Herbal textual research on Epimedium and insights for its resource utilization

Based on the materia medica works of successive dynasties, this study investigates the nomenclature origin, resource distribution, medicinal parts, and the evolutionary laws of medicinal properties of Yinyanghuo (Epimedium). Fourteen names for Epimedium were recorded in the materia medica works from the Eastern Han Dynasty to the Qing Dynasty. The connotations of these names primarily encompass two categories: medicinal efficacy (e. g., "gangqian (刚前)," "qizhangcao (弃杖草)," and "xianlingpi (仙灵脾)"), and morphological characteristics (e. g., "yinyanghuo (淫羊藿)," "sanzhijiuyecao (三枝九叶草)," and "ganjijin (干鸡筋)"). The recorded habitats can be mapped to 10 provincial-level administrative regions, including modern Shaanxi, Gansu, Sichuan, Ningxia, Shanxi, Henan, Zhejiang, Hunan, Inner Mongolia, and Shandong. These regions cover the distribution center of species diversity of the genus Epimedium and the core production areas of the medicinal material. Although the medicinal parts of Epimedium have undergone some evolution, the "leaf" has remained mainstream. Furthermore, Leigong Paozhi Lun (Master Lei′ s Discourse on Drug Processing) and Diannan Bencao (Southern Yunnan Materia Medica) emphasized the use of leaves with marginal teeth removed. Only Tujing Bencao (Illustrated Classic of Materia Medica) and Bencao Gangmu (Compendium of Materia Medica) recorded the "root" as a medicinal part, which refers to the underground parts, i. e., the rhizomes and roots. The mainstream cognition shifted from "pungent and cold" during the Eastern Han to Yuan Dynasties to "sweet and warm" after the Ming and Qing Dynasties. The materia medica works of Epimedium present a historical evolution in all aspects, reflecting the inheritance and development of traditional Chinese medicine. This study provides a significant reference value for the resource development and innovative utilization of Epimedium.