A Textual Research on Materia Medica of Origin of Orthonym and Synonym of Cuscutae Semen

Xiali WU, Dongxue BAI, Cheng SONG,Yaozu XIONG, Jia LU, Yanhui ZHAO

1. School of Pharmacy, Liaoning University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Dalian 116600, China; 2. Library of Liaoning University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shenyang 110032, China

Abstract A textual research on materia medica of origin of orthonym and synonym of Cuscutae Semen and synonym of Nu Luo was conducted in this study, and the trade name, regional synonym and nickname of Cuscutae Semen were reviewed. The records of orthonym and synonym of Cuscutae Semen in the past dynasties, and the first published literature and writing date of orthodox and synonym were summarized. The textual research showed that Nu Luo and Cuscutae Semen were not the same plant, which had positive significance for the identification of the origin and modern application of Cuscutae Semen.

Key words Semen Cuscutae, Nu Luo, Orthonym, Synonym, Textual research on materia medica, Review

1 Introduction

Semen Cuscutae is the dried and mature seed ofCuscutaaustralisR. Br. orCuscutachinensisLam. of family Convolvulaceae, which has the functions of tonifying and replenishing liver and kidney, securing essence and reducing urination, tranquilizing fetus to prevent miscarriage, improving eyesight and preventing diarrhea,etc., external use of it can eliminate wind and freckle. It is used for liver and kidney deficiency, soreness and weakness of waist and knees, impotence and spermatorrhea, enuresis and frequent urination, vaginal bleeding during pregnancy with kidney deficiency, threatened abortion, clouded vision and tinnitus, diarrhea due to deficiency of spleen and kidney and other diseases; for external use, it can be used to treat vitiligo[1]. There are many synonyms of Semen Cuscutae, such as Wu Niang Teng, Chan Dou Teng, Wu Gen Jin Si Cao,etc.[2-3]. In most of the works of herbal medicine, the parts of medicine are used as the orthonyms, and the synonyms usually refer to the whole grass or stem of the plants from which they are derived. Semen Cuscutae as a medicine was first recorded inShennong’sClassicofMateriaMedica·Volume2, it was recorded that Semen Cuscutae is pungent in taste and neutral in nature, it is mainly used to treat broken tendons and fractures, and it can supplement the body, increase the strength, make the body strong, and its juice can remove facial black spots. If taking it for a long time can improve the eyesight, make people light and live longer. It is also known as Tu Lu and produced in river swamp and other aquatic plants from miscellaneous places[4]. Removing facial black spots indicates that this medicine can be used for facial beauty and freckle removal. Since then, most of the herbal works have adopted the orthonym of "Semen Cuscutae" in this book, such asCollectedWorksofMateriaMedica[5],RectificationoftheMeaningofMateriaMedica[6],CompendiumofMateriaMedica[7],NewCompilationofMateriaMedica[8],IllustratedClassicsofMateriaMedica[9],YaoPinHuaYi[10],etc. According to textual research, Semen Cuscutae was recorded as early as theLu’sCommentariesofHistory[11]in the Warring States Period, it was recorded that some people said that Semen Cuscutae has no roots. Semen Cuscutae is not without roots, but its roots do not belong to the land, and it is wrapped inPoriacocos. It was just that its medicinal value was not found at that time. According toFloraofChina[12], there were at least 9 species of Dodder Subfamily in China, includingCuscutachinensisLam.,CuscutaaustralisR. Br.,CuscutacampestrisYuncker,CuscutaeuropaeaL.,CuscutacupulataEngelm,CuscutajaponicaChoisy,CuscutamonogynaVahl,CuscutalupuliformisKrocker,CuscutaYeflexaRoxb[13]. In order to clarify the origin of Semen Cuscutae and its adulterants, the records of Semen Cuscutae in the herbaceous herbs of the past dynasties were combed to provide reference for the identification of Semen Cuscutae.

2 A textual research on materia medica of origin of orthonym and synonym of Cuscutae Semen

2.1 From the Spring and Autumn Period to the Wei and Jin PeriodSemen Cuscutae has a long history of application, a wide variety of species, wide distribution and uneven. The characters recorded and described in the literature of past dynasties are different, so it has many synonyms. The synonym "Tang" was first recorded inTheBookofSongsin the Spring and Autumn Period, it was recorded that where are we going to pick up Semen Cuscutae? To the countryside of Moyi[14]. The earliest annotators ofTheBookofSongswere nephew Mao Heng and uncle Mao Chang in the Western Han Dynasty, therefore,TheBookofSongswas also called Mao Shi, and its synonym "Meng" was first recorded in Mao Shi. In the notes of the Chapter Leather Caps ofTheBookofSongs, "Nu Luo" refers to "Semen Cuscutae", therefore, the synonym "Nu Luo" was first recorded inTheBookofSongs. Later, when Zhu Jieren and others sorted out the annotations ofCommentaryandSubcommentaryofMaoPoetry, they found that Mao Heng thought "Tang" and "Meng" were the names of dishes[15]. However, in Chapter Shi Cao ofErYaYiZhu, "Tang" was considered to be Semen Cuscutae, and "NuLuo" was considered to be Semen Cuscutae[16]. Whether "Tang" is Semen Cuscutae remains to be proved. InErYaYiZhu, it was recorded that Tang and Meng are Nu Luo. And Nu Luo is Semen Cuscutae. Meng is Wang Nu, in the annotation, it was considered that "Tang" and "Meng" both refer to Nu Luo, "Nu Luo" is Semen Cuscutae, and "Meng" is also called Wang Nu. The synonym "Wang Nu" was first recorded inErYaYiZhu. InShennong’sClassicofMateriaMedica·Volume2, it was recorded that Semen Cuscutae is pungent in taste and neutral in nature, it is mainly used to treat broken tendons and fractures, and it can supplement the body, increase the strength, make the body strong, and its juice can remove facial black spots. If taking it for a long time can improve the eyesight, make people light and live longer. It is also known as Tu Lu and produced in river swamp and other aquatic plants from miscellaneous places. The synonym "Tu Lu" was first recorded inShennong’sClassicofMateriaMedica. According to the records ofMingYiBieLuin the late Han Dynasty, it was said that Semen Cuscutae is sweet and nontoxic, it can nourish muscles, strengthen Yin, strengthen muscles and bones, it mainly treats dampness, lumbago, impotence, spermatorrhea, residual urine, and bitter mouth, clears away heat and dryness, dispels cold and eliminates blood clots. It is also called Tu Lu, Tang or Meng, Yu Lu, Chi Wang and Tu Lei. Semen Cuscutae grows in the fields of Korean, spreads over the vegetation, the yellow and thin one is called Chi Wang, and the light and large one is called Tu Lei[17]. The synonyms of "Tu Lu", "Yu Nu", "Chi Wang" and "Tu Lei" were first recorded inMingYiBieLu. It can be seen that Semen Cuscutae had different colors, species and sizes then. It was recorded inWuPuBenCaoof Wei and Jin Dynasties that Semen Cuscutae is also called as Yu Nu, Song Luo, Niao Luo, Xiao Luo, Fu Shi and Chi Wang, and is born in the valley[18]. Compared withMingYiBieLu, the synonyms of "Song Luo", "Niao Luo", "Xiao Luo" and "Fu Shi" were added, however, the "Song Luo" in this book did not refer to the Semen Cuscutae, but to the plants of the family Pinaceae, the medicinal plants includeUsnealongissimaAch. andUsneadiffractaVain., "Niao Luo" now refers toIpomoeaquamoclitL. of genusQuamoclitMill. in the family Convolvulaceae Juss. It was recorded inLiShiCaoMiin Wei and Jin Dynasties that Chan Dou Teng is also called Dou Ma Huang, has no leaves and flowers, and its seed is Semen Cuscutae[3]. The synonyms of "Chan Dou Teng" and "Dou Ma Huang" were first recorded inLiShiCaoMi.

2.2 From Tang and Song Dynasties to Ming and Qing DynastiesInNewlyRevisedMateriaMedicacompiled by Su Jing and others in Tang Dynasty, it was recorded that Semen Cuscutae is also called Tu Lu, Tu Lu, Yu Lu, Chi Wang and Tu Lei. It grows in the fields of Korean, spreads over the vegetation, the yellow and thin one is called Chi Wang, and the light and large one is called Tu Lei[19]. Since theNewlyRevisedMateriaMedicawas compiled by Su Jing and others on the basis of previous literatures on materia medica, its synonyms were the same as those inShennong’sClassicofMateriaMedicaandMingYiBieLu. In volume 11 of BenCaoShuJiaoZhu, it was quoted fromRiHuaZiZhuJiaBenCaothat the stem of the seedling is like yellow silk and there is no root, so it is commonly known as Huang Si Cao[20]. The synonym of Huang Si Cao was first recorded in theRiHuaZiZhuJiaBenCao. It was recorded in the Five Dynasties’RiHuaZiBenCaoShuBenCaothat Semen Cuscutae, whose seedling stem is like jute jute yarn, has no root plant, and most of them are attached to the field, the grass is entangled to death by it, or it grows into a cluster as wide as a mat. Its blooms and seeds are not clear, such as broken millet grains[21]. This described the characteristics of Semen Cuscutae without roots and growing in the field. It was recorded in the prescriptions for kidney treatment in the official prescription book ofTaipingHolyPreionsforUniversalReliefin Song Dynasty that 50 grams of Semen Cuscutae should be soaked in wine for three days, dried, and not crushed into fine powder[22]. It was recorded in theAugmentedMateriaMedicain the Song Dynasty that Semen Cuscutae, attached to the bushes, even if spread, has full flowers and no green leaves, which is the difference among grasses[23]. It was recorded in theElaborationofBureauPrescriptionof Yuan Dynasty that Cuscuta Seed Pill can treat the qi deficiency of kidney[24]. These were all in the name of "Semen Cuscutae". InCompendiumofMateriaMedica, Li Shizhen quoted from Prince Ning Xian Zhu Quan’sGengXinYuCethat Huo Yan Cao is Semen Cuscutae, and is sungrass. It is often found in the ancient road of wasteland, when its seeds enter the land, it has roots at the beginning and grows on grass, and its roots break off by themselves. It has no leaves and has flowers, it is white and reddish, and its fragrance is also striking. The seed is as thin and yellow as the chaff bean, especially on the ridge. It is as thin and yellow as chaff bean, it is better especially on the ridge[7]. The synonym of Huo Yan Cao was first recorded inGengXinYuCe. The parasitic character of Semen Cuscutae is indicated by the fact that it has roots in its primary stage, and the roots of the plant are broken by itself when it grows on the grass. InCompendiumofMateriaMedica, Semen Cuscutae was also known as "Ye Hu Si" and "Jin Xian Cao", these two different names were first recorded inCompendiumofMateriaMedica.

2.3 Since the Qing DynastyInFenLeiCaoYaoXingXinBian, it was recorded that "Mo Niang Teng" is sweet in taste and warm in nature, it can replenish qi, harmonize blood, dispel wind and disperse some acute diseases such as sunstroke and cholera and acne[25]. The synonym of "Mo Niang Teng" was first recorded inFenLeiCaoYaoXingXinBian. InTextualResearchonRealityandTitlesofPlants, it was recorded that Jin Deng Teng is also called Mao Ya Teng, it is parasitic and grows in southern Jiangxi[26]. In this record, the Semen Cuscutae was called "Jin Deng Teng", which now refers toCuscutajaponicaChoisy, and the synonym "Jin Deng Teng" was first recorded in the bookTextualResearchonRealityandTitlesofPlants. It was recorded inMaiYaoLianZhuYaoXingShiWuKaothat Jin Si Cao has no roots and leaves, its seedlings can be used as medicine, the medicine can cool blood to dissipate stasis[27]; it was recorded inCiHuiXiaoBianthat most of Jin Si Cao are attached to the yellow bean mangrove, rootless and leafless, as fine as brown, and grow near the beach on all trees[28]; both of these two books recorded that Semen Cuscutae was also called "Jin Si Cao", which was first recorded inCiHuiXiaoBian. And it was also recorded inBenCaoShuGouYuanthat Huo Yan Cao is commonly known as Huang Si Cao, and also known as Semen Cuscutae, which is sungrass[29]. In the Qing Dynasty, inNewCompilationofMateriaMedica,MainPointsforMateriaMedicaUsageandEasilyReadtoMateriaMedica, the name of "Semen Cuscutae" was mostly used, in modern Chinese medicine and prescription, the name of "Semen Cuscutae" was also used.

As recorded inGuizhouFolkMedicineCollectionpublished in 1958, Wu Niang Teng also refers to Semen Cuscutae[2], and this synonym was first recorded inGuizhouFolkMedicineCollection.

At present, there have been some doubts about the synonym of "Rootless Jin Si Cao". After reference, according to the records ofBaiCaoJingquoted inSupplementtoCompendiumofMateriaMedica[3], Rootless Jin Si Cao is also called Da Yan Cao, and is the seedling of Semen Cuscutae, which is better to grow on the stem of hairy bean; it was quoted inCaiYaoLuthat this grass has no roots and no leaves, it grows on firewood and is entwined, its name is Rootless Jin Si Cao, and its color is purple and yellow; it was quoted inYaoJianthat the stem of Rootless Jin Si Cao is thin and red, it is leafless and rootless, and only green filaments are attached to the stem, spread very long, and are wrapped around vegetation. The "Rootless Jin Si Cao" mentioned in the three books is Semen Cuscutae, these describe the characteristics of Semen Cuscutae, which is rootless and leafless, and parasitic on firewood, plants and soybeans, and explains the parasitic characteristic of it. A textural study on the three books of herbaceous herbs was carried out,BaiCaoJingwas written in 1760 by Zhao Xuekai (Zhao Xuemin’s younger brother) in the Qing Dynasty. According to Shang Zhijun’s book ofTheEssenceofTraditionalChineseMedicineLiteratureinPastDynasties[30], it was quoted inCaiYaoLuthat theCaiYaoLuquoted inSupplementtoCompendiumofMateriaMedicais written by Wang An in the Qing Dynasty, but the original book has been lost. TheYaoJianwas written by Du Wenxie in the Ming Dynasty and published in 1598. After referring toYaoJianpublished by China Press of Traditional Chinese Medicine[31]and Shanghai People’s Publishing House[32], the full text only contains the sentences that Semen Cuscutae can benefit Yin deficiency, secure essence and reduce urination, benefit skin, strengthen bones and muscles and treat aches and pains. There is no synonym "Rootless Jin Si Cao". Therefore, the synonym "Rootless Jin Si Cao" was said to have originated in Qing Dynasty, and the references to the content of Semen Cuscutae inYaoJianinSupplementtoCompendiumofMateriaMedicaand even inGreatDictionaryofChineseMedicinewasquestioned.

3 Textual research on the synonym Nu Luo

The earliest confusion between Nu Luo and Semen Cuscutae was inTheBookofSongs, Mao Chang said that Nu Luo is Semen Cuscutae in the annotation of "Nu Luo and Semen Cuscutae" inTheBookofSongs[14]. Therefore, it was also recorded that in the thirteenth volume ofErYa·ShiCaothat Meng is Wang Nu, Tang and Meng are Nu Luo, Nu Luo is Semen Cuscutae[16]. These notes suggested that "Meng", "Wang Nu", "Tang" and "Nu Luo" all refer to Semen Cuscutae. It was recorded inCommentaryandSubcommentaryofMaoPoetrythat Sun Yan in the interpretation of Er Ya had questioned that Semen Cuscutae has no synonym of Nu Luo, while Song Luo has a synonym of Nu Luo, both of which are parasitic with the same name[15]. This indicated that although both are the parasitic plants, Semen Cuscutae is not the Nu Luo, Nu Luo refers to Song Luo.

InCompendiumofMateriaMedica, Lu Dian was quoted as saying, "Nu Luo belongs to wood, and Semen Cuscutae belongs to grass, these two things are different, it was mistakenly believed inErYaandPoemsthat these two things are the same thing", and Zhu Zhenheng was also quoted as saying, "Nu Luo grows with pine". It was recorded in Zhang Yi’sGuangYathat Tu Shang is Semen Cuscutae, Nu Luo is Song Luo. It showed that they are two different plants[33]. And it was recorded in Lu Ji’sAnnotationstothePlantsandAnimalsinMaoPoetrythat Semen Cuscutae grows on the grass of vines, is yellow and red as gold; Song Luo grows on the wood of vines, and its branches are green[34]. Among them, Lu Ji clearly stated that the characteristics of "yellow and red as gold" of Semen Cuscutae are obviously different from that of "green branches" of Song Luo. The color of Semen Cuscutae is as yellow as gold, and most of it twines on the grass, while the color of Song Luo is green and most of it twines on the pine.

It was recorded inBaiCaoJingthat Rootless Jin Si Cao is also called Da Yan Cao, which is the seedling of Semen Cuscutae... This grass is similar to Nu Luo with yellow as gold and fine as thread. The Da Yan Cao is Semen Cuscutae, which is similar to that of Nu Luo, it is also explained that that with yellow as gold and thin as thread is Semen Cuscutae, which makes people distinguish it. InBenCaoShuJiaoZhu[20], it was recorded that recalling the haze of July in the past years, we can see from a distance that the forest is covered with red net and green silk, the two grow together. We asked the old man in the mountain that red net is Semen Cuscutae, and green silk is Nu Luo. Among them, the vines of Nu Luo are slender and have no mixed vines, which indicate the characteristics of Nu Luo, while "vines of Semen Cuscutae" and "unable to stand by themselves and falling with the wind" refer to the characteristics of Semen Cuscutae.

InCompendiumofMateriaMedica, it was recorded inErYaYithat Nu Luo is green and slender, and has no mixed vine[7]. Therefore, it is said inShanGuithat Nu Luo is as green and long as a belt, while Semen Cuscutae is yellow and red, they are different. But both of them are born of wood, and sometimes interact with each other. In the poem ofYinYiGuYueFu, it was recorded that the flower of Semen Cuscutae is in Nanshan and the tree of Nu Luo is in Beiling, and in the poem ofTangYueFu, it was recorded that Semen Cuscutae is merciless and can be dumped by the wind, but it is tightly entangled on the pineapple and clings to it. These indicated that Semen Cuscutae is a kind of creeping weed, while Nu Luo is parasitic on trees, so they are not the same thing.

The textual research of the ancient books above proved that the Semen Cuscutae is not the same thing as Nu Luo. The characters of Semen Cuscutae and Nu Luo were clarified respectively, and it was found that the two are not one thing after comparison.

4 Trade name, regional synonym and nickname of Semen Cuscutae

InDiscussiononVarietiesofChineseMedicinalMaterialswritten by Xie Zongwan[35], the regional synonyms of Semen Cuscutae were verified; according to the size of the seeds of Semen Cuscutae, commercial Semen Cuscutae could be divided into Semen Cuscutae with small granules and Semen Cuscutae with large granules, Semen Cuscutae with small granules includedCuscutachinensisLam.,CuscutaeuropaeaL. andCuscutaaustralisR. Br.; Semen Cuscutae with large granules includedCuscutajaponicaChoisy andCuscutareflexaRoxb.

4.1 Semen Cuscutae with small granulesCuscutachinensisLam. in Northeast China is called Huang Si Zi, Long Xu Zi and Huang Teng Zi; it is called Tu Er Xu and Huang La Xu in Hebei; it is called Chan Long Zi, Wu Gen Cao and Dou Yan Wang in Henan; it is called Wu Gen Teng, Huang Wan Zi, Dou Xu Zi and Seed of Huang Luan Si in Shandong; it is called Jin Si Cao in Jiangsu; it is called in Fei Lai Teng, Jin Si Long Men Cao, You Tou Wu Gen Cao and Wu Gen You Tou Cao in Zhejiang; in Jiangxi, it is called Jin Si Teng; in Guangdong, it is called Wu Niang Teng, Jin Zhi Wo and Fei Yang Teng; in Gansu, it is called Kou Xian Cao; in Taiwan, China, it is called Dou Hu.

CuscutaaustralisR. Br. is called Dou Ji Sheng and Pan Si Dou in Shandong.

4.2 Semen Cuscutae with large granulesHong Tu Si Zi isCuscutajaponicaChoisy. In Sichuan, it is called Jin Deng Long or Jin Deng Teng; in Jiangsu, it is called Luo Si Zhong Zi; in Henan, it is called Shu Yan Wang. Furthermore, Semen Cuscutae with large granules also includesCuscutareflexaRoxb.

It can be seen from the above that the synonyms of Semen Cuscutae vary in different areas, which has many names and varieties, but most of them are named according to their appearance, shape and characteristics.

5 Conclusions

In this study, a textual research on the origin of the synonyms of Semen Cuscutae was made. There were 47 herbal literatures and 25 synonyms, which provided the basis for the identification of the origin of Semen Cuscutae. It was of great significance to distinguish it from the easily confused plant of Nu Luo, so as to avoid the mixed use of Semen Cuscutae and Nu Luo.