抄録
In the recent Chinese crude drug markets, two types of Huangqi in Chinese derived from different Leguminosae plants group are circulated; one is Astragali Radix (Mianhuangqi) which is the root of Astragalus membranaceus or A. mongholicus, and the other is Hedysari Radix (Jinqi), the root of Hedysarum polybotrys. Since the differences in quality between Mianhuangqi and Jinqi have not been clarified, Jinqi is used as a substitute for Mianhuangqi in medical treatment. Our herbological study revealed that both types of Huangqi have been used from ancient times, and that Astragali Radix was pharmacologically used for warming and supplementing, while Hedysali Radix was used for cooling and supplementing under the name of Baishuiqi. The root of Astragalus spp. was defined as higher-grade Huangqi in the Song dynasty. On the other hand, the name of Hedysari Radix was changed from Baishuiqi to Jinqi in the period of the Republic of China. Our study concluded that these two drugs have been treated independently from ancient times, as warming or cooling supplements.
