Which Is Better, Sliced Cistanche Deserticola From Xinjiang Or Inner Mongolia?

Cistanche deserticola is a traditional medicinal herb with the same nutritional source as food. Its health benefits mainly include improving immunity, anti-aging, antioxidants, protecting the liver, protecting nerves, preventing senile dementia, moistening intestines and promoting bowel movements, and improving symptoms of Yang deficiency. (Refer to the research progress on the chemical composition and pharmacological effects of Cistanche deserticola published by the Institute of Medicine of Yangzhou University in February 2010 in the journal "Wild Plant Resources of China".)

chinese herb cistanche

However, with the deepening of research on the pharmacological activity of traditional Chinese medicine and the widespread attention to trace elements in traditional Chinese medicine, it has been found that mineral elements, especially trace elements, are closely related to the efficacy of traditional Chinese medicine.

Cistanche deserticola produced in different regions, due to differences in trace and mineral element content, will affect its pharmacological activity and drug efficacy. The mineral element content and absorption ratio of Cistanche deserticola, originating from Yutian, Xinjiang, are generally higher than those from other regions.

Main Chemical Constituents of Cistanche deserticola

The host of desert Cistanche deserticola, Haloxylon ammo dendron (left), and the host of Tianguan flower Cistanche deserticola, Red Willow (right)

There are several main production areas of Cistanche deserticola in China, including Xinjiang, Inner Mongolia, and Ningxia. Generally, Cistanche deserticola produced in Xinjiang is called "pipe flower Cistanche deserticola", which parasitizes on the roots of tamarisks. Cistanche deserticola produced in Inner Mongolia and Ningxia is often referred to as "desert Cistanche deserticola", and its host is a plant called Haloxylon ammodendron. However, as consumers, what they usually buy is dried slices. So how do we distinguish which effective ingredient is higher? Here is a detailed introduction by Di Chen Xiaoke for everyone.

1. Pinch soft and hard

The dried water tube flower Cistanche has a very hard texture that can hardly be pinched by hand. Generally, pharmaceutical companies who purchase it call it "Hard Big Cloud". Due to its high medicinal value, it is widely used in industries such as medicine and health food. Commonly known drugs such as Kidney Tonifying and Yang Strengthening Pills, Huiren Kidney Treasure Tablets, Suoyang Gujing Pills, and Men's Treasure Capsules all add tube flower Cistanche, indicating its extraordinary efficacy!

Cistanche deserticola slice

Moreover, the sliced Cistanche deserticola produced by Hetian is different from ordinary Cistanche deserticola slices on the market. It is a fresh microwave enzyme-killing method for Cistanche deserticola invented and disclosed by Hetian Emperor Chen. The enzyme killing equipment is a WBS 72 microwave drying and sterilization machine, which adopts an automatic control opening method, and the microwave enzyme killing temperature range is maintained at 60 ℃~80 ℃.

This enzyme-killing technology has achieved the enzyme-killing of fresh tube flower Cistanche deserticola slices. Its effective ingredient content is several times higher than that of desert Cistanche deserticola slices, and it is conducive to storage, with longer storage time and less susceptibility to mold and decay.

Due to its high sugar content, desert deserticola is still relatively soft even when dried, hence it is also known as oil deserticola or soft cloud. Due to its high sugar content, desert deserticola extraction is complex, so it can only be sliced.

2. Look at the cut surface

The color of the cut surface of Cistanche deserticola is gray-brown, with many black-brown dots on it. It is professionally described as the distribution of black brown dotted vascular bundles, which are irregular and some have small cracks.

The cut surface of desert deserticola is brownish brown with many light brown dots, but the arrangement is relatively regular, appearing as wavy rings or arranged in strips and scattered. Actually, for most people, the two colors are quite similar, but the dots on the cut surface are not very obedient and lack discipline, while the ones in the desert are more obedient and have stronger discipline.

Cistanche deserticola Y.C.Ma

3. Extract

Hetian Guanhua Cistanche Extract is a method used by Hetian Dichen Company to extract the effective components of Guanhua Cistanche using membrane separation technology and has applied for a patent. The extract of Cistanche deserticola can be extracted by 1 kilogram per 10 kilograms of sliced Cistanche deserticola. The extract is easier to penetrate the cell wall and is more conducive to absorption in the body.

There is currently no extract from desert deserticola in the market. Due to the high sugar content in the slices and the complex extraction technology, no extract has been produced.

Main Chemical Constituents of Cistanche deserticola

4. Effect

The content of quercetin and ergosterol in fresh materials of Hetian Guanhua Cistanche varies from 1.5g-4g in 100g, and the higher the year, the higher the content, which will decrease with the loss of water. Due to its high content of active ingredients, it is widely used in the pharmaceutical industry. Generally, Cistanche deserticola is chosen as the main raw material for drugs, and its export is mainly focused on Cistanche deserticola.

The content of quercetin in desert deserticola is about 0.3g in 100g, and it turns black after being brewed with hot water. The color still turns yellow after being brewed multiple times. Therefore, consumers assume that the effect will be better, but in reality, it is not.

Reference paper: "Comparative Study on Fingerprint Patterns of Desert Cistanche and Tubular Cistanche"

desert ginseng

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Through the study and comparison of the fingerprint spectra of the two (note: plant fingerprint spectra are equivalent to plant ID cards), and the comparison of phenylethanolamine glycosides and iridoid terpenes, the results show that the effective content of Cistanche deserticola is higher than that of Cistanche deserticola.