Identification & Quality Standard
Herba Artemisiae Scopariae
Botanical Origin
The dried aerial portion of Artemisia capillaris Thunb., Artemisia scoparia Waldst. et Kit.(Asteraceae). Yin chen harvested in spring is also called ‘mian yin chen’. Yin chen harvested in autumn is also called ‘yin chen hao’.
Production Regions
Primarily produced in the Chinese provinces of Anhui, Shaanxi, Shanxi.
Quality Requirements
Superior medicinal material has tender soft texture, grayish-white color, potent aromatic odor.
Macroscopic Features
Mian yin chen: Often rolled in clustesr, grayish-white or grayish-green, whole body covered in white downy hairs, soft like velvet. Stem is thin and small, 1.5~2.5cm long, 0.1~0.2cm diameter, after removing the surface white hairs, there are obvious longitudinal lines. Texture is brittle, easily broken. Leaf has stem; after being flattened, unipinnate to tripinnate leaves, leaf length is 1~3cm, about 1cm wide; small lobes are oval or slightly oblanceolate or strip-shaped, tip is pointed. Clear aromatic odor, slightly bitter taste. Yin chen hao: Stem is cylindrical, often branched, 30~100cm long, 2~8mm diameter; externally pale purple or purple, with longitudinal lines, covered short soft hairs; light in weight, brittle texture, fractured surface is off-white. Dense leaves, which often fall off; lower leaves bipinnate to tripinnate, lobes are strip-like or thin strip-like, both sides covered white soft hairs; leaves grows on stem are unipinnate to bipinnate, base is embracing stem, lobes are thin silk-like; flower head is oval shaped, numerous flowers gathered in conical shape, 1.2~1.5mm long, 1~1.2mm diameter, with short stem; involucres have 3~4 layers, oval shape, bract has 3 lobes; outer layer has 6~10 male flowers, up to 15, inner layer has 2~10 bisexual flowers. Achene is long round, yellowish-brown. Aromatic odor, slightly bitter taste.
