Abstract
“Daodi” is a term used to define traditional Chinese herbs selected for long-term clinical application in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM). These herbs are produced in certain areas with better quality and efficacy compared to when they are produced in other regions and have stable quality and high popularity. Meanwhile, Daodi herbs have long-standing reputations for their high quality and excellent treatment effects.
Distinguishing features of Daodi herbs include special geographic variations, specific quality standards, historical and cultural implications, and comparatively high economic value.
Viewing through the lens of biology, a Daodi herb is a particular species growing under specific environmental influences, thus the interaction of nature and genetics creates a biologically unique herb. The interaction of genotypes and the environment, over time, develop phenotypes, which create Daodi herbs.
The chemical profile of Daodi herbs is unique. The regional characteristics of Daodi herbs are positively correlated with their specialized genotypes. Suboptimal environments promote the formation of Daodi herbs.
The molecular mechanisms of Daodi herbs formation are specific genotypes; complex regulations in specific environments caused temporospatial differences in the expressions of genes encoding key enzymes in the secondary metabolism processes. The diversity of patterns and types of products of secondary metabolism are caused by hereditary variations.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
References
Shi lin H. Geoherbs in China. Haerbin: Heilongjiang Science and Technology Press; 1989.
Gao W y, En q Q, Xiao X h, et al. Analysis on Genuineness of Angelica sinensis by RAPD. Chin Tradit Herb Drug. 2011;32(10):926–9.
Yuan Q j, Zhang Z y, Juan H, et al. Impacts of recent cultivation on genetic diversity pattern of a medicinal plant, Scutellaria baicalensis (Lamiaceae). BMC Genet. 2010;11(1):29.
Wen F, Zhuang J. The characteristics of geoherbs. J Beijing Univ Tradit Chin Med. 2001;24(1):47.
Guo L p, Liu J y, Li J, et al. The naphtha composing characteristics of geoherbs of Atractylodes lancea. China J Chin Mater Med. 2002;27(11):814–9.
He B h, Zhong Z c. Study on variation dynamics of modular population of Ginkgo biloba under different conditions of environmental stress. J Southwest Agric Univ. 2003;25(1):7–10.
Tang C s, Cai W f, Kohl K, et al. Plant stress and allelopathy. ACS Symp Ser. 1995;582:142–8.
Hall AB, Blum U, Fites RC. Stress modification of allelopathy in Helianthus annuus L. debris on seed germination. Am J Bot. 1982;69:776–81.
Peñuelas J, Llusià J. Effects of carbon dioxide, water supply, and secondary on terpene content and emission by Rosmarinus officinails. J Chem Ecol. 1997;23:979–800.
Bryant JP, Reichardt PB, Clausen TP, et al. Effects of mineral nutrition on delayed inducible resistance in Alaska paper birch. Ecology. 1993;74:2072–84.
Wang S x, Wang Z y, Peng Y k. Dehydration responsive element binding (DREB) transcription activator and its function in plant tolerance to environmental stresses. Plant Physiol Commun. 2004;40(2):7–13.
xiu Zhang Y, Chai T y, Li J c, et al. Expression analysis of DnaJ-like protein gene from bean under various environment stresses. Acta Botan Boreali–Occiden Sin. 2000;20(2):171–4.
Guo L p, qi Huang L, Yan H, et al. Habitat characteristics for the growth of Atractylodes lancea based on GIS. China J Chin Mater Med. 2005;30(8):565–9.
Guo L p, qi Huang L, Jiang Y x, et al. Selection of dominant climate factors and climate suitability regionalization of components of rhizoma atractylodis oil. China J Chin Mater Med. 2007;32:888–93.
Yuan Q j, Zhang B, Jiang D, et al. Identification of species and materia medica within Angelica L. (Umbelliferae) based on phylogeny inferred from DNA barcodes. Mol Ecol Resour. 2015;15:358–71.
Xiang X g, Schuiteman A, De z L, et al. Molecular systematics of Dendrobium (Orchidaceae, Dendrobieae) from mainland Asia based on plastid and nuclear sequences. Mol Phylogenet Evol. 2013;69(3):950–60.
Suggested reading
Huang L q, Guo L p, Ma C y, et al. Top-geoherbs of traditional Chinese medicine: common traits, quality characteristics and formation. Front Med. 2009;5(2):185–94.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 2019 Springer Nature Singapore Pte Ltd.and Shanghai Scientific and Technical Publishers
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
Wang, S., Kang, Cz., Guo, Lp., Garran, T.A. (2019). The Mechanism of Formation of Daodi Herbs. In: Huang, Lq. (eds) Molecular Pharmacognosy. Springer, Singapore. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-32-9034-1_10
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-32-9034-1_10
Published:
Publisher Name: Springer, Singapore
Print ISBN: 978-981-32-9033-4
Online ISBN: 978-981-32-9034-1
eBook Packages: Biomedical and Life SciencesBiomedical and Life Sciences (R0)