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Codonopsis
CODONOPSIS RADIX
Codonopsis (党参, Codonopsis pilosula (Franch.) Nannf.) is a medicinal herb belonging to the Campanulaceae family, consisting of the dried roots of Codonopsis pilosula Nannf. var. modesta (Nannf.) L.T.Shen or Codonopsis tangshen Oliv.
Characteristics
Codonopsis: It is long cylindrical, slightly curved, measuring 10-35 cm in length and 0.4-2 cm in diameter. The surface is grayish-yellow, yellow-brown to gray-brown, with numerous warty protrusions at the root’s head and buds, each with a depressed round dot at the top; below the root head, there are dense ring-like transverse wrinkles, which become sparse downward, some reaching half the total length. Cultivated varieties have fewer or no ring-like transverse wrinkles; the entire root has longitudinal wrinkles and scattered transverse lenticel-like protrusions, with black-brown gelatinous material often found at the breakage of lateral roots. The texture is slightly soft or slightly hard with some toughness, the cross-section is slightly flat, with cracks or radial patterns, the bark is light brown to yellow-brown, and the wood is light yellow to yellow. It has a special aroma and a slightly sweet taste.
Varieties:
1. Suhua Codonopsis (Western Codonopsis): Length 10-35 cm, diameter 0.5-2.5 cm. The surface is yellow-white to gray-yellow, with dense ring-like transverse wrinkles often exceeding half the total length. The cross-section has more cracks, with the bark being gray-white to light brown.
2. Chuan Codonopsis: Length 10-45 cm, diameter 0.5-2 cm. The surface is gray-yellow to yellow-brown, with obvious irregular longitudinal grooves. The texture is softer and firmer, with fewer cracks in the cross-section, and the bark is yellow-white.
Taste and Meridian Affinity
Sweet, neutral. Enters the Spleen and Lung meridians.
Functions and Indications
Strengthens the Spleen and benefits the Lungs, nourishes blood and generates fluids. Used for Spleen and Lung Qi deficiency, poor appetite, fatigue, cough with shortness of breath, insufficient Qi and blood, pale complexion, palpitations, shortness of breath, thirst due to fluid damage, and internal heat leading to thirst.
Growth Environment
Prefers a mild and cool climate, is cold-resistant, and can survive winter outdoors with its roots exposed. Seedlings prefer moist, shaded conditions and are sensitive to strong light. Lack of water after sowing makes germination difficult, and lack of water after germination can lead to mass death. High temperatures can cause root rot. Mature plants prefer full sunlight. It is suitable for cultivation in deep, well-drained, loose, and humus-rich sandy loam.
Distribution
Codonopsis is rich in resources and widely distributed, growing in mountainous forest edges and shrubs at altitudes of 1560-3100 m. According to the Flora of China, there are over 40 species in the Codonopsis genus, distributed in East and Central Asia, with about 39 species in China, found throughout the country. Based on origin, characteristics, and processing methods, Codonopsis is often classified into commercial specifications such as “Lu Codonopsis,” “Xi Codonopsis,” “Dong Codonopsis,” and “Tiao Codonopsis.” Currently, there are also Codonopsis named after specific production areas, with well-known varieties including Wenchuan “Wen Codonopsis,” Fengxian “Feng Codonopsis,” Banqiao Town “Ban Codonopsis,” Shanxi “Lu Codonopsis,” “Tai Codonopsis,” and the widely marketed Gansu Dingxi “Bai Tiao Codonopsis,” among which “Lu Codonopsis” is produced in the ancient Lu Prefecture of Shanxi (now Changzhi City and Jincheng City) and is a famous traditional authentic medicinal material.
Morphological Characteristics
Root: The root is often thick, spindle-shaped or spindle-shaped cylindrical, with few branches or slightly branched in the middle and lower parts, measuring 15-30 cm in length, with a gray-yellow surface. The upper 5-10 cm has fine ring patterns, while the lower part has sparse transverse lenticels, and it is fleshy.
Stem: The stem is twining, 1-2 m long, with many branches, lateral branches 15-50 cm, and small branches 1-5 cm, with leaves, either sterile or flowering at the tips, and hairless.
Leaves: The leaves are alternate on the main stem and lateral branches, nearly opposite on small branches, ovate or narrow ovate, 1-6.5 cm long and 0.8-5 cm wide, with a blunt or slightly pointed tip, nearly heart-shaped at the base, with wavy blunt serrations along the edges. The leaves gradually narrow on the branches, with a rounded or wedge-shaped base, green on the upper side and gray-green on the underside, sparsely or densely covered with appressed long stiff hairs or soft hairs, rarely hairless; petioles are 0.5-2.5 cm long, with sparse short prickles.
Flowers: Flowers are solitary at the branch tips, alternate with petioles or nearly opposite, with pedicels; the calyx is attached to the middle of the ovary, the calyx tube is hemispherical, with lobes that are wide lanceolate or narrow oblong, 1.4-1.8 cm long, slightly wavy or nearly entire; the corolla is superior, broadly bell-shaped, 2-2.3 cm long, 1.8-2.5 cm in diameter, yellow-green, with distinct purple spots on the inner surface, shallowly lobed, lobes triangular and entire; the filaments are slightly expanded at the base; the stigma has white stiff hairs.
Fruit: The capsule is hemispherical at the bottom and short conical at the top.
Seeds: Seeds are oval-shaped and wingless.
References
Pharmacopoeia of the People’s Republic of China 2020 Edition, Flora of China
China Food and Drug Administration Journal
International Standard Serial Number:
ISSN 1673-5390
Domestic Unified Serial Number:
CN 11-5362/D
Journal Level: National Level
Publication Frequency: Monthly
China Food and Drug Administration Journal is the official publication of the National Medical Products Administration, founded in 1998. It is currently a core scientific and professional journal under the supervision of the National Medical Products Administration and affiliated with the China Health Media Group; it serves as an important platform for researching and promoting China’s food and drug regulatory policies, establishing scientific regulatory concepts, improving regulatory levels, and supporting the healthy development of China’s food and drug industry.
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