Bulletin Number Three 1984

(C) Vasoactive Agents Berberine from Coptis chinensis and dehydroevodiamine from Evodia rutaecarpa are shown to have hypotensive effects by Dr. Y.C. Kong. Effects of Chinese herbs on microcirculation are being investigated by Dr. A. Koo of the Department of Physiology and Dr. T.Y. Luh of the Department of Chemistry. (D) Ginseng Several groups have carried out research on different aspects of ginseng: (a) comparative saponin contents in different types of ginseng; (b) analysis of ginsenoside contents in commercial ginseng root and ginseng tea; (c) effect of ginseng on the immune system; (d) effect of ginseng on the neurotransmitter metabolism; and (e) effect of ginseng on the regulation of cellular respiration. (E) Hemostatic preparations The active components from a famous Chinese formulated medicine, Yunnan Paiyao, for stanching, have been identified as diosgenin glycosides by the research team led by Dr. J.C.N. Ma, Department of Chemistry. (F) Plant Tissue Culture The possibility of tissue culture as an alternative source of mass quantities of callus of medicinal plants is studied by Dr. K.H. Yung of the Department of Biology and his team. Successful calluses have been developed from a number of herbs, including Panax ginseng, Gynura divaricata, Talinum paniculatum, Momordica cochinchinensis, Trichosanthes cucumeroides and Gardenia augusta. Other projects being explored are: (a) neuroactive ingredients in Chinese herbs and (b) lactation suppression agents from Chinese herbs. Information on and standardization of herbal material A Museum of Chinese Medicines with about 500 authentic specimens and a Chinese medicines computerized database are set up to back up the research of the Centre. (A) Chinese medicines computerized database A unique Chinese Medicines computerized database was established for efficient information retrieval and linkup with Western databases. Significant botanical, chemical, pharmacological and clinical reports on all common Chinese medicines (1860 species) have been selected from Chinese sources and translated into English and stored into the computer. This database is enhanced with continued abstracting of medical and scientific papers from about forty important Chinese journals as well as from new Chinese books. It has opened up the wealth of Chinese medicines for worldwide research. (B) Authentication of medicinal herbs The composition of a herb with the same common name may be different due to variation in species, climate and environmental factors, therefore the standardization of Chinese herbs is very important. Botanical and pharmacognostic studies are being carried out to authenticate specimens of commonly used herbs. Using modem instruments such as HPLC, FT- NMR, FT-IR, GC-MC, etc., the Centre plans to store the complex analytical data of authentic herbs and compounds derived therefrom into a computer. By comparing the fingerprint pattern of standard versus unknown, a reliable scientific identification on molecular level may be established. (C) Pents'ao and History of Chinese Medicine The empirical knowledge of Chinese medicine has been systematically documented in a series of Pents'aos (Chinese herbals) compiled in the past two millennia. These works are important references to traditional uses of Chinese medicines. Systematic and comparative study of pents'aos would provide leads for further scientific evaluation. The research group of Dr. Y.C. Kong has written An Introduction to Pents'ao Study and is also studying the history of Chinese medicines. (D) Study on Medical Sociology Survey and analysis on the use of Chinese and Western medicines in Hong Kong and China and study on the role of Chinese medicine in providing the primary health care of Chinese have been carried out by Professor Rance P.L. Lee of the Sociology Department. Recent Developments In mid-June, CMMRC moved to its new site in the Science Centre East Block. On the two floors of about 1,300 square metres are research laboratories of Chemistry, Biochemistry, Pharmacology, and Tissue Culture, and Animal Observation Rooms. There are also a small but unique Museum of Chinese Medicines, an Information Room containing books and journals on Chinese medicines and an information retrieval room for the Chinese medicines computerized database. An International Symposium on Chinese Medicinal Material Research was hosted by the Centre from 12th to 14th June in Hong Kong to promote research and international cooperation, thus paving the way for further collaborative research on the modernization of Chinese medicines. About 180 scientifists from twenty-three countries participated. RECENT DEVELOPMENTS 15