Pharmacognostical Studies on the Chinese Crude Drug 'Yong Dam'

한약 "용담(龍膽)"의 생약학적 연구

The Chinese crude drug, 'Yong Dam (龍膽)' which is derived from the root of Gentiana plants of the family Gentianaceae, has been used as remedy for stomachic, intestinal catarrh, convulsion, etc. With regard to the botanical origin of 'Yong Dam', it has been considered to be Gentiana species of Gentianaceae, especially Gentiana scabra, but there has no pharmacognostical confirmation on it. To clarify the botanical origin of 'Yong Dam' from Korea, we studied on the anatomical characteristics of Gentiana species growing wild in Korea i.e. Gentiana scabra var. buergeri, G. uchiyamai, G. triflora, G. axillariflora var. coreana and of 'Yong Dam' from Korea on Korean market. Through our studies, the botanical origin of 'Yong Dam' from Korea was proved to be Gentiana scabra var. buergeri and Gentiana axillariflora var. coreana.