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Application of microscopic techniques in authentication of herbal tea—Ku‐Ding‐Cha
Author(s) -
Tam ChunFung,
Peng Yong,
Liang ZhiTao,
He ZhenDan,
Zhao ZhongZhen
Publication year - 2006
Publication title -
microscopy research and technique
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.536
H-Index - 118
eISSN - 1097-0029
pISSN - 1059-910X
DOI - 10.1002/jemt.20369
Subject(s) - confusion , xylem , traditional medicine , calcium oxalate crystals , authentication (law) , identification (biology) , calcium oxalate , botany , computer science , biology , chemistry , oxalate , medicine , computer security , psychology , organic chemistry , psychoanalysis
Abstract Ku‐Ding‐Cha, a kind of herbal tea, has been widely used in China for a long time to support cardiovascular health. Confusion arises because in different parts of China different plants are used to produce the commercial teas. It is important to determine the identity of the used species in order to authenticate genuine Ku‐Ding‐Cha. However, once the plants have been processed, it is difficult to identify them through macroscopic identification; other means are necessary. A comparative study was made on 24 samples of Ku‐Ding‐Cha, including five standard identified and authenticated plants and 19 commercial samples, by microscopic techniques. The results showed that the shapes of leaf blades, xylem cells, stone cells, and calcium oxalate crystals could be used for the identification of the plants from which the commercial products were made. The method was proven to be quick, handy, simple, and convenient. Microsc. Res. Tech., 2006. © 2006 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.