Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine

Review Article

Policies and Problems of Modernizing Ethnomedicine in China: A Focus on the Yi and Dai Traditional Medicines of Yunnan Province

Table 7

Toxic medicines in YPMs.


Scientific name	Pinyin name	Toxicity degree	Standard	YPM	Modern toxicology	References

Paris polyphylla Smith var. chinensis (Franch) Hara	Chonglou	LT	ChP	GFNC, NQSG, SYA, TSC, ZTL	—	—
Osmunda japonica Thunb.	Ziqiguanzhong	LT	ChP	SWYA	Unknown	—
Evodia rutaecarpa (Juss.) Benth.	Wuzhuyu	LT	ChP	GDQC, HWYP	LD₅₀ is 2.70 mL/kg (volatile oil, mice, p.o.), one of the main target organ is the liver	[46]
Bufo bufo gargarizans cantor	Chansu	MT	ChP	CLTC	Ventricular arrhythmias and increasing the levels of Ca²⁺, CK, and LDH in the heart	[47]
Artemisia argyi Levl. Et Vant.	Aiye	LT	ChP	KSG	LD₅₀ is 80.2 g/kg (aqueous extract, mice, p.o.), LD₅₀ is 1.67 mL/kg (volatile oil, mice, p.o.), MTD is 75.6 g/kg (ethanol extract, mice, p.o.)	[48]
Aconitum kusnezoffii Reichb.	Caowu	HT	ChP	TXT	Causing serious cardiac dysfunction and damaging the nervous system. LD₅₀ is 1.8 mg/kg, (aconitine, mice, p.o.), LD₅₀ is 5.8 mg/kg (hypaconitine, mice, p.o.), and LD₅₀ is 1.9 mg/kg (mesaconitine, mice, p.o.).	[49, 50]
Papaver somniferum L.	Yingsuqiao	MT	ChP	KLT	Main toxic components are morphine and codeine. Morphine with 60 mg causes poisoning and 250 mg leads to death	[51]
Arisaema erubescens (Wall.) Schott.	Tiannanxing	MT	ChP	TXT	Producing folate deficiency and injury to the kidneys	[52]
Laggera pterodonta (DC.) Benth.	Choulingdan	MT	ChP	LL, SKCG	LD₅₀ is 1.19 g/kg (water extract, mice, i.p.)	[53]
Prunus armeniaca L. var. ansu Maxim	Kuxinren	LT	ChP	SKCG, CLTC	—	—
Pinellia ternate (Thunb.) Breit	Banxia	MT	ChP	WFSC, ZXASG	—	—
Psammosilene tunicoides W. C. Wu et C. Y. Wu	Jintiesuo	LT	ChP	ZTL	LD₅₀ is 4.8471 (mice, p.o.) and toxic target organs include the lungs, spleen, and stomach	[54]
Boenninghausenia sessilicarpa Levl.	Shijiaocao	LT	SYNP	SAC, SKCG	The ether extract reduces the activity in mice by intraperitoneal injection	[33]
Dysosma versipellis (Hance) M. Cheng ex Ying	Bajiaolian	LT	SYNP	ZTL, HJXJC, SLAC, WJHXZTT	LD₅₀ is 0.493 ± 0.032 g/kg (mice, p.o.) and is toxic to the heart and central nervous system, appearing excited then inhibited	[55]
Millettia bonatiana Pamp.	Dafahan	MT	SYNP	HSTT	Damages the stomach	[33]
Craibiodendron yunnanense W. W. Smith	Jinyezi	HT	SYNP	ZTL	Unknown
Tripterygium hypoglaucum (Levl.) Hutch	Huobahuagen	MT	SYNP	ZTL, GFNC	—
Anemone rivularis Bunch. Ham. ex DC.	Wuzhangcao	LT	SYNP	TYGT, YSL	Unknown
Delphinium yunnanense Franch.	Daotihu	MT	SGZP	WHXZTC	Unknown
Dioscorea bulbifera L.	Huangyaozi	LT	SGDP	FFLC, FFLG	LD₅₀ is 25.49 g/kg (mice, i.p.), LD₅₀ is 79.98 g/kg, 250.3 g/kg, or 544 g/kg (mice, p.o.), toxic target organs including the liver and kidney	[56, 57]
Clematis apiifolia var. argentilucida (H. Leveille & Vaniot) W. T. Wang	Shanmutong	LT	SHNP	NQSG	Unknown
Anisodus acutangulus C. Y. Wu et C. Chen	Sanfensan	HT	SYNP	TXT	Unknown
Datura stramonium L.	Mantuoluoye	MT	SYNP	YWNC	Shortness of breath and death after nerve stimulation	[33]
Aconitum brachypodum Diels.	Xueshangyizhihao	HT	SHNP	ZTL	LD₅₀ are 6766.928 and 5492.337 mg/kg (petroleum ether extracts, N-butanol extracts, mice, p.o.)	[58]

HT, high toxicity; MT, medium toxicity; LT, low toxicity. The herb has more than two origins of species, only one origin is shown. SGZP, Standards for Chinese medicinal materials in Guizhou Province (2009); SGDP, Standards for Chinese medicinal materials in Guangdong Province (2011); SHNP, Standards for Chinese medicinal materials in Hunan Province (2009); SYNP, Standards for Chinese medicinal materials in Yunnan Province (2005). GFNC, Gu Feng Ning Capsule; NQSG, Niao Qing Shu Granular; SYA, Shang Yi Aerosol; TSC, Tong Shu Capsule; ZTL, Zhong Tong Liniment; SWYA, Shu Wei Yao Alcohol; GDQC, Gan Dan Qing Capsule; HWYP, Huoxiang Wan Ying Powder; CLTC, Chuan Luo Tong Capsule; KSG, Kang Shen Granular; TXT, Tian Xiang Tincture; KLT, Ke Tan Oral liquid; LL, Lingdancao Oral liquid; SKCG, Shijiaocao Ke Chuan Granular; WFSC, Wei Fu Shu Capsule; ZXASG, Zhi Xuan An Shen Granular; SAC, Shen An Capsule; HJXJC, Hong Jin Xiao Jie Capsule; SLAC, Shu Lie An Capsule; WJHXZTT, Wu Jin Huo Xue Zhi Tong Tablet; HSTT, Huzhang Shang Tong Tincture; GFNC, Gu Feng Ning Capsule; TYGT, Tianhusui Yu Gan Tablet; YSL, Yan Shu Oral liquid; WHXZTC, Wujin Huo Xue Zhi Tong Capsule; FFLC, Fu Fang Luxiancao Capsule; FFLG, Fu Fang Luxiancao Granular; NQSG, Niao Qing Shu Granular; YWNC, Yun Wei Ning Capsule.