Chun Pi

AILANTHI CORTEX (椿皮, Chunpi) Tree-of-heaven Bark The dried stem bark or root bark of Ailanthus altissima (Mill.) Swingle (Fam. Simaroubaceae). The drug is collected throughout the year, dried in the sun, or dried after the rough outer bark has been removed. Description Root bark Irregular pieces or quills, varying in size, 0.3–1 cm thick. Outer surface greyish-yellow or yellowish-brown, rough, with numerous longitudinal lenticel-like prominences and irregular transverse and longitudinal fissures. When the rough outer bark has been removed, the exposed surface is yellowish-white. Inner surface pale yellow, relatively smooth, densely covered with small spindle-shaped pits or dots. Texture hard and brittle. Fracture granular in the outer portion and fibrous in the inner portion. Odour slight. Taste bitter. Stem bark Irregular plates or pieces, varying in size, 0.5–2 cm thick. Outer surface greyish-black, very rough, with deep longitudinal fissures. Identification (1) Powder Root bark Pale greyish-yellow. Stone cells numerous, subrounded, subsquare or irregular, 24–96 μm in diameter. Cell walls thickened, or thick on three sides and thin on one side. Some contain calcium oxalate prisms. Fibres 20–40 μm in diameter, heavily thickened and lignified. Calcium oxalate prisms 11–48 μm in diameter. Calcium oxalate clusters up to 48 μm in diameter. Starch granules subspherical or ovoid, 3–13 μm in diameter. Stem bark Greyish-yellow. Fragments of cork cells numerous. Calcium oxalate clusters occasionally present. Starch granules absent. (2) Thin-layer chromatography To 2 g of the powder add 20 mL of ether. Ultrasonicate for 15 minutes. Filter. Evaporate the filtrate to dryness. Dissolve the residue in 1 mL of ethanol as the test solution. Prepare a solution of 2 g of Ailanthi Cortex Reference Drug in the same manner as the reference drug solution. Carry out Thin-Layer Chromatography (0502) using silica gel G as the coating substance and a mixture of petroleum ether (60–90°C) and ethyl acetate (4:1) as the mobile phase. Apply separately 10 μL each of the test solution and the reference drug solution to the plate. After development, remove the plate and dry in air. Examine under ultraviolet light (365 nm). The fluorescent spots obtained with the test solution correspond in position and colour to those obtained with the reference drug solution. Water Not more than 13.0% (0832, Method 2). Total Ash Not more than 11.0% (2302). Acid-insoluble Ash Not more than 2.0% (2302). Extractives Carry out the method for determination of ethanol-soluble extractives (2201, Hot Extraction Method), using dilute ethanol as the solvent. Not less than 5.0%. 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. Use a mixture of acetonitrile and water (12:88) as the mobile phase. Detection wavelength: 207 nm. The number of theoretical plates shall be not less than 2000, calculated with reference to the peak of acetyl harpagide. Reference solution Accurately weigh Acetyl Harpagide CRS. Dissolve in methanol to prepare a solution containing 0.2 mg/mL. Test solution Accurately weigh 0.5 g of the powder (through No. 3 sieve) into a stoppered conical flask. Accurately add 50 mL of 50% methanol. Weigh. Ultrasonicate (power 250 W, frequency 40 kHz) for 30 minutes. Cool. Weigh again. Replace the loss of solvent with 50% methanol. Mix well. Filter. Use the subsequent filtrate as the test solution. Procedure Inject accurately 5–10 μL each of the reference solution and the test solution into the chromatograph. Calculate the content. It contains not less than 0.40% of acetyl harpagide (C₁₇H₂₆O₁₀), calculated with reference to the dried drug. Prepared Slices Processing Remove foreign matter. Wash clean. Soften thoroughly. Cut into slivers or sections. Dry. Description Slivers or sections irregular. Outer surface greyish-yellow or yellowish-brown, rough, with numerous longitudinal lenticel-like prominences and irregular transverse and longitudinal fissures. When the rough outer bark has been removed, the exposed surface is yellowish-white. Inner surface pale yellow, relatively smooth, densely covered with small spindle-shaped pits or dots. Odour slight. Taste bitter. Identification As required for the crude drug. Water Not more than 10.0%, following the method for the crude drug. Total Ash As required for the crude drug. Acid-insoluble Ash As required for the crude drug. Extractives Not less than 6.0%, following the method for the crude drug. Ailanthi Cortex (Stir-baked with Bran) Stir-bake the slivers (or sections) of Ailanthi Cortex as described under the method for stir-baking with bran (0213) until slightly yellow. Description Similar to the prepared slivers (or sections) of Ailanthi Cortex. Externally yellow to brown. Odour slightly aromatic. Identification As required for the crude drug. Water Not more than 10.0%, following the method for the crude drug. Total Ash As required for the crude drug. Acid-insoluble Ash As required for the crude drug. Extractives Not less than 6.0%, following the method for the crude drug. Property and Flavor Cold; bitter and astringent. Meridian Tropism Large Intestine, Stomach, and Liver meridians. Actions To clear heat, dry dampness, arrest abnormal vaginal discharge, stop diarrhea, and stop bleeding. Indications Red or white vaginal discharge, dampness-heat diarrhea and dysentery, chronic diarrhea, chronic dysentery, bloody stool, and excessive uterine bleeding or prolonged uterine spotting. Administration and Dosage 6–9 g. Storage Preserve in a well-ventilated and dry place, protected from insects.