Chong Lou

PARIDIS RHIZOMA (重楼, Chonglou) Paris Rhizome Paris polyphylla Smith var. yunnanensis (Franch.) Hand.-Mazz. or Paris polyphylla Smith var. chinensis (Franch.) Hara (Fam. Liliaceae). The drug is collected in autumn, removed from the fibrous roots, washed clean, and dried in the sun. Description Nodular and flattened cylindrical, somewhat curved, 5–12 cm long and 1.0–4.5 cm in diameter. Externally yellowish-brown or greyish-brown, becoming whitish where the outer bark has exfoliated. Bearing dense lamellar, prominent annular striations. One side showing distinct nodes with elliptic, sunken stem scars. The opposite side bearing sparse fibrous roots or wart-like fibrous root scars. Scale leaves and stem remnants present at the apex. Texture hard. Fracture smooth, white to pale brown, starchy or horny. Odour slight. Taste slightly bitter with a numbing sensation. Identification (1) Powder White. Starch granules abundant, subrounded, elongated elliptic or reniform, 3–18 μm in diameter. Bundles or scattered needles of calcium oxalate, 80–250 μm long. Scalariform and reticulate vessels 10–25 μm in diameter. (2) To 0.5 g of the powder add 10 mL of ethanol. Heat under reflux for 30 minutes. Filter. Use the filtrate as the test solution. Prepare a solution of 0.5 g of Paridis Rhizoma Reference Drug in the same manner as the reference drug solution. Carry out the method for Thin-Layer Chromatography (0502) using silica gel G as the coating substance and the lower layer of a mixture of chloroform, methanol, and water (15:5:1) as the mobile phase. Apply separately: 5 μL of the test solution, 5 μL of the reference drug solution, 10 μL of the reference solution prepared under Assay. Develop over a distance of 18 cm. Remove the plate and dry in air. Spray with 10% sulfuric acid in ethanol. Heat at 105°C until the bands become distinct. Examine in daylight and under ultraviolet light (365 nm). The bands and fluorescent bands obtained with the test solution correspond in position and colour to those obtained with the reference drug solution and the reference solution. Water Not more than 12.0% (0832, Method 2). Total Ash Not more than 6.0% (2302). Acid-insoluble Ash Not more than 3.0% (2302). 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: Acetonitrile Mobile Phase B: Water Gradient elution: Time (min) Mobile Phase A (%) Mobile Phase B (%) 0–40 30 → 60 70 → 40 40–50 60 → 30 40 → 70 Detection wavelength: 203 nm The number of theoretical plates shall be not less than 4000, calculated with reference to the Chonglou Saponin I peak. Reference solution Accurately weigh: Chonglou Saponin I CRS Chonglou Saponin II CRS Chonglou Saponin VII CRS Dissolve in methanol to prepare a mixed solution containing 0.4 mg of each per mL. Test solution Accurately weigh 0.5 g of the powder (through No. 3 sieve) into a stoppered conical flask. Add accurately 25 mL of ethanol. Weigh. Heat under reflux on a water bath for 30 minutes. Cool. Weigh again. Replace any loss of solvent with ethanol. 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 0.60% of the total amount of: Chonglou Saponin I (C₄₄H₇₀O₁₆) Chonglou Saponin II (C₅₁H₈₂O₂₀) Chonglou Saponin VII (C₅₁H₈₂O₂₁) calculated with reference to the dried drug. Prepared Slices Processing Remove foreign matter. Wash clean. Soften thoroughly. Cut into slices. Dry. Description Subrounded, elliptical, or irregular slices. Surface white, yellowish-white, or pale brown. Margin yellowish-brown or brown. Texture starchy or horny. Odour slight. Taste slightly bitter with a numbing sensation. Identification As required for the crude drug. Water, Total Ash, and Acid-insoluble Ash As required for the crude drug. Assay As required for the crude drug. Property and Flavor Slightly cold; bitter; slightly toxic. Meridian Tropism Liver meridian. Actions To clear heat, remove toxins, reduce swelling, relieve pain, cool the liver, and arrest convulsions. Indications Carbuncles, boils, sores, abscesses, swollen and painful throat, bites from insects, worms, or snakes, traumatic injuries with pain, and infantile convulsions. Administration and Dosage 3–9 g. For external use, grind into powder and apply an appropriate amount. Storage Preserve in a cool, dry place, protected from insects.