This work was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (81973569, 82274207 and 82104533), the Xinglin Scholar Research Promotion Project of Chengdu University of TCM (XKTD2022013), and the Key Research and Development Program of Ningxia (2023BEG02012).

Rhodiola crenulata is collected from Zhuoda Snow Mountain, Ganzi County, Ganzi Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, Sichuan Province, China (N 31.44570&#176;, E 99.96086&#176;, 4892 m). The plants are authenticated as genuine by Professor Yi Zhang at the School of Ethnic Medicine, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine.
1. Collection of Rhodiola crenulata
<ol>
	<li>Photograph the habitat map of Rhodiola crenulata.</li>
	<li>Photograph the who...

Microscopic Characterization and TLC-Based Identification of Rhodiola crenulate

<ol>
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There are more than 90 species of Rhodiola plants in the world, and more than 60% of all species are found in China, common ones including Rhodiola crenulata, Rhodiola rosea, Rhodiolas achalinensis, and Rhodiola algida17. Rhodiola crenulata, recorded in the first part of the Chinese Pharmacopoeia (2020), is a traditional Tibetan medicine grown at high altitudes. The market demand for Rhodiola crenulata is increasing yearly, so ensuring the correct use o...

Herbal medicine has a long history and rich application experience in China, and it was the first systematic recording in Shennong&#39;s herbal classic1. The discovery of artemisinin applied to malaria promoted the development of herbal medicine into a new stage1. The use of modern scientific technology to uncover the exact mechanism of herbal medicine increases the utilization rate and demand for herbal medicine, opening a new international market for it2,3,4. However, this has led to a series of negative effects. Non-professionals have a vague understanding of the characteristics of herbal medicine, which makes the use of herbal medicine face a huge safety risk5.
Rhodiola crenulata, one of the plants of the Rhodiola species, is mainly distributed in Tibet, northwest Yunnan, and western Sichuan of China (Figure 1)6,7. Rhodiola crenulata comprises salidroside, tyrosol, gallic acid, and other compounds for the treatment of hypoxic-related diseases through the function of &#34;invigorating qi and promoting blood circulation, clearing pulse and calming asthma&#34;8,9,10,11. Field investigation shows that Rhodiola crenulata can be found in the alpine talus zones, gully slopes, and rock crevices at an altitude of 4,000-5,600 m. Its growing environment is cold, full of sunshine and intense radiation, and it belongs to the alpine meadow ecosystem. Rhodiola crenulata can be distributed in lamellar and point-like populations according to the growth terrain, and gene flow can be carried out through cross-pollination.
The pollen abortion of the genus Rhodiola, illegality excavation, and degenerated ecological environment make Rhodiola crenulata an endangered species6,12. In view of the high medicinal value of Rhodiola crenulata, counterfeit products are expected to flow into the market. This article presents the habitat of Rhodiola crenulata and some convenient laboratory identification methods. Firstly, we observed the growth environment of Rhodiola crenulata and its medicinal properties. Secondly, the microstructure of medicinal powder was observed by microscope. The last step is the key point. The representative components of Rhodiola crenulata were separated and identified according to the different adsorption or dissolution properties of these components in a certain substance. DNA-based authentication or metabolomics analysis methods of medicinal plants are complicated and expensive13. These basic, convenient, and economical methods can quickly identify Rhodiola crenulata.

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			<td>0.22 &#956;m millipore filter</td>
			<td>Millipore</td>
			<td>SLGP033RB</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Automatic sampling machine</td>
			<td>CAMAG</td>
			<td>ATS 4</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Chloral hydrate</td>
			<td>Fuzhou Brunei Technology Co., Ltd</td>
			<td>ST1002</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Chromatographic&#160;sample&#160;bottles</td>
			<td>Zhejiang ALWSCI Technology Co., Ltd</td>
			<td>C0000008</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Conical flask</td>
			<td>Sichuan Shubo Co., Ltd</td>
			<td>1121</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Cover glass</td>
			<td>Citotest Labware Manufacturing Co., Ltd</td>
			<td>10211818c</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Dissecting needle</td>
			<td>Shanghai Bingyu Fluid Technology Co., Ltd</td>
			<td>BY-5026</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Electronic balance</td>
			<td>SHIMADZU</td>
			<td>ATX124</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Ethyl acetate</td>
			<td>Chengdu Kelong Chemical Co., Ltd</td>
			<td>2022120901</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Formic acid</td>
			<td>Chengdu Kelong Chemical Co., Ltd</td>
			<td>2021110801</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Gallic acid</td>
			<td>Chengdu Herbpurify Co., Ltd</td>
			<td>M-017</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Glycerol</td>
			<td>Sinopharm Chemical Reagent Co., Ltd</td>
			<td>10010618</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>High speed&#160; crusher</td>
			<td>Beijing Zhongxingweiye Instrument Co., Ltd</td>
			<td>FW-100</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Methanol</td>
			<td>Chengdu Kelong Chemical Co., Ltd</td>
			<td>20230108</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Microscope</td>
			<td>Chongqing Oprec Nistrument Co.,&#160; Ltd</td>
			<td>B203</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Microscope slide</td>
			<td>Citotest Labware Manufacturing Co., Ltd</td>
			<td>7105P-G</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Oven</td>
			<td>Shanghai Yuejin Medical Equipment Co., Ltd</td>
			<td>DHG-8145</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Pharmacopoeia sieve</td>
			<td>Hangzhou Xingrun sieve factory</td>
			<td>572423281330</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Pipette</td>
			<td>Changde BKMAM Biotechnology Co., Ltd</td>
			<td>120302008</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Salidroside</td>
			<td>Chengdu Herbpurify Co., Ltd</td>
			<td>H-040</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Saturate tank&#160;</td>
			<td>Yancheng Liegu Technology Co., Ltd</td>
			<td>10*20 P-1</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Silica gel plate</td>
			<td>Yantai Jiangyou Silica Gel Development&#160; Co., Ltd</td>
			<td>HSG20211227</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Trichloromethane</td>
			<td>Chengdu Kelong Chemical Co., Ltd</td>
			<td>20221013-1</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Tweezer&#160;</td>
			<td>Changde BKMAM Biotechnology Co., Ltd</td>
			<td>130302027</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Tyrosol</td>
			<td>Chengdu Herbpurify Co., Ltd</td>
			<td>L-042</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Ultrasound equipment</td>
			<td>Ningbo Xinyi Ultrasonic Equipment Co., Ltd</td>
			<td>SB-8200DTS</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Volumetric pipet</td>
			<td>Changde BKMAM Biotechnology Co., Ltd</td>
			<td>120301006</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
	</tbody>
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field collection and laboratory routine identification of rhodiola crenulata

The identification of medicinal materials is the premise and guarantee of drug safety. The majority of scientific researchers are bound to favor the simple, fast, effective, and inexpensive identification process of herbals. Rhodiola crenulata is a traditional Tibetan medicine grown at high altitudes, mainly distributed in Tibet, Yunnan, and Sichuan regions of China. Rhodiola crenulate possesses multiple bioactivities, such as anti-inflammatory, anti-hypoxia, and antioxidant properties, and has great potential for development. With the increasing market demand and a rapid decrease in resource content, a large number of confused products of Rhodiola crenulata have been troubling people. Therefore, this protocol introduces a standard process for the identification of Rhodiola crenulata in the field combined with routine laboratory testing. The combination of habitat, microscopic features, and thin-layer chromatography will undoubtedly identify Rhodiola crenulata quickly, efficiently, and economically, contributing to the continuous development of Tibetan medicine and the quality control of medicinal materials.

Author Spotlight: Developing Identification Methods for Rhodiola crenulata and Investigating Its Resource Distribution and Pharmacological Effects

Field Collection and Laboratory Routine Identification of Rhodiola crenulata

The scope of our research is centered on conducting a resource survey of ethnic medicine. Specifically, this study aims to develop a rapid and convenient methods for the identification of Rhodiola crenulata. The protocol we offer presents a cost-effective, straightforward, and rapid method for identifying various medicinal herbal materials.Our laboratory will concentrate its future research endeavors on investigation two primary areas, the distribution of research associated with Rhodiola crenulata and the pharmacological impacts of this species.

This experimental protocol describes identifying and collecting Rhodiola crenulate in the field. Rhodiola crenulate tends to live in the alpine talus zones, gully slopes, and rock crevices at high altitudes. The habitat, whole plant, flower, and leaves of Rhodiola crenulate can be shown in Figure 2. Rhodiola crenulate has a reddish-brown rhizome (Figure 3A). A representative image of the medicinal powder is shown in <strong cl...

Watch this Scientific Journal Video about Field Collection and Laboratory Routine Identification of Rhodiola crenulata at JoVE.com

Here, we describe the identification of Rhodiola Crenulata from habitat, plant morphology, medicinal properties, microscopic features, and thin-layer chromatography.

The identification of medicinal materials is the premise and guarantee of drug safety. The majority of scientific researchers are bound to favor the ...