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Materia Medica) Zhongzhen Zhao*, Ping Guo* and Eric Brand

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Materia Medica) Zhongzhen Zhao*, Ping Guo* and Eric Brand Zhao et al. Chin Med (2018) 13:18 https://doi.org/10.1186/s13020-018-0176-y Chinese Medicine REVIEW Open Access A concise classifcation of bencao (materia medica) Zhongzhen Zhao*, Ping Guo* and Eric Brand Abstract Books that record the sources and applications of medicinal materials are commonly known as bencao (materia med- ica) in China. Bencao (materia medica) literature review is the very frst step in the standard authentication procedure of Chinese medicinals. As an important part of China’s cultural heritage, these various bencao (materia medica) texts represent centuries of accumulated wisdom in combating disease and preserving health. In this short review, bencao (materia medica) classics of China are broadly divided into three major categories in our routine practice: mainstream bencao (materia medica), thematic bencao (materia medica) and regional bencao (materia medica). The overall signif- cance and current situation of exploration of bencao (materia medica) literature are summarized as well. Keywords: Bencao (materia medica), Chinese medicinal authentication, Traditional Chinese medicine Background Chinese medicine (TCM) as a rich source for knowledge- China is a large country with diverse ecological condi- based medical rediscovery due to its documentation of tions and abundant botanical, zoological and mineral clinical experiences over thousands of years, and also resources. Among them, some are of medicinal value illustrates the monumental challenge of selecting the best and have been used medicinally since ancient times. In parts of TCM for modern innovation ([1–3], Fig. 1). China, books that record the sources and applications Te genre of bencao (materia medica) literature is of medicinal materials are commonly known as bencao uniquely developed in Chinese medicine, and repre- (materia medica). Te Chinese term “bencao”, which lit- sents a tremendous historical and cultural resource as erally means “rooted in herbs”, refects the fact that most well as an important reference point for clinicians, medi- medicinal materials are derived from botanical sources. cal historians, and scientists in disciplines such as new Bencao (materia medica) texts of past dynasties primarily drug discovery and Chinese medicinal authentication. describe three aspects of Chinese medicinals: medicinal Authentication is fundamental for Chinese medicinal materials, medicinal properties, and medicinal princi- standardization, and bencao (materia medica) literature ples. As an important part of China’s cultural heritage, review is the very frst step in the standard authentication these various bencao (materia medica) texts represent procedure of Chinese medicinals ([4], Fig. 2). centuries of accumulated wisdom in combating disease In practice, bencao (materia medica) classics of China and preserving health. Te Complete Collection of Tra- are broadly divided into three major categories: (a) main- ditional Texts on Chinese Materia Medica, a 410-volume stream bencao (materia medica): the most infuential and 246,000-page collection complied by the Association bencao (materia medica) classics from key historical of Chinese Culture Research, includes more than 800 periods, (b) thematic bencao (materia medica): special- bencao (materia medica) classics from 220 BC to 1911 ized bencao (materia medica) texts dedicated to specifc AD. Tis collection highlights the value of traditional topics, and c) regional bencao (materia medica): bencao (materia medica) texts focused on medicinal materials from specifc regions. *Correspondence: [email protected]; [email protected] School of Chinese Medicine, Hong Kong Baptist University, Kowloon Tong, Hong Kong, China © The Author(s) 2018. This article is distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided you give appropriate credit to the original author(s) and the source, provide a link to the Creative Commons license, and indicate if changes were made. The Creative Commons Public Domain Dedication waiver (http://creativecommons.org/ publicdomain/zero/1.0/) applies to the data made available in this article, unless otherwise stated. Zhao et al. Chin Med (2018) 13:18 Page 2 of 4 Fig. 1 The Complete Collection of Traditional Texts on Chinese Materia Medica at the Hong Kong Baptist University Library Mainstream bencao (materia medica) period (420–589 AD), compiled this text by pre- Over the past 2000 years, fve monumental works stand serving and annotating Te Divine Husbandman’s out in the genre of bencao (materia medica) literature. Classic of Materia Medica (Shen Nong Ben Cao Jing) Tey are the most infuential classics from key historical and adding another 365 medicinals. It records 730 periods. medicinals and established the framework of ben- cao (materia medica) compilations adopted by later (1) Te Divine Husbandman’s Classic of Materia Medica generations. In this book, medicinal substances are (Shen Nong Ben Cao Jing) Tis is the earliest extant further classifed into seven categories based on bencao (materia medica) text, compiled in the East- their natural properties: jades/stones, herbs, trees, ern Han Dynasty (25–220 AD). Tis text records insects/beasts, fruits/vegetables, crops, and medici- 365 medicinals and summarizes medicinal experi- nals with names but without actual applications. ences up to the Han Dynasty. Medicinals are classi- (3) Newly Revised Materia Medica (Xin Xiu Ben Cao) fed into three categories (high-grade, medium-grade In 659 AD, commissioned by the government of and low-grade) based on their medicinal efects and the Tang Dynasty (618–907 AD), this text records toxicity. Entries for each medicinal substance include 850 medicinals and is considered to be the earliest nomenclature, properties, compatibilities, and medi- national pharmacopoeia in China. cal applications. Descriptions of production regions (4) Materia Medica Arranged According to Pat- and the ecological environment of some medicinal tern (Zheng Lei Ben Cao) Compiled by a physi- plants are also recorded briefy. cian named Tang Shenwei and published in 1108 (2) Collection of Commentaries on the Classic of the AD, this is the most praiseworthy bencao (materia Materia Medica (Ben Cao Jing Ji Zhu) Tao Hongjing, medica) of the Song Dynasty (960–1279 AD) as it a physician of the North and South Kingdoms comprehensively summarizes herbal knowledge up Zhao et al. Chin Med (2018) 13:18 Page 3 of 4 therapy, and medicinal properties. Examples include Grandfather Lei’s Treatise on Herbal Processing (Lei Gong Pao Zhi Lun) and Origins of the Materia Medica (Ben Cao Yuan Shi). Te former is the frst monograph on Chinese medicinal processing, written in about 500 AD in the North and South Kingdoms period; it summarizes the literature and experiences of the ancient practice of processing. Te latter stands out in the history of ben- cao (materia medica) as an outstanding monograph on macroscopic identifcation, written by Li Zhongli in the Ming Dynasty (1368–1644 AD). It is characterized by detailed illustrations and descriptions of diagnostic fea- tures of raw medicinal materials. Other examples of the- matic bencao texts include the Materia Medica of Dietary Terapy (Shi Liao Ben Cao) of the Tang Dynasty and the Materia Medica for Decoctions (Tang Ye Ben Cao) of the Yuan Dynasty (1279–1368 AD). Te former was dedi- cated to the theory and practice of dietary therapy, and the latter to the theory of medicinal properties and clini- cal experience. Regional bencao (materia medica) Regional bencao (materia medica) texts record knowl- edge related to medicinal substances derived from spe- cifc local regions. Examples include the Materia Medica Fig. 2 Standard authentication procedure for Chinese medicinals from Steep Mountainsides (Lu Chan Yan Ben Cao) and the Essentials of Raw Herbs in Lingnan (Sheng Cao Yao Xing Bei Yao). Te former was the frst regional ben- to that time. Tere are three versions of this book cao (materia medica) with color illustrations dedicated (“Da Guan”, “ Zheng He” and “Shao Xing”) currently to local medicinal plants; compiled in 1220 AD in the in circulation. It records 1746 medicinals and is the Song Dynasty, it focused on the area around modern- only bencao (materia medica) text from the Song day Hangzhou. Te latter was compiled in 1711 AD in and previous dynastic periods that survived intact. the Qing Dynasty (1644–1911 AD); it records botanical It features clearly preserved quotations from previ- medicinals used in the Lingnan region, a geographic area ous works and stands out as an important reference located in the southern part of China. point for bencao (materia medica) knowledge lead- ing up to the Song Dynasty. Conclusion (5) Compendium of Materia Medica (Ben Cao Gang Bencao (materia medica) tradition provides a rich record Mu) Written by Li Shizhen, a physician of the Ming of knowledge that has been gradually refned for cen- Dynasty (1368–1644 AD), this text was frst pub- turies, opening a window into the cultural tradition of lished in 1596. It records 1892 medicinal substances. scholarship and textual research that defnes TCM. Ben- Tis massive and infuential compilation represents cao (materia medica) literature such as the Compen- the highest academic achievement among all the dium of Materia Medica (Ben Cao Gang Mu) illustrates ancient Chinese bencao (materia medica). It not important developments in the broader history of natural
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