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Polygonum multiflorum Thunb., which is known as Heshouwu in China, is a Taoist medicine sourced from the Wudang mountain area. At present, the quality of the Heshouwu sourced from this region is unknown. The present study aimed to evaluate the quality of wild Heshouwu collected from the Wudang mountain area, particularly the 2,3,5,4'-tetrahydroxystilbene-2-O-β-D-glucoside (TSG) and combined anthraquinone (CAQ) content, compared with that of commercially available Heshouwu. Furthermore, the potential quantities of organic pesticide residues were determined. High performance liquid chromatography with a diode array detector was used to quantify TSG and CAQ content, whereas gas chromatography (GC), performed using a temperature gradient, was used to detect the presence of organochlorine, pyrethroid and organophosphorus pesticides. The average TSG content present in the wild Heshouwu from the Wudang mountain area and in the commercially available Heshouwu was 2.39 and 1.10%, respectively. In addition, the average content of CAQ in these was 1.41 and 3.46%, respectively. GC did not detect residues of organic pesticides in the wild Heshouwu, thus this plant met the criterion of the Chinese Pharmacopeia (2010 edition). The results of the present study indicated that wild Heshouwu from the Wudang mountain area may be suitable for use as a Chinese medicine across China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bear bile has been used in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) for thousands of years. Modern investigations showed that it has a wide range of pharmacological actions with little toxicological side effect and the pure compounds have been used for curing hepatic and biliary disorders for decades. However, extensive consumption of bear bile made bears endangered species. In the1980's, bear farming was established in China to extract bear bile from living bears with "Free dripping Fistula Technique". Bear farming is extremely inhumane and many bears died of illness such as chronic infections and liver cancer. Efforts are now given by non-governmental organizations,mass media and Chinese government to end bear farming ultimately. At the same time, systematic research has to be done to find an alternative for bear bile. In this review, we focused on the literature, laboratory and clinical results related to bear bile and its substitutes or alternative in English and Chinese databases. We examined the substitutes or alternative of bear bile from three aspects: pure compounds derived from bear bile, biles from other animals and herbs from TCM.We then discussed the strategy for stopping the trading of bear bile and issues of bear bile related to potential alternative candidates, existing problems in alternative research and work to be done in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]