How Did He Write A Legend in The Desert, From A Professor At Peking University To The Father Of Cistanche Deserticola?

The Edge of Ginseng in the Desert

In the vast and boundless desert, filled with yellow sand, grows a mysterious and precious plant: Cistanche deserticola. It is known as the "Desert Ginseng" and is a precious traditional Chinese medicinal herb. It has the characteristics of mild taste, moderate strength, and is not too strong in enhancing physical strength and anti-fatigue. Its nourishing effect is comparable to that of ginseng, and it does not have the "heat up" and "dryness" associated with ginseng, so it earns this distinction. Cistanche deserticola has not only been regarded as a precious tribute to the imperial court by various countries in the Western Regions in history, but also one of the most frequently used tonics in kidney tonifying and yang-strengthening prescriptions throughout history. However, due to excessive excavation and the extensive logging of its host plant, the red willow, the number of wild Cistanche deserticola has sharply decreased, putting it in a precarious situation.

Professor Cistanche Research on the Growth of Cistanche deserticola

At the moment when Cistanche deserticola was facing a survival crisis, a scholar formed an inseparable bond with it, and he was Professor Tu Pengfei from the School of Pharmacy at Peking University. More than 30 years ago, when Tu Pengfei stood at an academic crossroads in his life, Mr. Cen from his mentor's building allowed him to choose his own research topic. At that time, Tu Pengfei had just completed his doctoral research on the traditional Chinese medicine ginseng, but he was well aware that ginseng had limited space from a pharmaceutical research perspective, so he decided to find another direction. He plunged into ancient herbal classics and modern academic articles, trying to find a topic that was worth his long-term research effort. By chance, Cistanche deserticola entered his field of vision.
As a parasitic plant that grows in the desert, Cistanche deserticola can extract all or most of the nutrients and water it needs from its host plants. How it parasitizes on the host plants and how it obtains nutrients from them has deeply aroused Tu Pengfei's curiosity. In addition, the fact that Cistanche deserticola grows in the desert and is a parasitic plant in such harsh environments has made Tu Pengfei's eyes light up. He is full of longing for the desert and eager to explore the unique wonders of life in this mysterious land. Meanwhile, ancient Chinese literature records that Cistanche deserticola has powerful kidney tonifying effects, which has become an important factor attracting Tu Pengfei to study it. Moreover, at that time, there was very little research and weak technology related to Cistanche deserticola. Due to its harsh growth environment, few people were willing to get involved, which instead stimulated Tu Pengfei's desire to explore. He resolutely decided to challenge this field.

Father of Cistanche deserticola - Professor Tu Pengfei

Chasing Dreams in the Desert: The Difficulty of Starting Research
In 1990, Tu Pengfei officially embarked on the path of studying Cistanche deserticola. At that time, the field of Cistanche deserticola research was considered barren, with very little research on this plant, not only domestically but also internationally. The research on Cistanche deserticola in the traditional Chinese medicine industry was almost blank, and even the fundamental question of how Cistanche deserticola seeds parasitized the host root was still a mystery.
The first challenge facing Tu Pengfei was resource investigation and sample collection. Cistanche deserticola is mainly distributed in the northwest desert and desert areas, and its growth environment is harsher than imagined. In the desert, the climate is extreme, with unbearable heat during the day and surface temperatures often reaching 50-60 degrees Celsius. The heat waves are rolling and seem to be able to steam people; The night is extremely cold, with a sudden drop in temperature and piercing cold winds. Water sources are scarce, strong winds are raging, and yellow sand often covers the sky and sun. Walking among them, one may lose their direction at any time and face life-threatening situations.
In order to obtain first-hand research data, Tu Pengfei resolutely ventured deep into the desert. He carried a heavy backpack, with a longing for the unknown and a firm belief, shuttling through the vast sea of sand. Searching for Cistanche deserticola in the desert is like finding a needle in a haystack. They grow at the roots of host plants such as red willows and are mostly deeply buried underground, with only a small portion exposed to the ground, making them difficult to detect. Tu Pengfei often needs to hike several kilometers, carefully observe each red willow tree, and use the tools he carries with him to dig carefully to find precious samples of Cistanche deserticola. Sometimes, a whole day's hustle and bustle can only yield a few samples, and the hardships and difficulties involved are unimaginable to ordinary people.
During the resource investigation process, inconvenient transportation is also a major challenge. The terrain in desert areas is complex, roads are scarce, and many places are impassable for vehicles. Tu Pengfei can only rely on camels or hiking to move forward. Camels are reliable companions in the desert, but they travel slowly and require careful care. Hiking is even more difficult, as the soft sand makes every step full of resistance. Long hours of walking have caused countless blisters on his feet, and the pain is unbearable. But these difficulties did not stop Tu Pengfei's footsteps. He only had one belief in his heart: he must uncover the mysterious veil of Cistanche deserticola.

Planting of Cistanche deserticola

In addition to the challenges brought by the natural environment, Tu Pengfei also faces the rudimentary scientific research conditions. At that time, scientific research equipment was scarce, a nd experimental conditions were difficult. Many experiments that could be easily completed in urban laboratories became extremely difficult here. Without advanced testing instruments, he can only rely on the most basic experimental methods, repeatedly conducting testing and analysis, which consumes a lot of time and energy. Due to the lack of a stable power supply, experiments are often forced to be interrupted, and he has to readjust the experimental plan. Under such difficult conditions, Tu Pengfei, with his tenacious perseverance and dedication to scientific research, has been advancing his research step by step.
Key breakthrough: Turning Guanhua Cistanche into a legitimate plant
After countless field observations and experimental studies, Tu Pengfei finally uncovered the mysterious veil of parasitic Cistanche deserticola. He found that the seeds of Cistanche deserticola would germinate under suitable conditions and grow a special structure - the haustorium. The haustorium could sense the chemical signals released by the host plant's root system and grow towards the host plant's root system, eventually forming a parasitic relationship with the host plant's root system. This discovery laid a theoretical foundation for the artificial cultivation of Cistanche deserticola and was a breakthrough in the field of Cistanche deserticola research.
After mastering the parasitic principle of Cistanche deserticola, Tu Pengfei was not satisfied with it. He is well aware that in order for Cistanche deserticola to truly benefit humanity, it is necessary to address the issue of resource scarcity. At that time, the Cistanche deserticola included in the Chinese Pharmacopoeia was mainly desert Cistanche deserticola, while the medicinal value of Cistanche tubulosa, although widely distributed in southern Xinjiang, was not fully recognized and was often destroyed as a fake medicine. Through extensive scientific research, Tu Pengfei has confirmed the medicinal value of Cistanche deserticola. He found that the chemical composition, pharmacological effects, and safety of Cistanche deserticola are basically consistent with those recorded in the pharmacopoeia, and the active ingredient phenylethanoid glycosides are significantly higher than those of desert Cistanche deserticola.
In 2003, Tu Pengfei proposed to include Cistanche deserticola as a source of Cistanche deserticola in the Chinese Pharmacopoeia to solve the problem of resource scarcity of Cistanche deserticola, and personally drafted quality standards. This proposal was not smooth sailing. At that time, there was still controversy in the academic and pharmaceutical circles about the medicinal value of Cistanche deserticola. Some people were skeptical of Tu Pengfei's research results, believing that Cistanche deserticola differed from traditional desert Cistanche deserticola and could not be easily included in the pharmacopoeia. Faced with these doubts and opposing voices, Tu Pengfei did not back down. He actively collected more research data and evidence, had in-depth exchanges and discussions with experts, and elaborated on the medicinal value and advantages of Cistanche deserticola.
Finally, in 2004, the Chinese Pharmacopoeia Committee organized experts to discuss and approve the inclusion of Cistanche deserticola in the 2005 edition of the Chinese Pharmacopoeia. This decision has a milestone significance, as it establishes the legal status of Cistanche deserticola as a traditional Chinese medicine, turning the "weeds" in southern Xinjiang into valuable "medicines", and laying a solid foundation for the large-scale cultivation of Cistanche deserticola and the development of its ecological industry in southern Xinjiang. From then on, Cistanche deserticola officially entered people's sight and became a shining pearl in the field of traditional Chinese medicine, bringing hope for health to countless patients.

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Technological Innovation: Overcoming Planting Difficulties
After resolving the identity issue of Cistanche deserticola, Tu Pengfei immediately devoted himself to the research of artificial cultivation technology for Cistanche deserticola. The artificial cultivation of Cistanche deserticola is extremely difficult, with extremely strict requirements for its growth environment. Its seeds have a very low germination rate under natural conditions, only 0.01% -0.05%, and can only germinate and complete the parasitic process in the presence of host plants. Otherwise, the seeds will die if they survive in the soil for no more than 3 years.
In order to improve the seed germination rate and parasitic success rate of Cistanche deserticola, Tu Pengfei led his team to conduct countless experiments. They conducted in-depth research on the biological characteristics of Cistanche deserticola, covering every detail from seed germination conditions, parasitic mechanisms, to nutritional requirements during growth and development. In the laboratory, they subjected the seeds to various treatments, tried different temperatures, humidity, light conditions, and chemical stimuli, and observed the germination of these seeds. In the desert experimental field, they carefully monitored the growth status of Cistanche deserticola and host plants, constantly adjusting planting methods and management measures.
After years of unremitting efforts, the Tu Pengfei team has finally created a series of advanced inoculation technologies, developed seed germination inducers, seed treatment agents, inoculation fusion agents, etc., which have increased the germination rate of Cistanche deserticola seeds to over 30% and significantly improved the success rate of parasitism. They also established a new planting model of "autumn sowing autumn harvest", which changed the previous situation of long growth cycle and low yield of Cistanche deserticola, and achieved rapid growth and high and stable yield of Cistanche deserticola, increasing the yield per mu from 18kg to over 300kg.
With the continuous expansion of the planting area of Cistanche deserticola, traditional artificial planting and harvesting methods are inefficient and costly, becoming a bottleneck for industrial development. To solve this problem, Tu Pengfei turned his attention to mechanized production. He led a team to collaborate with relevant enterprises and developed specialized inoculation machines and excavators based on the planting and harvesting characteristics of Cistanche deserticola. The emergence of these machines has greatly improved the planting and harvesting efficiency of Cistanche deserticola, reduced labor intensity and costs, and made it possible for the large-scale planting and industrial development of Cistanche deserticola.

Cistanche deserticola experiment

Nowadays, in the northwest desert areas such as Xinjiang, Inner Mongolia, and Gansu, patches of red willow forests and red willow forests are thriving in the desert, and Cistanche deserticola quietly breeds at their roots. These Cistanche deserticola not only bring considerable economic benefits to the local area, but also make significant contributions to desert management and ecological improvement. The efforts of the Tu Pengfei team have brought new vitality and vigor to the treasure of Cistanche deserticola in the desert.
Benefiting the People Practice: Assisting Poverty Alleviation and Ecological Improvement
Tu Pengfei deeply understands that the ultimate goal of scientific research is to benefit humanity. After overcoming the technical difficulties in planting Cistanche deserticola, he turned his attention to a broader field of people's livelihood, actively promoting the development of the Cistanche deserticola industry, and assisting in poverty alleviation and ecological improvement.
In 2012, Tu Pengfei took the lead in applying for the National Science and Technology Benefit Program project. He distributed 9 tons of seeds to residents for free and personally led his team to go deep into the fields to provide planting guidance to farmers step by step. From the timing of seed sowing to the key points of host plant maintenance to the prevention and control of pests and diseases during the growth process of Cistanche deserticola, he patiently guides every step to ensure that farmers can master the correct planting methods. Under his careful guidance, the average yield of Cistanche deserticola per mu increased from 18 kilograms the previous year to 100 kilograms, achieving a qualitative leap in yield. This significant increase in production directly translates into tangible income growth for farmers, with each grower earning approximately 50000 to 70000 RMB per year, greatly improving their living standards. This project has also become a classic case of targeted poverty alleviation in the desert area.
In order to ensure the sustainable and healthy development of the Cistanche deserticola industry, Tu Pengfei actively promotes the construction of the entire Cistanche deserticola industry chain. He collaborated with enterprises to carry out deep processing research on Cistanche deserticola, and developed new drugs such as Cistanche deserticola total glycosides capsules, Cistanche deserticola total glycosides, and Pinecone chrysanthemum glycoside tablets. Among them, Cistanche deserticola total glycosides capsules were approved for market in 2005, bringing good news to many patients. He also led the team to develop a series of Cistanche health products and foods, such as Cistanche Oral Liquid, Cistanche Wine, Cistanche Tea, etc., enriching the variety of market products, meeting the needs of different consumers, and further enhancing the economic value of Cistanche.

Planting of Cistanche deserticola 

In addition to helping poverty alleviation, Tu Pengfei's research achievements have also played an important role in ecological improvement. The host plants of Cistanche deserticola, Red Willow, and Red Willow are both excellent windbreak and sand-fixing plants. With the continuous expansion of the planting area of Cistanche deserticola, red willows and red willows have taken root and grown in the desert, forming green barriers that effectively curb the spread of desertification. According to statistics, over the past 30 years, the Tu Pengfei team has promoted the cultivation of red willows and red willows, covering an area of more than 6 million acres, equivalent to turning over 4000 square kilometers of desert into an oasis. In Yutian County, where he often works, the surrounding area of 15 kilometers outside the county is surrounded by host plants. The frequency of floating dust weather has greatly reduced, and the ecological environment has been significantly improved.
In the process of promoting the cultivation and ecological management of Cistanche deserticola, Tu Pengfei also attaches great importance to the cultivation of local talents. He has held multiple training courses on the planting techniques of Cistanche deserticola, cultivating a large number of technical backbone and professional talents for the local area. These talents have not only become the backbone of the development of the Cistanche deserticola industry, but also made positive contributions to local ecological protection and economic construction. He also actively collaborates with local governments and enterprises, establishing a mechanism for industry-university research cooperation to jointly promote technological innovation and sustainable development of the Cistanche deserticola industry.

Continuous Exploration: Future Goals and Pursuits

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After achieving a series of brilliant achievements in the field of Cistanche deserticola research, Tu Pengfei did not stop exploring. He is well aware that scientific research is endless, and there is still enormous potential for the development of the Cistanche deserticola industry to be explored.
Faced with the current high enthusiasm of farmers and herdsmen in the desert area to plant Cistanche deserticola, Tu Pengfei has made the development of products and industries his primary goal, and is determined to build Cistanche deserticola into a large variety of traditional Chinese medicine with annual sales of tens of billions of yuan within 10 years. He actively promotes the diversified innovation of Cistanche deserticola products. In addition to existing drugs, health products, and food, he is also exploring the application of Cistanche deserticola in cosmetics, functional beverages, and other fields. He believes that with the continuous advancement of technology and the increasing diversification of market demand, the economic value of Cistanche deserticola will be more fully reflected.
With the intensification of global population aging, the prevention and treatment of age-related diseases have become a focus of social attention. Tu Pengfei keenly realized that Cistanche deserticola has great potential in dealing with age-related diseases, health preservation, and other aspects. He plans to further investigate the pharmacological effects and clinical value of Cistanche deserticola, revealing its mechanism of action in the prevention and treatment of Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, cardiovascular disease, etc., and providing a scientific basis for the development of new prevention and treatment drugs. He hopes to provide more guarantees for the healthy life of the elderly through his research, and to bring new vitality to the ancient Chinese medicinal herb Cistanche deserticola in modern society.
In the context of the "Belt and Road" initiative, Tu Pengfei saw new opportunities for the development of the Cistanche deserticola industry. Some countries along the "Belt and Road" have the distribution and application tradition of Cistanche plants, but they lag in planting technology and industrial development. He hopes to promote the cultivation techniques of Cistanche deserticola accumulated by his team over the years to these countries, help them develop the Cistanche deserticola industry, and promote local desert management and ecological improvement. He believes that through international cooperation, the treasure of Cistanche deserticola in the desert will shine in more places and contribute to global ecological protection and economic development.

Cistanche deserticola - a bumper harvest for farmers

Salute to the 'Father of Cistanche'
Professor Tu Pengfei, a pioneer in the field of Cistanche deserticola research, has spent over 30 years composing a magnificent scientific anthem in the desert. He is not afraid of difficulties and goes deep into the desert. From resource investigation to revealing parasitic principles, from breakthroughs in planting technology to industrial promotion, every step embodies his wisdom and sweat. He not only opened up a new path for the research field of Cistanche deserticola, but also made outstanding contributions to solving the shortage of traditional Chinese medicine resources, helping poverty alleviation, and ecological improvement.
His story is the best interpretation of the spirit of science, a brave commitment to social responsibility, and a deep concern for human health and the ecological environment. Let us pay tribute to Professor Tu Pengfei and look forward to his continued achievements in future scientific research. We also hope that more people can pay attention to the development of the Cistanche deserticola industry and work together to protect the ecological environment and promote human health.