Chinese Medicine Regulatory Office

INTRODUCTION

The Department of Health is actively working on the establishment of the permanent Government Chinese Medicines Testing Institute (GCMTI). One of the key tasks of the GCMTI is to display and digitize Chinese medicines specimens to support the research, development and education of Chinese medicines. To achieve this, the GCMTI is now collecting specimens of​ Chinese materia medica (CMM) and medicinal plant by category. Our collection will include Chinese medicines commonly used in Hong Kong, Daodi medicinal materials of China, Hong Kong indigenous herbal medicines, Lingnan herbal medicines, traditional herbal medicines used in Southeast Asia, and western herbal medicines. The GCMTI, with reference to study of Hong Kong market and comments of the trade, has embarked on collection of specimens of Chinese medicines commonly used in Hong Kong. To ensure these specimens are authoritative, scientific and allow full traceability, CMM specimens are collected together with their corresponding origin plants and decoction pieces, which in turn will facilitate accurate identification of source species of Chinese medicines, and allow contrast of morphological characteristics from multiple aspects. This exhibition highlights some CMM commonly used in Hong Kong with their corresponding origin plants and decoction pieces. We hope that you can know more about the Chinese medicines regarding their origin plants, CMM and decoction pieces.​

EXHIBITION CONTENTS

To allow the public, trade and academia a more intuitive understanding of Chinese medicines commonly used in Hong Kong, we showcase 5 themes:

Radix Rehmanniae- showing specimens of its origin plant, CMM , along with the pressed and longitudinal slices, including:​

​ Plant Specimen

Rehmannia glutinosa Libosch

Chinese Materia Medica Specimen
Radix Rehmanniae ​
Radix Rehmanniae Praeparata

Decoction Pieces Specimen​
Pressed Radix Rehmanniae​
Pressed Radix Rehmanniae Praeparata
Longitudinal slices of Radix Rehmanniae
Longitudinal slices of Radix Rehmanniae Praeparata

Radix Astragali- showing specimens of its origin plants, CMM, along with the oblique and longitudinal slices, including:

Plant Specimen
Astragalus membranaceus (Fisch.) Bge. var. mongholicus (Bge.) Hsiao
Astragalus membranaceus (Fisch.) Bge.

Chinese Materia Medica Specimen
Radix Astragali [ Astragalus membranaceus (Fisch.) Bge. var. mongholicus (Bge.) Hsiao]
Radix Astragali [ Astragalus membranaceus (Fisch.) Bge.]

Decoction Pieces Specimen
Longitudinal slices of Radix Astragali
Oblique slices of Radix Astragali

Radix Platycodi  - showing specimens of its origin plant, CMM with and without outer bark, along with the transverse and longitudinal slices, including:

Plant Specimen
Platycodon grandiflorum(Jacq.)A. DC.

Chinese Materia Medica Specimen
Radix Platycodi without bark
Radix Platycodi

Decoction Pieces Specimen
Longitudinal slices of Radix Platycodi
Transverse slices of Radix Platycodi

Cortex Magnoliae Officinalis - showing specimens of its origin plants, CMM, along with the oblique, transverse and longitudinal slices, including:

Plant Specimen
Magnolia officinalis Rehd. et Wils.
Magnolia officinalis Rehd. et Wils. var. biloba Rehd. et Wils

Chinese Materia Medica Specimen
Cortex Magnoliae Officinalis (Magnolia officinalis Rehd. et Wils. )
Cortex Magnoliae Officinalis (Magnolia officinalis Rehd. et Wils. var. biloba Rehd. et Wils. ) ​

Decoction Pieces Specimen
Oblique slices of Cortex Magnoliae Officinalis
Transverse slices of Cortex Magnoliae Officinalis
Longitudinal slices of Cortex Magnoliae Officinalis​

Radix Paeoniae Rubra - showing specimens of its origin plants, CMM, along with the oblique, transverse and longitudinal slices, including:​

Plant Specimen
Paeonia lactiflora Pall.​ Paeonia veitchii Lynch

Chinese Materia Medica Specimen
Radix Paeoniae Rubra ( Paeonia lactiflora Pall.)
Radix Paeoniae Rubra ( Paeonia veitchii Lynch)

Decoction Pieces Specimen
Longitudinal slices of Radix Paeoniae Rubra
Oblique slices of Radix Paeoniae Rubra​
Transverse slices of Radix Paeoniae Rubra​

Contact Us
Address: 7/F, BioTech Centre 2, 11 Science Park West Avenue, Phase 2, Hong Kong Science Park, Shatin, N.T.
Tel: 2209 9476
E-mail: gcmti_herbarium@dh.gov.hk

The information in this pamphlet may be re-disseminated or reproduced, provided that the Government Chinese Medicines Testing Institute (GCMTI), as the source of information, is acknowledged and that the re-dissemination or reproduction is for non-commercial use. Any other reproduction, adaptation, distribution, dissemination or making available of the information in this pamphlet for commercial use is strictly prohibited unless prior written authorization is obtained from the GCMTI.