2. Yalian: Yalian, that is, Coptis chinensis, is produced in Emei, Hongya, Leshan and other places in Sichuan, mostly cultivated and a few wild.

3. Yunlian: Yunlian bending is hooked, mostly single branch, stout, solid, cross-sectional red and yellow is better. Yunlian is a famous medicinal material in Yunnan Province, which is produced in Fugong, Bijiang, Gongshan, Lushui, Tengchong and other counties. it is mainly produced in Fugong, Gongshan and Tengchong.

Identification method of Coptis chinensis

1. Chuanlian: the rhizome is mostly clustered or saccular branched, curved, shaped like chicken feet, with a total length of 3-9 cm and a diameter of 3-8 mm. The surface is brown or green-brown, rough, with most hard fine roots and root scars after the fibrous roots fall off, and sometimes smooth and slender internodes, commonly known as "crossing the bridge". The texture is hard, the skin layer of the broken surface is dark brown, the xylem is golden yellow, the radial texture can be seen, the central pulp is red, and sometimes hollow. The breath is weak and peculiar, and the taste is extremely bitter.

2. Yalian: the rhizome has many single branches, few branches, and has an obvious section of cylindrical internodes (commonly known as "crossing the bridge"), with a total length of 5-10 cm and a diameter of 3-12 mm. The surface is yellowish brown, the internodes are flat and longitudinally textured, and the rest have dense scaly leaves, whisker roots and petiole residues that are extremely rough. The quality is light and hard, and the color of the folded section is slightly lighter than that of Chuanlian. The smell is the same as Sichuan.

3. Phoenix tail: the rhizome is cylindrical and curved, with few branches, 3-9 cm in length and 3-9 mm in diameter. The tip is often marked by petioles, petioles fascicled, 3-6, about 12 cm long, smooth, longitudinally angled. The surface of the rhizome is gray, black and dark green, covered with most scale leaves and fibrous roots. The quality is light and hard, and the color of the folded section is slightly lighter than that of Chuanlian. It smells like Coptis chinensis. It is characterized by a "leading Phoenix tail", curved as "shrimp-shaped".

4. Yunlian: it is the rhizome of Ranunculaceae plant Yunlian and five-split Coptis chinensis, which mainly produces Weixi, Bijiang, Deqin and Jinping in Yunnan Province. It was originally wild and has recently been changed to domestic species. The rhizome is slightly cylindrical, mostly single-branched, curved, 2-5 cm long and 2-4 mm in diameter. The surface is grayish yellow, rough, with residual scaly whisker root scars and petiole residues. The texture is crisp, easy to break, the cross section is yellowish brown, the xylem is lighter, and the common central medullary cavity becomes a cavity. It smells like Coptis chinensis.

5. Coptis chinensis, Japan: the rhizome of Coptis chinensis, a Ranunculaceae plant, is curved cylindrical, less branched, with beaded nodules, 2-4 cm long and 2-4 mm in diameter. The surface is grayish yellow, with residual scaly leaves and fibrous roots, and sometimes petiole residues at the top. The texture, section and smell are similar to those of Coptis chinensis.

Commodity specifications of Coptis chinensis

1. Wei Lian

① first class: practical information. More gathered into clusters, branches more curved, shaped like chicken feet or single branch, fat and solid, with a bridge between, no more than 2 cm long. The surface is yellowish brown and the cluster surface is hairless. The cross section is golden or yellow. It tastes extremely bitter. No less than 1.5 cm of fragments, stumps, scorch, impurities, mildew.

② second-class: and the first-class difference is that the strip is smaller, there are bridges, there are fragments, dregs, scorch, no stumps, impurities, mildew.

2. Yalian

① first class: practical information. Single branch, cylindrical, slightly curved, fat, less crossing the bridge, no more than 2.5 cm long. The quality is hard. The surface is yellowish brown and the cross section is golden. It tastes extremely bitter. No broken nodes, hair whiskers, scorch, impurities, mildew.

② second-class: the difference between the first-class and the first-class is that the strip is smaller and has more bridges. There are fragments, whiskers, scorched, no impurities, mildew.

3. Yunlian

① first class: in the goods. Single branch, cylindrical, slightly curved, with brownish-green scales and residual leaves at the top. The strip is stout and solid, with a diameter of more than 0.3 cm. The surface is yellowish brown. The cross section is golden yellow. It tastes extremely bitter. Hairless beard, bridge crossing, impurities, mildew.

② second class: the difference between the first class and the first class is that it is thinner and has a bridge between them. The diameter is less than 0.3 cm. The surface is dark yellow. Hairless whiskers, impurities, mildew.