Achyranthes Root
Achyranthis Radix
Achyranthes Root is the root of Achyranthes fauriei Leveill áe et Vaniot or Achyranthes bidentata Blume (Amaranthaceae).
Description:
Main root or main root with some lateral roots, with or without short remains of rhizome at the crown; main root, long cylindrical and sometimes somewhat tortuous, 15 . 90 cm in length, 0.3 . 0.7 cm in diameter; externally grayish yellow to yellow-brown, with numerous longitudinal wrinkles, and with scattering scars of lateral roots. Fractured surface is flat; grayish white to light brown on the circumference, and with yellowish white xylem in the center. Hard and brittle, or flexible.Odor, slight; taste, slightly sweet, and mucilaginous.
Under a microscope <5.01>, a transverse section reveals a rather distinct cambium separating the cortex from the xylem; small protoxylem located at the center of the xylem, and surrounded by numerous vascular bundles arranged on several concentric circles; parenchyma cells containing sand crystals of calcium oxalate; starch grains absent.
Identification:
Shake vigorously 0.5 g of pulverized Achyranthes Root with 10 mL of water: a lasting fine foam is produced.
Purity:
(1) Stem.When perform the test of foreign matter <5.01>, the amount of stems contained in Achyranthes
Root does not exceed 5.0z.
(2) Heavy metals <1.07>.Proceed with 3.0 g of pulverized Achyranthes Root according to Method 3, and perform the test. Prepare the control solution with 3.0 mL of Standard Lead Solution (not more than 10 ppm).
(3) Arsenic <1.11>.Prepare the test solution with 0.40 g of pulverized Achyranthes Root according to Method 4, and perform the test (not more than 5 ppm).
(4) Foreign matter <5.01>.The amount of foreign matter other than stems contained in Achyranthes Root does not exceed 1.0z.
Loss on drying:
<5.01> Not more than 17.0z (6 hours).
Total ash:
<5.01> Not more than 10.0z.
Acid-insoluble ash:
<5.01> Not more than 1.5z.
Containers and storage:
Containers.Well-closed containers.
