2004 Volume 21 Issue 4 Pages 187-198
This paper gives a review of studies on Yinchenhao concerning historical, morphological, chemical and biological aspects. By examination of description in Bencao , it is presumed that the shrubby Artemisia plant just like A. capillaris has been used for Yinchenhao since Liuchao in China. Sources of commercial Yinchenhao which are used in Japan and Korea, and also Beiyinchen in China, were identified from morphological observation. For consideration of quality of Yinchenhao, seasonal variations of the contents of five constituents (scoparone, capillarisin, capillene, capillin, capillarin) in A. capillaris are described. The effects of four commercial materials of Yinchenhao in Japan, Korea and China, and 14 chemical constituents contained in A. capillaris on biliary excretion in rats are summarized.
