Che Qian Zi

PLANTAGINIS SEMEN (车前子, Cheqianzi) Plantain Seed Plantago asiatica L. or Plantago depressa Willd. (Fam. Plantaginaceae). The fruit spikes are collected in summer and autumn when the seeds are ripe, dried in the sun, and the seeds are rubbed out and cleaned of foreign matter. Description Ellipsoid, irregularly oblong or triangularly oblong, slightly flattened, about 2 mm long and 1 mm wide. Externally yellowish-brown to dark brown, with fine wrinkles and a greyish-white, concave, pointed hilum on one side. Texture hard. Odour slight. Taste mild. Identification (1) Powder Seed of Plantago asiatica Dark yellowish-brown. Outer epidermal cells of the testa subsquare or slightly elongated tangentially in sectional view, with mucilaginous walls. Inner epidermal cells of the testa subrectangular in surface view, 5–19 μm wide and up to 83 μm long, thin-walled, slightly sinuous, usually parqueted. Endosperm cell walls heavily thickened and filled with small aleurone grains. Seed of Plantago depressa Inner epidermal cells of the testa relatively smaller, 5–15 μm wide and 11–45 μm long. (2) To 1 g of the coarse powder add 10 mL of methanol. Ultrasonicate for 30 minutes. Filter. Evaporate the filtrate to dryness. Dissolve the residue in 2 mL of methanol as the test solution. Dissolve Geniposidic Acid CRS and Verbascoside CRS separately in methanol to prepare solutions each containing 1 mg/mL as the reference solutions. Carry out the method for Thin-Layer Chromatography (0502) using silica gel GF254 as the coating substance and a mixture of ethyl acetate, methanol, formic acid, and water (18:2:1.5:1) as the mobile phase. Apply separately 5 μL of each of the three solutions to the plate. After development, remove the plate and dry in air. Examine under ultraviolet light (254 nm). The bands obtained with the test solution correspond in position and colour to those obtained with the reference solutions. Spray with 0.5% vanillin in sulfuric acid. Heat at 105°C until the bands become clearly visible. The coloured bands obtained with the test solution correspond in position and colour to those obtained with the reference solutions. Water Not more than 12.0% (0832, Method 2). Total Ash Not more than 6.0% (2302). Acid-insoluble Ash Not more than 2.0% (2302). Swelling Capacity Accurately weigh 1 g of the drug. Carry out the method for determination of Swelling Capacity (2101). Not less than 4.0. Assay Carry out the method for High-Performance Liquid Chromatography (0512). Chromatographic system and system suitability Use octadecylsilane-bonded silica gel as the stationary phase. Mobile Phase A: Methanol Mobile Phase B: 0.5% acetic acid solution Gradient elution: Time (min) Mobile Phase A (%) Mobile Phase B (%) 0–1 5 95 1–40 5 → 60 95 → 40 40–50 60 40 Detection wavelength: 254 nm. The number of theoretical plates shall be not less than 3000, calculated with reference to the geniposidic acid peak. Reference solution Accurately weigh Geniposidic Acid CRS and Verbascoside CRS. Store in an amber volumetric flask. Dissolve in 60% methanol to prepare a mixed solution containing: Geniposidic acid: 0.1 mg/mL Verbascoside: 0.1 mg/mL Test solution Accurately weigh 1 g of the powder (through No. 2 sieve) into a stoppered conical flask. Add accurately 50 mL of 60% methanol. Weigh. Heat under reflux for 2 hours. Cool. Weigh again. Replace any loss in weight with 60% methanol. Mix well. Filter. Use the subsequent filtrate as the test solution. Procedure Inject accurately 10 μL of the reference solution and the test solution into the chromatograph. Determine and calculate the content. The drug contains: Not less than 0.50% of Geniposidic Acid (C₁₆H₂₂O₁₀) Not less than 0.40% of Verbascoside (C₂₉H₃₆O₁₅) calculated with reference to the dried drug. Prepared Slices Plantaginis Semen Processing Remove foreign matter. Description As required for the crude drug. Identification As required for the crude drug. Water, Total Ash, Acid-insoluble Ash, and Swelling Capacity As required for the crude drug. Assay As required for the crude drug. Plantaginis Semen (Processed with Salt) Stir-bake the clean Plantaginis Semen according to the method for processing with salt-water (0213) until the seeds begin to crack. Spray with salt-water. Continue stir-baking until dry. Description Similar to the crude drug in shape. Externally dark brown. Odour slightly aromatic. Taste slightly salty. Water Not more than 10.0%, following the method for the crude drug. Total Ash Not more than 9.0%, following the method for the crude drug. Acid-insoluble Ash Not more than 3.0%, following the method for the crude drug. Swelling Capacity Accurately weigh 1 g of the drug. Carry out the method for Swelling Capacity (2101). Not less than 3.0. Assay Contains: Not less than 0.40% of Geniposidic Acid (C₁₆H₂₂O₁₀) Not less than 0.30% of Verbascoside (C₂₉H₃₆O₁₅) following the method for the crude drug. Identification As required for the crude drug. Property and Flavor Cold; sweet. Meridian Tropism Liver, Kidney, Lung, and Small Intestine meridians. Actions To clear heat, promote urination, relieve stranguria, drain dampness, stop diarrhea, improve vision, and resolve phlegm. Indications Heat strangury, edema, abdominal distension, diarrhea due to summerheat-dampness, red and swollen painful eyes, and cough due to phlegm-heat. Administration and Dosage 9–15 g, wrapped in gauze for decoction. Storage Preserve in a well-ventilated and dry place, protected from moisture.