China discovers 54 new plant species for TCM: report

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Chinese researchers discovered 54 new medicinal plant species for Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) last year, according to a report released by the State Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine (SATCM).

The 2017 annual survey of TCM resources showed that there were 13,000 types of medicinal herbs in the wild and 736 cultivated herbs nationwide.

Herbs are a cornerstone of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM)./VCG Photo

China started the fourth pilot program for the national survey in 2011. By the end of 2017, it had already covered 1,332 counties in 31 provincial-level regions across the country or about half of the country's administrative divisions at the county level. At the same time, China also established more than 200 seedling nurseries for growing TCM herbs between 2012 and 2015.

"Standards should be set to regulate the exploitation, planting and quality control of TCM herbs," said Huang Luqi, deputy head of China Academy of Chinese Medical Science. “It is also expected to fully use and protect TCM resources.”

According to Huang, China will start the fourth survey of TCM resources this year.

Source(s): Xinhua News Agency