目前中藥材基原極為複雜、商品名稱及來源也極為混亂,為了解市售龍膽、牛膝及遠志的種類及其特徵,本實驗在市面上收集有關該等藥材之種類、分別以五官檢查、顯微鏡檢及薄層層析法加以探討。其結果:龍膽有龍膽(Gentiana scabra Bunge)及滇龍膽(G. rigescens Franch或其變種)兩種,牛膝有懷牛膝(Achyranthis bidentata Blume)、川牛膝(Cyathula officinalis Kuem或C. capitata Moquin)及一種尚未知基原者等三種,而遠志只有一種類似植物遠志(Polygala tenuifolia Willdenow)根部特徵的藥材。由結果可知此三種藥材種類複雜不一,此等資料可作為日後檢驗龍膽、牛膝及遠志藥材及含此三種藥材成分之製劑的參考。
In order to understand the origins of the Chinese herbs Gentianae Radix. Achyranthis Radix and Polygalae Radix available on the Taiwan market, the three chinese herbs were obtained in the period of August to September, 1986. All samples were identified by organoleptic inspection, microscopic observation and thin-layer chromatography. The results showed that there were two origins of Gentianae Radix Gentiana scabra Bunge and G. rigescens Franch. (or its variety); three origins of Achyranthis Radix-Achyranthes bidentata Blume, Cyathula officinalis Kuan or C. capitata Moquin, and an unverified origin of Polygalae Radix which resembled Polygala tenuifolia Willdenow.