[Comparative identification on Dai medicine "Pokou" and its processing product]

Area of Science:

• Pharmacognosy
• Ethnomedicine
• Botanical identification

Background:

• Dai Medicine "Pokou" is derived from the rhizome of Homalomena gigantea.
• Accurate identification of traditional medicines is crucial for research and clinical application.
• Processing can alter the characteristics of herbal medicines, necessitating distinct identification methods.

Purpose of the Study:

• To research and establish reliable identification methods for raw "Pokou" (Homalomena gigantea rhizome) and its processed product.
• To provide a foundation for the quality control and standardization of this traditional Dai medicine.
• To differentiate between the raw and processed forms of "Pokou" for accurate utilization.

Main Methods:

• Macroscopic and microscopic examination of the raw and processed "Pokou" samples.
• Thin-Layer Chromatography (TLC) analysis to compare chemical profiles.
• Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy to analyze molecular structures and identify distinct spectral fingerprints.

Main Results:

• Observable differences were noted in the macroscopic features between raw and processed "Pokou".
• TLC analysis revealed distinct chromatographic patterns for each sample.
• FTIR spectra showed significant differences, enabling clear discrimination between the raw and processed forms.
• Detailed botanical illustrations of the tissue and powder of "Pokou" were created.

Conclusions:

• The study successfully established effective methods for identifying both raw and processed "Pokou".
• These identification techniques provide a basis for setting quality standards for Homalomena gigantea rhizome in traditional medicine.
• The findings facilitate further research and reliable application of Dai Medicine "Pokou".