Microscopic and TLC Identification of the Plant Medicine "Zhuyajingtian"(Sedum bulbiferum Makino)

We used macroscopic and microscopic observation methods and TLC technique to determine the pharmacognostical characteristics of the crude medicine "Zhuyajingtian"(Sedum bulbiferum Makino) for identification purpose.The results showed that identification cha-racteristics of this drug were distinctive.For example,purplish-red cells were observed in the outer cortex and the parenchyma of stele in the stem cross section,pith cells were smaller with thin walls,the lower epidermis of the leaf was covered with stomata(two or sometimes three adjacent),and several distinctive fluorescent spots were observed in the thin-layer chromatography.In the current study,the identification features of macroscopic,microscopic,and TLC of the medicine were described,and genetic relationships were inferred among the original plant and the three medicinal Sedum plants,Sedum sarmentosum Bunge,Sedum lineare Thunb and Sedum emarginatum Migo.The results provided reliable reference for identification of the crude medicine and its utilization.