ISO 25115:2026

International
Standard
ISO 25115
First edition
Traditional Chinese medicine —
2026-03
Cultivated Cistanche deserticola
stem
Médecine traditionnelle chinoise — Tige de Cistanche deserticola
cultivée
Reference number
© ISO 2026
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ii
Contents Page
Foreword .iv
Introduction .v
1 Scope . 1
2 Normative references . 1
3 Terms and definitions . 1
4 Descriptions . 1
5 Requirements and recommendations . 2
5.1 General characteristics .2
5.2 Macroscopic characteristics .3
5.2.1 Appearance .3
5.2.2 Sensory identification .3
5.3 Moisture .3
5.4 Total ash .3
5.5 Thin-layer chromatography identification .3
5.6 Dilute ethanol-soluble extractives .3
5.7 Marker compounds .3
5.8 Heavy metals .3
5.9 Pesticide residues .3
6 Sampling . 3
7 Test methods . 3
7.1 Macroscopic examination .3
7.2 Determination of moisture content .4
7.3 Determination of total ash .4
7.4 Determination of dilute ethanol-solution extractives content .4
7.5 Thin-layer chromatography (TLC) identification .4
7.6 Determination of maker compound content .4
7.7 Determination of heavy metals contents .4
7.8 Determination of pesticide residues contents.4
8 Test report . 4
9 Packaging, storage and transportation . 4
10 Marking and labelling . 5
Annex A (informative) Determination of dilute ethanol-solution extractives . 6
Annex B (informative) Thin layer chromatography (TLC) identification . 7
Annex C (informative) Determination of echinacoside and verbascoside content. 9
Annex D (informative) Referenced information of national and regional requirements on
Cistanche deserticola stem .12
Annex E (informative) Reference information and methods for differentiating Cistanche
deserticola, Cistanche tubulosa and Cistanche salsa stem .13
Annex F (informative) Reference information of Cistanche tubulosa stem . 14
Bibliography .15

iii
Foreword
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iv
Introduction
Cistanche deserticola stem (Rou Cong Rong) is the dried stout stem of Cistanche deserticola Y.C. Ma. It
was first recorded in the book Shennong Bencao Jing, a commonly used reference for traditional Chinese
medicine. Cistanche deserticola stem has long been used in traditional Chinese medicine for its multiple
therapeutic properties (warming kidney yang, reinforcing essence and blood, relaxing bowel). Modern
pharmacological studies have shown that it has significant effects in improving renal function, enhancing
memory, preventing Alzheimer's disease, anti-aging, anti-fatigue, regulating immune function, etc. It is a
highly regarded traditional Chinese medicine with significant medicinal and economic value around the
world. The quantity of Cistanche deserticola has declined sharply due to its extensive exploitation. The
Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora classifies it as an endangered
species, which is not conducive to trade. With the increasing demand, researchers and farmers began to
study the artificial cultivation of Cistanche deserticola in the 1990s, and cultivated products have gradually
replaced wild products on the market. So far, the output of cultivated Cistanche deserticola stem has largely
met market demand, forming an industrial chain integrating planting, processing, production and sales.
From the perspective of protecting wild Cistanche deserticola, the use of cultivated Cistanche deserticola
stem is encouraged. Therefore, it is advisable to provide a certificate of cultivation for the product during
trade. Futhermore, Cistanche tubulosa and Cistanche salsa stem are also used as Cistanche herbs in some
countries. For the distinctions among the three species in terms of morphological features, chemistry and
molecular levels, see Annex E. Among them, Cistanche tubulosa stem is also explicitly included in the Chinese
Pharmacopoeia and the Japanese Pharmacopoeia, and its specific quality requirements can be found in
Annex F.
Cultivated Cistanche deserticola stem is mainly produced in the following provinces of China: Inner Mongolia,
as well as Ningxia, Gansu, Xinjiang and Qinghai with a relatively smaller volume. There is no significant
difference in the quality of Cistanche deserticola stem produced in these provinces, and it is exported to
Japan, South Korea, Southeast Asia and other regions every year, with a large international and domestic
[2]
demand. Although Cistanche deserticola stem has been recorded in Chinese Pharmacopoeia (2020 edition) ,
[4] [5]
Japanese Pharmacopoeia (18th edition) and Korean Herbal Pharmacopoeia (version 4) , these standards
are not harmonized and can be unsuitable for the purpose of international trade of cultivated Cistanche
deserticola stem. Therefore, it is of utmost urgency that the quality of cultivated Cistanche deserticola stem
be standardized throughout the world. This can benefit consumers (patients), farmers, enterprises and
companies related to the planting, management and trade of Cistanche deserticola stem.
As national implementation can differ, national standards bodies are invited to modify the values given in
5.3, 5.4 and 5.6 in their national standards. Examples of national and regional values are given in Annex D.

v
International Standard ISO 25115:2026(en)
Traditional Chinese medicine — Cultivated Cistanche
deserticola stem
1 Scope
This document specifies the quality and safety requirements for cultivated Cistanche deserticola stem
derived from the plant of Cistanche deserticola Y.C. Ma.
It is applicable to cultivated Cistanche deserticola stem that is sold as natural medicine in international trade,
including Chinese materia medica (whole medicinal materials) and decoction pieces derived from this plant.
2 Normative references
The following documents are referred to in the text in such a way that some or all of their content constitutes
requirements of this document. For dated references, only the edition cited applies. For undated references,
the latest edition of the referenced document (including any amendments) applies.
ISO 18664, Traditional Chinese Medicine — Determination of heavy metals in herbal medicines used in
Traditional Chinese Medicine
ISO 21371, Traditional Chinese medicine — Labelling requirements of products intended for oral or topical use
ISO 22217, Traditional Chinese medicine —Storage requirements for raw materials and decoction pieces
ISO 22258, Traditional Chinese medicine — Determination of pesticide residues in natural products by gas
chromatography
ISO 23723, Traditional Chinese medicine — General requirements for herbal raw material and materia medica
3 Terms and definitions
For the purposes of this document, the following terms and definitions apply.
ISO and IEC maintain terminology databases for use in standardization at the following addresses:
— ISO Online browsing platform: available at https:// www .iso .org/ obp
— IEC Electropedia: available at https:// www .electropedia .org/
3.1
Cistanche deserticola stem
dried stout stem of Cistanche deserticola Y.C. Ma with scaly leaves and spadices (in case of flowering)
removed
4 Descriptions
Cultivated Cistanche deserticola stem is shown in Figure 1.

a) Plant of Cistanche deserticola b) Transverse section of the stem c) Cultivated Cistanche desertico-
Y.C. Ma la stem
Key
1 inflorescence
2 stem
3 vascular bundle
4 thick scales
Figure 1 — Structure of cultivated Cistanche deserticola stem
5 Requirements and recommendations
5.1 General characteristics
The following requirement
...