Identification & Quality Standard
Rhizoma et Radix Notopterygii
Botanical Origin
The dried root and rhizome of Notopterygium incisum Ting ex H. T. Chang. (Apiaceae)
Production Regions
Primarily produced in the Chinese provinces of Yunnan, Sichuan, Qinghai, Gansu.
Quality Requirements
Superior medicinal material has thick and strong strips, raised rings, dense and tight fractured surface, numerous cinnabar spots, potent aroma.
Macroscopic Features
Can qiang: Also called ‘luo si qiang' (screw-shaped qianghuo). Dried rhizome, shaped like a silkworm, cylindrical or slightly curled, about 4~10cm long, 1~2cm diameter. Apex has remnants of stem and leaves. Externally brown, with numerous densely and raised nodes. Nodes have densely raised verrucous scars of rootlets. Light and loose texture, easily broken, fractured surface is uneven, with obvious ‘chrysanthemum lines’ and numerous cracks, cortex is brownish-red; xylem is pale yellow, center has yellowish-white pith, all have ‘cinnabar spots (oil spots)’. Distinctive aroma, slightly bitter taste and numbing the tongue. Zhu jie qiang: rhizome has scattered ring-like nodes, similar to bamboo joints, and similar to can qiang, but slightly larger. Da tou qiang: rhizome has very enlarged nodes, irregular lumps, uneven size, apex has numerous remnants of stem base, other features are similar to can qiang. Strip qiang: dried roots and lateral roots, cylindrical or branched, 3~17cm long, 0.7~1.7cm diameter, apex occasionally has rhizome, externally brown, with longitudinal lines and verrucous rootlet scars, upper portion is relatively thick and large, with scattered raised nodes, loose and brittle texture, easily broken, fractured surface is uneven, cortex is pale brown, xylem is yellowish-white, with ‘chrysanthemum lines’, with faint ‘cinnabar spots’, center has no pith. Relatively faint and bland odor and taste.
