OBJECTIVE To examine the herbal evidence of “Agaru” Tibetan medicines,conduct biopharcological studies and proveide a basis for the corrent origin and quality control. METHODS Through literature research, combined with field visits and expert consultations, variety classification, origins, characteristics and effects, compound preparation,and quality standards of “Agaru” type Tibetan medicines were compiled and summarized. The morphological and microscopic characteristics of “Aerma” medicinal materials were observed. Physicochemical identification was carried out based on thin-layer chromatography and determination of volatile oil components and content using GC-MS technology. RESULTS The name “Agaru” has evolved from Sanskrit loanwords and is a typical Tibetan medicine characterized by “multiple varieties and multiple origins”. Tibetan medicine often classifies it based on color into three categories: white (transliterated as “A Er Jia” or “A Jia Ga Bu”), black (transliterated as “A Er Na” or “A Ga Na Bao”), and red (transliterated as “A Er Ma” or “A Ga Ku Ao”). There is a significant difference in the varieties and origins of “Agaru” type Tibetan medicines used by Tibetan doctors in different regions, involving about 15 species (including varieties and forms) of plants from 5 families and 7 genera. Among them, “Alma” is widely used clinically, and its mainstream base is the heartwood of Camphora glandulifera (Wall.) Nees. Biopharmacological research was carried out on “Aerma” [C. glandulifera (Wall.) Nees], a clinically used variety of the “Agaru” group of Tibetan medicines, providing basic data for the establishment of its quality standards. CONCLUSION This study completes the botanical verification of the Tibetan medicine “Agaru” and the pharmacognostical research on “Aerma” [C. glandulifera (Wall.) Nees]. This will provide an important basis for the scientific evaluation of quality and in-depth development of “Agaru”.
| 科 Family | 属数 Number of genus | 种数 Number of species | 占总种数比例 Percentage of total species (%) | 属 Genus | 种数 Number of species | 占总种数比例 Percentage of total species (%) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 鹅膏菌科Amanitaceae | 2 | 11 | 5.26 | 鹅膏菌属 Amanita | 10 | 4.78 |
| 小菇科 Mycenaceae | 2 | 12 | 5.74 | 丝盖伞属 Inocybe | 5 | 2.39 |
| 多孔菌科 Polyporaceae | 8 | 14 | 6.70 | 蜡蘑属 Laccaria | 5 | 2.39 |
| 红菇科 Russulaceae | 3 | 23 | 11.00 | 小皮伞属 Marasmius | 6 | 2.87 |
| 小菇属 Mycena | 11 | 5.26 | ||||
| 光柄菇属 Pluteus | 5 | 2.39 | ||||
| 红菇属 Russula | 17 | 8.13 | ||||
| 栓菌属 Trametes | 5 | 2.39 |